Overview

Although Miami and Orlando are more well known and draw the lion's share of Florida tourism, Tampa and the surrounding area has begun to garner its fair share of tourists. Over the past few decades, the region has grown and developed into a wonderful destination with excellent beaches and world-class hotels.

Today the region offers a wonderful array of outdoor activities, thanks to its beautiful natural setting. The area has rolling, pine covered northern plains as well as white sand beaches and barrier islands. Camping, fishing, swimming, boating, sunning, and snorkeling are always available in this sunny and well-kept area of Florida. The Gulf Coast offers just as many white sand beaches and beautiful sunsets as the Atlantic side of Florida, if not more so. The crystal clear springs further inland have drawn visitors for a long time. Finally, the resort towns to the south, including Sarasota, are always full of visitors during the winter as everyone tries to escape the cold.

The city of Tampa has developed into a full metropolis, with everything to offer visitors of all ages. The area has seen the addition of a world-class art museum dedicated to the work of the surrealist painter Salvador Dali. The Tampa Museum of Art boasts its own collection of art from around the world-nearly 7,000 objects fill the many galleries. The $84 million Florida Aquarium is a dazzling landmark in Tampa, and it has begun to draw large crowds of visitors to Tampa. In addition to cultural and educational offerings, Tampa boasts quite a nightlife with many restaurants and clubs to choose from. The Ybor District is Tampa's own Little Havana, and the wrought iron gates and cobblestone streets lend a certain charm to the area. Of course, no visit to Tampa would be complete without a visit to Busch Gardens, the amusement park and zoo built by the famous beer brewery. Kids and adults will have lots of fun there.

Tampa has even more museums and attractions that await those who want to sample the Florida Gulf Coast. Life there is just as sunny and warm as it is on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, and maybe even a little more so. Towns like Sarasota, just a bit south of Tampa, have been attracting visitors for years, and now Tampa too has lots to bring even more guests to the area. The museums, aquariums, culture, clubs, and beaches are drawing more and more visitors to Tampa every year.