TAMPA FLA

They reported Tocobaga Indian villages on the north shore of the bay and Calusa Indian villages on the south shore.

More about Tampa Florida History.

Modern Tampa is a city of neighborhoods, many of them originally inhabited by various ethnic and cultural groups.

A few of these neighborhoods close to downtown are:

1. Hyde Park, near downtown on the west side of the Hillsborough River. It has been renovated in recent years to create trendy housing, restaurants and shopping.
2. Ballast Point, Bayshore and Palma Ceia are old neighborhoods with fine large homes north of MacDill Air Force Base.
3. Davis Islands is a 1920's boom town development dredged up from Tampa Bay immediately south of downtown.

4. Harbour Island is immediately south of the heart of downtown Tampa. It was originally known as Seddon Island, and not to many years ago it was a seedy rundown industrial port. In 1979 it was purchased from the railroad, and redeveloped into today's fine condominiums, marinas, shops, offices and restaurants.

Like most Florida cities, Tampa has sprawled out from its center and is now surrounded by many beautiful suburbs and new towns.

Most areas of Tampa are safe, but like all big cities it's best to have some local advice before wandering around in some places and neighborhoods you don't know anything about.

TAMPA, FLORIDA HOTELS

1. Holiday Inn Express. This is a new motel, very clean and reasonably priced on the north side of town in New Tampa. Free breakfast, and very kid friendly. 8310 Galbraith Road (I-75 (exit 270) @ Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa Fla 33647. Tel: 1-800-423-0908.
2. Spring Hill Suites Tampa Brandon. This motel is in the Brandon area of Tampa, east of downtown. Nice and clean and convenient. 1051 S. Falkenburg Road, Tampa Fla 33619. Tel: 813-623-9990.
3. Palmer House Bed and Breakfast, 2221 Hinton Ranch Road, Lithia, FL 33547. The Palmer House Bed and Breakfast has a country feeling, yet it is close to Tampa and Orlando. A great place for a Florida getaway weekend. Relaxing, horse back riding, canoing on the Alafia River. Easy drive to Tampa. Southern hospitality. Hot tub, oak trees, bench swing. Learn more about this B&B or make reservations now! Click Here

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TAMPA, FLORIDA RESTAURANTS

1. Bern's Steak House. I first had dinner at Bern's in 1968, and still consider it to be one of the best steak houses in Florida. The place has great service and quality food, much of it grown on their own farm. They have an extensive menu and wine list. The dessert room upstairs is a treat and not to be missed. 1208 South Howard Avenue, Tampa Fla 33606. Tel: 813-251-2421.
2. The Columbia Restaurant. The Columbia is as much an Ybor City tourist attraction as it is a fine restaurant. The ambience is vintage Cuban and Spanish, with lots of arches and Spanish tile. As far as I know, the Columbia has been open continuously since 1905. They have many Cuban dishes like fried plantains, beans, tostones, yucca and rice. Their seafood is also wonderful. In addition to the good food, they have a live floor show with attractive and talented Spanish flamenco dancers. 2117 E 7TH Ave, Tampa Fla 33605-3903. Tel: 813-248-4961.
3. Saigon Bay Vietnamese Restaurant. Delicious and authentic Vietnamese food. They have the usual Pho noodle soup, bun bo nuong, many lightly stir fried entrees. The food is very healthy, similar to Thai cuisine. They focus on seafood here, and their Com Xao Cua (crab fried rice) is great. Prices are very reasonable. 2373 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, Fla 33612-5509. Tel: 813-971-0854.

TAMPA, FLORIDA ATTRACTIONS

1. Busch Gardens. This was one of the first major theme parks in modern Florida, having opened in 1959. It originally opened as a bird garden and hospitality center with free beer to guests who toured the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. It has been continuously updated, and is still a fun place to visit. It has a world class zoo with more than 2500 animals, and a bunch of excellent roller coasters. 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612. Tel: 1-888-800-5447.
2. The Florida Aquarium.One of the top aquariums in the world With more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and around the world! The Florida Aquarium's 2-acre outdoor water adventure zone lets the kids cool off while parents relax under the shade of the Tampa Tribune Cantina bar and grill with a good view of theplay area. Daily Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida 33602. Tel: 813-273-4000
3. The Ybor City Museum. This is a state historic park consisting of the Ybor City Museum, housed in the Ferlita Bakery building, the Casita, and the Garden. The park contains permanent exhibits on Vicente Martinez Ybor, the founding and early history of Ybor City, the cigar industry, the social clubs of the city, and the Ferlita Bakery itself. The Casita is actually one of seven small cottages, built for cigar workers' families that are located at this historic site. The Garden is a version of the Mediterranean-style patios seen in the late 19th century. 1818 East 9th Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33605. Tel: 813-247-6323.

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HOW TO FIND TAMPA, FLORIDA

Tampa is on the west coast of Florida about 85 miles west of Orlando and 60 miles north of Sarasota.

It is 25 miles east of downtown St. Petersburg.

It is at the intersection of I-4 and I-275.

Tampa Florida is also served by the highways that were in place long before the interstates: US-41, US-301 and SR-60.

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