What to Do in Tampa
Guide the family on a safari through Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (3000 E. Busch Blvd.). You'll be transported to the countries and landscapes of Africa the moment you walk through the arches of this extraordinary 335-acre animal preserve and theme park.
Immerse yourself in the Cuban culture of Ybor City : Learn about this district's historic cigar industry at Ybor Chamber Visitor Information Center (1600 E. 8th Ave.); take a walking tour offered by the Ybor City Museum State Park (1818 E. 9th Ave.); sample traditional café con leche at Carmine's (1802 E. 7th Ave.); and watch sensuous flamenco dancers while dining at the historic Columbia Restaurant (2117 E. 7th Ave). For things to do this weekend, live la vida loca (the crazy life) among thousands of club-hoppers along Seventh Avenue.
Don your beach attire and take a trip to the Gulf Coast beaches on the Pinellas Peninsula. These are some of the best sandy shores in the nation when it comes to climate, water, sand and safety.
Get acquainted with the man who turned Tampa into a winter resort at the Henry B. Plant Museum (401 W. Kennedy Blvd.) which occupies a wing of the railroad magnate's luxury 1891 hotel. The preserved Victorian-era building, with its sprawling veranda, ornate gingerbread trim and signature silver minarets, is part of the University of Tampa . During the annual Victorian Christmas Stroll, the halls are decked in 19th-century Christmas finery.
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Talk to the animals at ZooTampa at Lowry Park (1101 W. Sligh Ave.). Practice your bird calls in the zoo's free-flight aviaries, trumpet like the African elephants in the Ituri Forest and roar along with the white Bengal tigers in the Asian Gardens. See African creatures close up on the Safari Ride's train as it weaves around behind many of the zoo's animal enclosures. You can also feed giraffes, lorikeets and white rhinos, ride a camel or a llama, pet a stingray and gaze at Australian animals like kookaburras, koalas, wallabies and emus.
Take in the views at the Tampa Museum of Art (120 W. Gasparilla Plaza) on the waterfront of the Hillsborough River. The building itself is quite modern, wrapped in aluminum panels with LED lights peeking out of its perforations, while the view across the river features the University of Tampa's minarets. Inside, the view includes a wide range of styles such as Greek and Roman art dating as far back as 2300 B.C., contemporary photorealist oil paintings, photography from the 19th to 21st centuries and cutting-edge works by artists like Cindy Sherman.
Courtesy of Visit Tampa Bay
Looking for fun things to do with friends this weekend? Attend a rock concert or an ice hockey game at Amalie Arena (401 Channelside Dr.). The arena is home base for the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning and the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm and has recently hosted WWE wrestling events. Musical artists, including Ed Sheeran and Rush, also play at the arena. Simulated lightning bolts made by Tesla coils at the Lightning games make ice hockey even more exciting.
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Take a drive on the Sunshine Skyway, a 15-mile causeway spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay between the mainland north of Bradenton and the Pinellas Peninsula.
Tampa, FL
AAA’s in-person hotel evaluations are unscheduled to ensure the inspector has an experience similar to that of members. To pass inspection, all hotels must meet the same rigorous standards for cleanliness, comfort and hospitality. These hotels receive a AAA Diamond designation that tells members what type of experience to expect.
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Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection1207 S Howard Ave. Tampa, FL 33606
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Members save 5% or more and earn Marriott Bonvoy™ points when booking AAA/CAA rates!
Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel4200 Jim Walter Blvd. Tampa, FL 33607
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Hilton Tampa Downtown211 N Tampa St. Tampa, FL 33602
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The Westin Tampa Bay7627 W. Courtney Campbell Cswy. Tampa, FL 33607
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352,957
Elevation
27 ft.
Sales Tax
Sales tax is 8.5 percent in Hillsborough and 7 percent in Pasco County. An accommodations tax is 6 percent in Hillsborough County and 5 percent in Pasco County.
Emergency
911
Police (non-emergency)
(813) 231-6130; Sheriff (813) 247-8200
Fire (non-emergency)
(813) 274-7011
Hospitals
AdventHealth Carrollwood, (813) 932-2222; AdventHealth Tampa, (813) 971-6000; Memorial Hospital of Tampa, (813) 873-6400; Tampa General, (813) 844-7000.
Visitor Information
201 N. Franklin St., Suite 102 Tampa, FL 33602. Phone:(813)226-2752 or (800)448-2672
Air Travel
Commercial domestic and international flights entering Tampa land at Tampa International Airport (TPA). Several commercial airlines and private planes use St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). Private and corporate planes have access to Albert Whitted Airport (SPG) in St. Petersburg and Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF) in Tampa.
Rental Cars
Hertz, which offers discounts to AAA members, is at the car rental center at Tampa International Airport, (813) 874-3232; St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, (727) 532-4801; and at St. Pete Beach, (727) 360-1631; or phone (800) 654-3080.
Rail Service
Tampa's Amtrak station is at 601 N. Nebraska Ave. in downtown Tampa, behind historic Union Station. Daily service is offered; phone (813) 221-7600 or (800) 872-7245. Bus service to Union Station is available via HART routes 9, 12 and 400; phone (813) 254-4278.
Buses
Greyhound Lines Inc. is at 610 E. Polk St. in Tampa; phone (813) 229-2174.
Taxis
Major companies include United Cab Co., (813) 777-7777, and Yellow Cab Co., (813) 253-0121.
Public Transportation
HART serves Tampa and its immediate suburbs, including shopping malls and area attractions. Service also includes the TECO Line Streetcar System, which makes 11 stops along a 2.7-mile track between downtown Tampa and Ybor City. For HART bus and streetcar fares and schedules, phone (813) 254-4278.
As a AAA member, you'll save even more. Your AAA Travel Agent will check to see if AAA Vacations is combinable with other AAA member benefits, plus cruise and tour past passenger discounts and benefits.