Pat’s guidebook to the Tampa Bay area
Theme Parks
Great place, especially if you love roller coasters. They also have several shows for those who want a quieter experience. Turn It Up, the ice skating show, is my favorite.
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Busch Gardens
10165 McKinley DrGreat place, especially if you love roller coasters. They also have several shows for those who want a quieter experience. Turn It Up, the ice skating show, is my favorite.
A unique and fun experience! @ 1.5 hours.
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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
6000 Universal BlvdA unique and fun experience! @ 1.5 hours.
Sightseeing
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
1101 W Sligh AveThis is a great zoo!
Lots of restaurants, places where you can watch cigars being rolled, historical buildings. Great place to visit.
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Ybor City Historic District
Lots of restaurants, places where you can watch cigars being rolled, historical buildings. Great place to visit.
Free samples of juice, U-pick often available. Famous honeybell oranges in season.
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Dooley Groves
1651 Stephens RdFree samples of juice, U-pick often available. Famous honeybell oranges in season.
Wonderful museums: art (lots of old masters), circus museum, and a tour of the Ringling Home & Gardens. Located in Sarasota, winter home of the circus back in the day.
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Ringling Museum station
Wonderful museums: art (lots of old masters), circus museum, and a tour of the Ringling Home & Gardens. Located in Sarasota, winter home of the circus back in the day.
Beautiful garden, guided tour of recreated cigar workers' homes, museum with lots of historical information. Walking tour of Ybor City Historical District in this area.
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Ybor City State Museum
1818 E 9th AveBeautiful garden, guided tour of recreated cigar workers' homes, museum with lots of historical information. Walking tour of Ybor City Historical District in this area.
FREE. Seasonal, Nov. - April 15. During cooler weather manatees are drawn to the warmer water created by the steam from the Tampa Electric plant. 2 nice boardwalks for viewing.
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Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman RdFREE. Seasonal, Nov. - April 15. During cooler weather manatees are drawn to the warmer water created by the steam from the Tampa Electric plant. 2 nice boardwalks for viewing.
The opulence of the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel has been the setting for the Henry B. Plant Museum since 1933 and is located on the Tampa University campus. It is especially beautiful during the Christmas season. Beautiful area for a walk in the adjoining park.
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Henry B. Plant Museum
401 W Kennedy BlvdThe opulence of the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel has been the setting for the Henry B. Plant Museum since 1933 and is located on the Tampa University campus. It is especially beautiful during the Christmas season. Beautiful area for a walk in the adjoining park.
Old Greek fishing village with several good Greek restaurants and good seafood at Rusty Belly's Waterfront Grille. Hella's has an awesome selection of pastries in their bakery. Short cruises available from the docks. Lots of souvenir shops. @ 1.5 hours away.
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Tarpon Springs Castle Winery
320 E Tarpon AveOld Greek fishing village with several good Greek restaurants and good seafood at Rusty Belly's Waterfront Grille. Hella's has an awesome selection of pastries in their bakery. Short cruises available from the docks. Lots of souvenir shops. @ 1.5 hours away.
Great canoe/kayak trip down the Little Manatee River. Takes @ 2 hours. Beautiful, old Florida scenery.
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Canoe Outpost-Little Manatee River
18001 US-301Great canoe/kayak trip down the Little Manatee River. Takes @ 2 hours. Beautiful, old Florida scenery.
Brewery/wine/beer tasting
Yuengling Brewing Company
11109 N 30th StFree brewery tour and beer tasting.
Keel und Curley Weingut
5202 Thonotosassa Rdwide range of local wines for tasting
Two Henrys Brewery
5202 Thonotosassa RdFlights of local brewed beer
Cheese Please
4205 S MacDill AveWine and cheese tasting in the rear. Gets great reviews.
Food scene
Goodson's Strawberry Market. Seasonal. Known for their strawberry shortcake. The pressed Cuban is also good. Strawberries and other produce for sale.
12405 Balm Rd
12405 Balm RoadGoodson's Strawberry Market. Seasonal. Known for their strawberry shortcake. The pressed Cuban is also good. Strawberries and other produce for sale.
The most famous Cuban restaurant in Florida. Historical building. Wonderful decor, ambiance, and food!
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Columbia Restaurant
2117 E 7th AveThe most famous Cuban restaurant in Florida. Historical building. Wonderful decor, ambiance, and food!
Near my listing. Some say it is second only to the Columbia Restaurant. My favorite here is rope vieja.
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Ybor Grille
339 19th Ave NENear my listing. Some say it is second only to the Columbia Restaurant. My favorite here is rope vieja.
Wonderful, wonderful Spanish buffet. You will not believe the variety & the number of choices. One of my favorite places to eat! Everything I have eaten has been delicious!
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Maikel's Kitchen
3864 W Waters AveWonderful, wonderful Spanish buffet. You will not believe the variety & the number of choices. One of my favorite places to eat! Everything I have eaten has been delicious!
Apollo's Bistro
6520 Richies WayVery nice food, great little restaurant just minutes away.
Great food, lovely water view. A local favorite.
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Circles Waterfront Restaurant
1212 Apollo Beach BlvdGreat food, lovely water view. A local favorite.
Great views from this restaurant on the Little Manatee River. Large outside seating area by the water. Live music most nights.
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Woody's River Roo Pub & Grill
5717 18th St EGreat views from this restaurant on the Little Manatee River. Large outside seating area by the water. Live music most nights.
Beaches
My favorite beach, in part because of the wonderful cafe' there. Live music @ 5 pm most days. You can catch a free bus to tour the island.
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Anna Maria Beach
My favorite beach, in part because of the wonderful cafe' there. Live music @ 5 pm most days. You can catch a free bus to tour the island.
Often voted the best beach in the US. The sand, 99% quartz, never gets hot. There is a huge expanse of beach so you can always find a place to put your beach chair.
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Siesta Beach
Often voted the best beach in the US. The sand, 99% quartz, never gets hot. There is a huge expanse of beach so you can always find a place to put your beach chair.
Another popular beach in the St. Petersburg area, @ 45 minutes from my house.
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Treasure Island Beach Club
11750 Gulf BlvdAnother popular beach in the St. Petersburg area, @ 45 minutes from my house.
Large beach area with lots of parking. They also have picnic tables and a snack bar. There is a historic fort to tour. It is @ 40 minutes away.
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Fort De Soto Park
Fort De Soto ParkLarge beach area with lots of parking. They also have picnic tables and a snack bar. There is a historic fort to tour. It is @ 40 minutes away.
Possibly the most famous beach in the area. Lots of restaurants along the beach.
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Clearwater Strand
Gulf of Mexico DrivePossibly the most famous beach in the area. Lots of restaurants along the beach.
Only about 20 minutes away, this is a beautiful, though small, beach on the bay. You may encounter seaweed if you wade out into the water, but it's a great place for some sun. Little Harbor's restaurants are nearby. (Hooks & Sunset Grille,plus outdoor dining. Favorite place to watch the sunset.
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Bahia Strand
Only about 20 minutes away, this is a beautiful, though small, beach on the bay. You may encounter seaweed if you wade out into the water, but it's a great place for some sun. Little Harbor's restaurants are nearby. (Hooks & Sunset Grille,plus outdoor dining. Favorite place to watch the sunset.
Arts
Wonderful museum! It is located on the bay and there are many side walk cafes, as well as indoor dining, in this area - as well as neat shops.
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Museum of Fine Arts
255 Beach Dr NEWonderful museum! It is located on the bay and there are many side walk cafes, as well as indoor dining, in this area - as well as neat shops.
Small but wonderful collection of Chihuly glass. I usually spend an hour. The nearby Morean Art Center offers more glass by local artists and a glass blowing demonstration.
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Chihuly Collection
720 Central AvenueSmall but wonderful collection of Chihuly glass. I usually spend an hour. The nearby Morean Art Center offers more glass by local artists and a glass blowing demonstration.
Morean Art Center
719 Central AveGlass by local artists and a glass blowing demonstration.
Wonderful collection of Dali's work plus special exhibits.
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Dali Museum station
Wonderful collection of Dali's work plus special exhibits.