Florida Travel Guide
Tampa
Tampa is a city that manages to successfully combine the roles of leading business centre of the west coast with that of excellent holiday destination.
Tampa started life as a fort, built in 1824 at the mouth of the Hillsborough River; it was to keep an eye on the local Seminole tribes. By the end of the 19th century, Tampa was a booming port and trading centre but when the railroad came and the river was dredged to allow bigger vessels in, the city really took off. The ability to cheaply import tobacco from Cuba enabled Tampa to become capital of the US cigar industry for many years.
Subsequent bust and boom may have passed but Tampa with its lively, can-do attitude has continued to grow and looks set to continue on an upward path.
Busch Gardens
Probably the most famed Florida theme park outside of Orlando. Based on an African theme Busch Gardens is much more than simply stomach lurching roller coaster rides. The zoo that forms part of the park enjoys an international reputation for its work with endangered species, especially the Panda and Black Rhino. Complementary to Busch Gardens is Adventure Island, a huge water theme park. Taking the two together this is an attraction with something for everyone.
Ybor City
This city within a city gives a real Cuban flavour of old Tampa. Founded by Don Vincente Martinez Ybor it was built to house the migrant workers of his cigar 'factory', producing the 'finest hand rolled cigars in the world'. The depression, changing production methods and the rise in popularity of cigarettes saw an end to Senor Ybor's venture but in its heyday, the city he built was home to 20,000, mostly Cuban, immigrants.
Now a national historic district, it is the heart of the city, it looks terrific and the atmosphere is buzzing. It is a multi cultural place but with heavy Latino influences. This is the place for wining and dining in Tampa.
For more information on the 'city', call in at the Ybor City State Museum which gives a history of the area and a history of cigar making. It is also still possible to see cigars being handmade (rolled on the thigh of a dusky maiden? I don't think so.)
Museum of Science and Industry
Nearly every town in the US worth its salt has a museum of this sort; this is one of the best. The centrepieces are the Gulf Coast Hurricane and the Challenger Learning Centre; the museum covers a wide range of educational subjects from health to the heavens. Another good museum is the Tampa Museum of Art, which can lay claim to having one of the finest collections of classical antiquities and modern American art in the country.
University of Tampa
One of the early benefactors of Tampa was Henry B Plant, a railroad and shipping tycoon who wanted to build the world's most luxurious hotel. The 500-room Tampa Bay Hotel was the result, a mock Moorish Palace with lavish interior furnishings. Plant saw the hotel open in 1891 but sadly died in 1899 at which point the hotel fell into decline. The city bought the crumbling pile in 1905 and it became home to the university in 1928. Plant is remembered in a small museum that holds late 19th century bric-a-brac and some of the hotel furnishings.
Florida Aquarium
Beach and swamp, reef and river, all the watery ecosystems that are central to the state in so many ways are spectacularly shown off here.
Eating, Drinking and Sleeping
Ybor City is the answer to all your evening entertainment prayers. This is where all the cities premier bars, restaurants and clubs are situated.
Tampa is not well served for budget accommodation in the centre but there is more choice on the outskirts.
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