Planning a trip to Tampa, Florida? Whether you’re traveling on a budget, looking for adventure, or simply wanting to unwind, we’ve got you covered! Check out our best recommendations for your next trip to this unique bay city.
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RVing in the Tampa Area
Florida is an RV snowbird’s paradise. In addition to the variety of entertainment options and mild winter climate, Tampa draws RVers from all over the country to the annual Tampa RV Supershow and is a hub for well-known RV parks, dealerships, and service centers.
9 Best Things to Do in Tampa, Florida
With lots of fun things to do, delicious restaurants, and a great social scene, Tampa should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Florida! Check out all there is to see and do.
1. Tampa Bay History Center
Price: $10 to $15
Why You’ll Love It: Located right on the waterfront, the museum serves up lots of Florida history. But be prepared for exhibits that will also sail you across the open seas with pirates looking for treasure, teach you the ancient art of cartography and, among other things, show you the importance of professional wrestling in the Tampa Bay area. Get ready to RUMBLE!
Address: 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602
What’s the Word: A recent review on Google said, “The engaging exhibits include video and interactive displays making them informative enough for adults and fun for kids. Their regular exhibits cover Florida’s rich history from native peoples to modern times. My boys are looking forward to the upcoming wrestling exhibit in March. You can definitely turn this into a day-long event, visiting the museum for 2-3 hours, stopping at the Columbia cafe for lunch and touring around Channelside for an hour or so afterwards.”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9.2/10
2. The Florida Aquarium
Price: $28
Why You’ll Love It: Dolphins and Otters and Sharks! Oh, my! The aquarium, located in downtown Tampa, Florida, is a great place to see what animals live in the bay, and it also offers amazing day excursions like shark diving. Get your adrenaline going in this maritime wonderland.
Address: 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
What’s the Word: A recent reviewer on Trip Advisor wrote, “There was everything you would hope to find in an aquarium and more here, including at touch tank and a huge wall of glass where you could view the eels, sharks, huge turtles and more. Everything was spotless clean. They had a Madagascar section that was fun as well, and optional tours you could take or activities you could do, such as diving with the sharks. We opted to take the Dolphin Cruise, going out on a powered catamaran where we were lucky enough to come across a mama and her calf in the water.”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9.8/10
3. Ybor City
Price: Free
Why You’ll Love It: Once known as the “Cigar Capitol of the World,” today’s Ybor City hosts an eclectic collection of restaurants, boutique businesses and museums. You can grab an authentic Cuban sandwich, watch a flamenco show, and peruse the Tampa Baseball Museum, all within a 300 acre circumference.
Address: 1600 E. 8th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605
What’s the Word: A recent review on Trip Advisor says, “Ybor City, originally settled by Cubans and famous for its cigar factories is now a trendy destination, with lots of cute shops and restaurants and an Old Havana feel. Mobbed with tourists on weekends, but a livable community during the week. Picturesque and charming…”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9.5/10
4. Busch Gardens Tampa, Florida
Price: $96
Why You’ll Love It: Busch Gardens takes an amusement park and mixes it with exciting animal experiences, productions, food and shopping to create a great one-stop adventure for every member of the family. You’ll feel as though you’ve gotten an up-close experience with nature while having the time of your life!
Address: 10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612
What’s the Word: A recent review on Google exclaims, “WOW WOW WOW WOW! The roller coasters here at Busch Gardens in Tampa are INSANE! We had a great day, lost count how many times we hit the different rides, animals are well kept & looked after, some absolute stunning cheetahs on show! Can’t wait to be back!”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9.7/10
5. Henry B Plant Museum
Price: $10
Why You’ll Love It: Housed in a Victorian railroad resort hotel, the museum offers a glimpse into life in Tampa Bay at the turn of the century. While learning about local history, you can enjoy musical performances on the museum grounds and even take in a live theater production.
Address: 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606
What’s the Word: A recent review on Google said, “This gilded age grand hotel is overflowing with beautiful antiques art and Tampa history. There are videos and self guided tour. Incredible gem in grand setting.”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
6. Brewery: Coppertail Brewing Company
Price: $5
Why You’ll Love It: With a great beer selection, lots of outdoor and indoor seating, and pub food galore, Coppertail will soon become your favorite brewery in Tampa, Florida. You’ll love the taproom with views overlooking the fermentation vats, and the location on the outskirts of Ybor City.
Address: 2601 E. 2nd Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605
What’s the Word: A recent review on Yelp states, “One of my favorite breweries in Tampa. My fav is night swim. I love their sours, too. They always have tempting seasonal brews.
Food menu is good, a step up from bar food. Juicy burgers and crispy tater tots.”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9.4/10
7. Winery: Time For Wine
Price: $20
Why You’ll Love It: If you loves grapes, especially those that are fermented, you will be enamored with Time For Wine. Participate in ‘virtual tastings,’ catered chef dinners, wine pairings and teach and taste events to receive a delicious education in wine from around the world.
Address: 5462 56th Commerce Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619
What’s the Word: A recent reviewer on Yelp said, “Charles took our palates on a tour of the major wine-growing regions of the world with four different wines, and took the time to explain how each wine complemented the flavor profiles of white chocolate, milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, and dark chocolate. He taught us how the wines were crafted and also talked about using these same wines while cooking. Very educational.”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9.2/10
8. Campground: Bay Bayou RV Resort
Price: $48 and up
Why You’ll Love It: A beautiful pool, clubhouse, sparkling clean shower house and spacious campsites should entice you to visit Bay Bayou RV Resort. With a fishing lake and access to miles of waterway, residents have several outdoor activity options, and the exercise room, tiki hut and dinner dances offer many indoor alternatives.
Address: 8492 Manatee Bay Drive, Tampa, FL 33635
What’s the Word: A recent Google reviewer said, “Beautiful RV park. Very well maintained. Lots of shopping nearby. Fishing spot in the park. Cable has lots of channels including HBO. Wifi is fair. Really enjoying my stay. Old section lots of shade but lots not angled. New section little shade but lots angled. Really enjoying my stay.”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10
9. Hotel: Tahitian Inn
Price: $92
Why You’ll Love It: This boutique hotel in South Tampa offers comfy accommodations in a hip location. The rooms are spacious, with decor that elicits a taste of Tahiti. Not to mention, guests can indulge in weekend grilled meals out by the pool, then work off those extra calories in the fully outfitted exercise room.
Address: 601 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33609
What’s the Word: A recent review on Trip Advisor stated, “Excellent service! Booked a block of rooms for 10 couples and the process was flawless thanks to Sean, the manager. He made it a very personalized experience. The Tahitian is a quaint, dated, boutique type place with a historic feel. The rooms were clean, although showed their age. The sheets were perfect. The shower was clean w good pressure. Overall, it has a cozy, relaxed feel.”
Tampa, FL Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10
We Love Camping in Florida, and You Will, Too!
We love spending winters RVing in Florida! From the Florida Keys to the Panhandle, Florida has tons of beaches, springs, wildlife, and recreation to experience for the traveler.
While the RV Resorts can be top notch, some can be quite expensive. Check out our Guide to Boondocking In Florida to find some beautiful off-the-beaten-path places we’ve discovered, and take it easy on your wallet.
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