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Florida -Tampa
Spend a day by the bay, take part in Gasparilla Pirate Fest or just blow off some steam in the streets of this historic party town, Ybor City. Check out all the excitement Tampa Bay has to offer. Build castles by the bay or take a short drive to some of the best U.S. beaches.

Tampa is more than a vibrant coastal city, it's a gateway to the very best Central Florida has to offer. Centrally located on Florida’s Gulf coast, the city of Tampa is intersected by the scenic Hillsborough River and surrounded by the waters of Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay.

In addition to the many water-related activities visitors can enjoy here, the Tampa area offers a host of attractions for all ages. Whether you seek quiet relaxation by the shore, a chance to get in touch with nature or exciting fun for the whole family, you’ll find what you’re looking for in this lovely city by the bay. A unique multicultural history, documented by a host of excellent museums, add to Tampa’s appeal as a great place to visit.

Recent additions to the park include Egypt, a fantastic experience featuring a recreation of King Tut’s tomb; A Dig Through Time, an interactive exhibit where children can “discover” Egyptian treasures of their very own; and the Edge of Africa, where you can get an incredibly up-close view of the creatures of Africa, including lions, hippos and one of the largest crocodiles in captivity. For the children, there are tamer rides, a petting zoo, live shows (including an ice-skating revue) and more.

The nearby Museum of Science and Industry houses Florida’s first domed IMAX® (“Imagery to the Max”) theater, showing adventure films in larger-than-life size on a 10,000-square-foot screen, complete with state-of-the-art surround-sound. The museum also features several hands-on, interactive exhibits designed to help children of all ages learn about their environment, including an enclosed outdoor butterfly exhibit. For even more family fun, head out to the Lowry Park Zoo, where you can see more than 1,500 animals in fascinating exhibits that include an aviary, a primate and animals of Asia exhibit, and the Florida Manatee and Aquatic Center.

Bern's Steak House - Art in Steaks - We learned early that if you want to be the best at something, you can't worry about the cost or the trouble. We do things differently, and we do them well. 1208 South Howard Street Tampa FL 33606 Tel 813- 251-2421

SideBern's, sister restaurant of Tampa's famous Bern's Steak House, has gone global. Chef/Partner Jeannie Pierola's cutting edge culinary style and food experience is what she calls One World Cuisine. 2208 W. Morisson Ave. Tampa FL 33606 Tel 813- 258-2233

The Henry B. Plant Museum, housed in what was once the Tampa Bay Hotel, a lavish, onion-domed Moorish Revial-style building, displays Victorian furnishings, artworks, fixtures and memorabilia from the late-19th-century structure, built in 1891 by entrepreneur Henry Plant--the man responsible for bringing the railroad to Tampa. Built of handsome red brick, the mile-long structure--once the premier all-electric-light hotel in Florida--is also home to the University of Tampa.

The Florida Aquarium, with its distinctive shell-shaped dome of glass, is home to 4,300 different species of Florida marine and wildlife; here visitors can follow a drop of water through Florida’s water ecosystem, from freshwater springs to the depths of the sea. Be sure to check out the aquatic splendor of the Aquarium’s 500,000-gallon viewing tank through a panoramic three-sided observation window, you can watch the display of thousands of colorful and fantastic creatures swimming in a re-created coral reef.

Tampa’s downtown area has several other points of interest to explore. Bayshore Boulevard, the world’s longest continuous waterfront sidewalk (making it a popular course for joggers, walkers and in-line skaters), offers unparalleled views of Hillsborough Bay along its 4.5 miles. After working up a sweat along the boulevard, you can take a break at Old Hyde Park Village, where you can shop in fashionable boutiques, dine in world-class restaurants, or even take in the latest cinematic release.

Check out the old and new masters at the Tampa Museum of Art, which houses a fine collection of classical and contemporary works. The Museum of African American Art houses a treasury of works by notable artists of color, including selections from the Barnett-Aden Collection.

Historic Ybor City, just northeast of downtown, has been designated a National Landmark District. It helped to place Tampa on the map in the late 19th century for the cigar industry that developed here, thanks to the Cuban immigrants who settled in the area over a century ago. They were soon followed by Spanish, Italian and German immigrants, who each left their lasting mark on the community. The result is an 11-block long area alive with history and sights, sounds and smells from around the world. The former tobacco warehouses are now home to cafés, shops, art galleries and what is regarded as the most fabulous nightlife in central Florida.

As you stroll through the area, you’ll notice its Spanish architecture: antique street lamps, wrought-iron balconies and ornate grillwork. Among the places you can visit are Ybor Square, home of the first and largest cigar company in the area; nearby Martí Park, the only piece of free land belonging to Cuba; and the Ybor City Museum, which tells the history of the area and provides free guided walking tours.

South of Tampa, in St. Petersburg, is the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Here you can see the aircraft that started commercial aviation in 1914—a replica of the Benoist. Also on display are artifacts from the pre-Columbian, early Spanish, pioneer and Victorian eras, as well as the Florida land-boom years and the present day. Art aficionados should not miss the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, which houses the world’s largest collection of the late surrealist’s works. Some 30 miles south of St. Petersburg is Sarasota, home of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Set on 66 acres of landscaped grounds, the complex includes The Art Galleries, The Circus Galleries, the Asolo Theater and the Ringling residence.

Located in Kissimmee, 75 miles east of Tampa, is the world-renowned Walt Disney World complex, comprising the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center and Disney-MGM Studios. The spotlight at the time-honored Magic Kingdom is currently focused on Disney’s latest animated movie, Hercules. At Epcot Center, travel through time at Future World or go around the world at the World Showcase. At Disney-MGM Studios, you can go “backstage” on the sets of well-known movies. Not far away, in Orlando, is Sea World, where you’ll meet a four-ton killer whale, experience brilliant performances by sea animals and witness a real shark feeding.

Beaches:
Visitors have access to three public beaches in the Tampa area, all ideal for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking: Ben T. Davis Beach, on State Road 60 West; Picnic Island, in South Tampa; and E.G. Simmons Park, off I-75.

Activities:
The list of outdoor activities you can enjoy here is endless. Water sports, of course, are popular and include boating, fishing or sailing on Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, as well as canoeing on the Hillsborough River, where you can get a taste of the real, natural Florida.

Tampa also has a wealth of golf courses and tennis facilities. Sports fans can check out the fast-paced action at Tampa Jai-Alai, or visit the city’s own field of dreams--Legends Stadium, the official winter training facility for the New York Yankees. The NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightening provide excitement during the winter, too.

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