The city of Tampa is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city on Florida's West Coast.
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Tampa is on the north shore of Tampa Bay in West Central Florida. Saint Petersburg lies west of the bay, while Bradenton is on the southern shore. The downtown business center of the city is on the north shore of Hillsborough Bay (a small bay within Tampa Bay which is bordered by the eastern shore of Tampa Bay and the small peninsula of South Tampa) and Ybor City lies just to the east. MacDill Air Force Base is on the southern tip of South Tampa, while the city also extends to the north all the way to New Tampa. Tampa is divided into five main districts fanning out from Downtown in the south-center between the Hillsborough River and Ybor Channel.
Car rentals are the most convenient form of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times. The main freeways in Tampa are Interstate 275, Interstate 4, the Veterans Expressway (toll FL 589), and the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (toll FL 618). Some of the main east-west roads through town are Kennedy Boulevard (SR 60), Gandy Boulevard (SR 694), Hillsborough Avenue (US 92) and Fowler Avenue (SR 582), while some of the north-south roads are Dale Mabry Highway (US 92) and Florida/Nebraska Avenue (US 41).
1 Channel District. The Channel District has many shops, restaurants, and is one of the beginnings of the Tampa River Walk. Formerly home to a shopping center named Channelside Bay Plaza, this area is now completely remodeled and opened in late 2018 as Sparkman Wharf, with many take away eateries and a beer garden, along with a lively lawn beside the waterfront. The area also serves as a major cruise hub with five lines embarking or stopping in Tampa. The Florida Aquarium is also here (see entry below). (updated Jan 2019) 2 Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive (Channelside district, just east of downtown), ☏ +1 813 273-4000. Daily 9:30AM-5PM.
Walking tour of Ybor City — Every Saturday at 10:30AM, the Ybor City State Museum offers a 60-minute walking tour of Ybor City highlighting the cigar industry's impact on the area, historic cottages/businesses, and tours of the YC State Museum & YC Cigar Museum. The $6 cost includes both museum entrance fees. Longer tours are available by appointment Tu-Th for $12. If possible, stop by the 100-year-old Columbia Restaurant at the end of the tour for a tasty Cuban lunch. Cruise ships, Port of Tampa. Gasparilla Pirate Festival. An annual event consisting of several parades, live entertainment, and fireworks.
1 Bo's Ice Cream, 7101 N Florida Avenue. Very close to Lowry Park Zoo at Florida & Sligh. Amazing local soft-serve, shakes and banana splits. 2 Carmine's Restaurant, 1802 E 7th Ave. Ybor City neighborhood. Cuban, Spanish, and Italian. 3 Cappy's Pizza, 4910 North Florida Avenue, ☏ +1 813 238-1516. Between MLK and Hillsborough on Florida Avenue. Great local pizza joint, family friendly. 4 Hattrick's, 107 S Franklin Street, ☏ +1 813 225-4228. Daily 11AM-3AM. In downtown Tampa, chow down on wings, mozzarella sticks and other dishes while watching the Tampa Bay Lightning play against their rivals. (updated May 2015) 5 The Jerk Hut, 1241 E Fowler Ave, ☏ +1 813 497-8241.
1 Cigar City Brewing, 3924 West Spruce Street, ☏ +1 813 348-6363. West Tampa section of Tampa. Very popular craft brewery with a tasting room. Ybor City is a historic area of Tampa which now hosts the region's best known bar and nightclub district. It is a nationally known arts, bar and dining district and you could take several days visiting all of the bars and places to eat here. Certain parts to the extreme west and east sections of this neighborhood can be dangerous after midnight, but if you stay in the main areas it's well lit and there are plenty of police around.
Be aware while in Suitcase City, the part of town surrounding Busch Gardens, USF and University Square Mall. Hitchhiking is also prevalent in this area, but do not stop! However, few tourists or visitors would find their way to this area of the city or have much a reason to be walking about in it; driving through is perfectly safe.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Tampa typically sees ~33°C daytime highs and 19 rainy days.
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