A major city and the county seat of the Hillsborough County in the US state of Florida, Tampa is located on the west coast of the state on Tampa Bay, in proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This city is a cultural and family vacation destination where visitors on Tampa vacation will find a potpourri of activities, museums, and famous attractions such as Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa Theater, and much more. Visitors can stroll along Tampa Riverwalk past parks, restaurants, and hotels. Weather-wise, best times to visit Tampa are during the winter and spring i.e. from December to April. These seasons showcase the warm and pleasant weather in Tampa and receive maximum tourist footfall thus, advance hotel reservations are advisable.
One can visit Tampa at its festive best during the “Gasparilla Pirate Fest”. It is a unique pirate themed celebration with events like the Parade of the Pirates, Gasparilla Invasion Brunch, and Pirate Fest Street Festival, in late-January and early-February. Visitors can also attend the “Florida State Fair”, which is a Renaissance Festival and the “AirFest”, during February and March. The months of May and October-November are hot but not unbearable. The fall season, from October to November, sees many festivals like Guavaween and the original Halloween festival. The summer season, from June to September, is the off-season in this city. During this season, the hotel prices dip down as they offer attractive deals during this off-season. To the tourists visiting this city during peak time, it is recommended to book Tampa vacation package in advance as flight fares and hotel rates tend to rise.
Places of Interest in Tampa
Busch Gardens
Busch Garden is a 335 acre African-themed family entertainment and an adventure park offering visitors with a live music, thrill rides, craft performances, and a number of exotic animals in natural habitat settings. For tourists who are visiting with family, this garden is one of the must-visit attractions in Tampa.
Big Cat Rescue
Big Cat Rescue is a wildlife sanctuary created for abandoned and abused big cats. It is a non-profit organization housing hundreds on animals including Jungle Cats, Geoffroy Cats, Tigers, Clouded Leopards, Caracals, Servals, Bobcats, Snow Leopards, and Lynx. Here, one can enjoy the guided tours as it is not allowed to wander the area freely like in a zoo setting.
Tampa Theater
Tampa Theater is an excellent place to visit for theater freaks. It is a lush movie palace with a unique blend of architectural styles including Byzantine, Renaissance, and the Greek Revival. Tampa Theater offers visitors with foreign and classic films frequently with specially concerts and other programs.