Write a Review
Tampa Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos
In no apparent hurry, the Hillsborough River slowly makes it way through the quaint neighborhoods of downtown Tampa, past riverbanks lined with shops and outdoors bars. At the turn of the 20th century, Tampa's economy was dominated by cigar factories. In Ybor City the legacy remains, with cigar stores selling hand-rolled stogies. The more than 150 exotic cats—including lions, leopards, and pumas—at Big Cat Rescue, a 45-acre tree-filled sanctuary, all come with a story: some were seized in drugs raids, some retired from the circus. If you can snag some tickets, witness the spectacle of die-hard fans in Kiss-like makeup supporting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at their enormous arena, complete with a fake pirate ship looming above. A few miles west of Tampa, close to St. Petersburg, soft sand beaches give way to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll likely insist on a stop at Busch Gardens.
