Regionally, Tampa Bay encompasses four cities — Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Bradenton. All border the largest open-water estuary in Florida (covering nearly 400 square miles). The outdoor recreational opportunities alone provide reason enough to visit the area, so there are many reasons to come to the Tampa Bay area. Whether traveling for business or pleasure we’ve got a list of the top reasons to visit Tampa Bay.
Reason #1- For all the exciting and entertaining possibilities
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – adventure park and one of the top zoos in North America.
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo – the #1 family-friendly zoo in the nation by Child and Parents magazines.
The Florida Aquarium – the top 10 aquariums in the country.
Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)- the largest science center in the southeastern United States, includes a planetarium and Florida’s only IMAX Dome Theatre.
Dinosaur World – authentic fossils and unearth a life-size dinosaur skeleton in the Boneyard.
Reason #2 – For The History
The Tampa Bay area is rich in history dating back more than 450 years — 150 years ago, Tampa became the railhead for cattle shipments to Cuba and almost 100 years ago the world’s first commercial flight was made from St. Petersburg to Tampa. And, Ybor City, known as the “Cigar Capital of the World,” once boasted 200 factories with 12,000 cigar-makers. Today, you can explore Tampa Bay’s history in a number of museums throughout the area, step back in time on the streets of Ybor City, and even take a reminiscent ride aboard an electric streetcar down Tampa’s streets.
Reason #3- To eat
Columbia Restaurant — the oldest restaurant in the state of Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world, with 17 dining rooms, and Spanish Flamenco dance performances
Bern’s Steak House – the largest wine collections in the world — about 6,500 labels
The Colonnade has been a South Tampa landmark since 1935 -“The Nade”
Tampa Bay also has a number of restaurant chains that began right here with their original locations: Beef O’Brady’s Family Sports Pubs, Checkers, Durage Steakhouse, Shells’ Seafood Restaurant, Hooters, Carrabba’s Italian Grille and Outback Steakhouse.
Reason #4- For Sports, Tampa Bay has it all.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Super Bowl Champions in 2003, call Tampa and the 65,890-seat Raymond James Stadium home. The stadium has hosted the Super Bowl on four separate occasions — 1984, 1991, 2001 and 2009.
The Tampa Bay Lightning- Tampa’s St. Pete Times Forum home, won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
The Tampa Bay Storm, an Arena Football team, holds the record for the most Arena Bowl victories — 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 2003.
The Tampa Bay Rays, the 2008 American League champions, call St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field home.
Finally, St. Petersburg now hosts the annual Firestone Grand Prix (formerly the Honda Grand Prix) every spring.
Reason #5- For a meeting or convention.
Tampa’s thriving downtown and renovated convention center offer conventioneers 600,000-square-feet of state-of-the-art meeting space as well as 6,500 rooms in and near its downtown location. In addition, more meeting space is available within the county at several locations throughout the county, including 7,500-square-feet at Westin Tampa Bay at Rocky Point and 12,500-square-feet at the Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza.
Reason #6 – For the Sunshine
According the National Weather Service, the sun shines an average of 361 days a year in Tampa Bay. It is notable that the last time Tampa suffered a direct hit by a hurricane was in 1921.
For you to sightsee and enjoy all of the above we have for all local, business and leisure travelers, Alpha Limousine, the oldest limo service in Florida’s Tampa Bay area. Alpha has served with pride all of west central Florida with a pristine, late-model limousine fleet and a staff of limousine professionals dedicated to your complete satisfaction.
They say you don’t have to look too far for adventure! Come to Tampa Bay!