By VISIT FLORIDA staff
If you have a day to explore the Tampa area, follow this driving tour to get a great overview of this big city on the Gulf coast.
It has been said that the Tampa Bay Area is a large metropolitan area with charming community ambiance.
Originally named for the body of water, Tampa Bay, the area represents a region of many diverse areas and faces. It's a unique blend of urban excitement in a natural setting with a dash of tropical flair. The most populous area of Florida, this vibrant waterfront area on the beautiful central west coast of Florida also affords easy access to the rest of the state.
Heritage Highlights
In the heart of downtown Tampa, the Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., will transport you back to 1891. The former Tampa Bay Hotel, now part of the University of Tampa (look for the dramatic minarets and Moorish revival architecture), was home base to Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in the 1898 Spanish American War with Cuba. The museum illustrates the opulent lifestyle of early Florida tourists, local history and the tropical setting of the area, conducive to the legend of the famous pirate, Jose Gaspar.
To take in a colorful overview of the area, visit the Tampa Bay History Center, sited along Tampa’s Riverwalk on 801 Old Water St. This regional history museum illuminates the area's rich culture and diverse heritage, from conquistadors to cattle ranchers. It encompasses the Touchton Map Library, the Columbia Cafe, and a collection of 90,000 historical artifacts.
Leave your car and hop on the TECO Streetcar to ride an electric streetcar from downtown to Ybor City. Pick up an Ybor City walking tour brochure at The Centro Ybor Visitor Information Center and Museum, 1600 E. 8th Avenue, and plan to spend all afternoon enjoying the National Historic Landmark District.
