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Tampa is situated on the north shore of Tampa Bay in west Central Florida. Saint Petersburg lies west of the bay, while Bradenton is on the southern shore. The downtown business center of town is on the north shore of Hillsborough Bay (a small bay within Tampa Bay which is bordered by the eastern shore of Tampa Bay and the small peninsula of South Tampa) and Ybor City lies just to the east. MacDill Air Force Base is on the southern tip of South Tampa, while the city also extends to the north all the way to the newly incorporated area of New Tampa. HistoryThe Tampa Bay area was visited by many Spanish explorers, beginning with Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528. However, no long term permanent settlements were created until 1824 when the US federal government created a reservation for north Florida Seminole Indians. At the same time, the US created Fort Brooke to oversee the reservation as well as protect the strategic harbor. The 1880s saw the town's first population boom. In 1883, phosphate was discovered in the area, spurring the development of the mining and shipping industries in the area. Shortly after, Henry B. Plant completed work on his railroad linking Tampa to Jacksonville. He began promoting Tampa as a holiday spot and built the grand Plant Hotel as a luxury resort destination. In 1886, Jose Martinez Ybor opened Tampa's first cigar factory in Ybor City which encouraged the immigration of many Italian and Cuban factory workers. During the Spanish American War at the turn of the century, Tampa was the main port of departure for troops heading for Cuba. During this time, the Plant Hotel was converted into officer's accommodations, housing the Rough Riders and Teddy Roosevelt. In more recent times, MacDill Air Force Base was created in 1939 and the University of South Florida in 1956. Over the course of the Twentieth Century, Tampa has grown into the center of a large metropolitan area; it now hosts the regional headquarters of many international companies, has acquired numerous professional sports teams, and has even bid for the summer Olympics. PeopleTampa is a very diverse city. The first residents were the members of the Seminole Indian tribe that was relocated there from northern Florida and the soldiers stationed at Fort Brook to control the reservation. The town remained a mostly military town until the 1880s when Tampa saw its first major waves of immigration from Cuba and Italy. The major growth of the area did not occur until air conditioning became common in the years after World War II, but the region has been growing steadily since then. Tampa is now home to many native Floridians, including Seminoles, Cubans, and Italians, as well the residence of many 'transplants' from the Midwest and other areas of the states and new immigrants from the Caribbean and central America. Tampa's population swells during the winter months with the arrival of the 'snow birds,' retired persons from the northern U.S. and Canada who come down for a few months to enjoy the relative warmth. EconomyTampa has a growing economy and serves as a major port. Among others, Raymond James, Home Shopping Network, Outback Steakhouse, and a major portion of Citigroup are all headquarted in Tampa. Tampa's major industries today are phosphate mining, shipping, citrus processing, shrimping, and tourism. Get in
By planeTampa International Airport () (), , located near the waters of Tampa Bay along I-275. Saint Petersburg Airport () is an alternative only fifteen miles away, generally serving smaller routes and discount airlines. A bit further away is Sarasota International , offering proximity to beautiful Gulf beaches to the south of Tampa.By trainTampa's Amtrak station is located at 601 Nebraska Avenue in downtown Tampa. The Silver Service and Palmetto trains run daily from New York City or Miami to Tampa. The train journey through Florida offers great views, but be aware that the schedules are often more of a suggestion than a reality. By carTampa is easily accessible via the major interstate highways, I-75 from north and south, and I-4 from the east. From either highway, exit onto I-275 to reach Tampa. However, be prepared for frequent traffic jams particularly when it rains. By busTampa's Greyhound station is at 610 Polk Street in downtown Tampa. By boatCruise ships from five cruise lines operate from Tampa, mostly to Caribbean islands and Mexico. The Tampa cruise terminal is on the Ybor channel downtown. Get around
HART is Tampa's local bus service which runs various routes around the region. Tampa also has the TECO Line Streetcar that runs from downtown to Old Hyde Park and Ybor City. Tampa is, however, primarily a driving city and you will find that transportation will be much easier if you have access to a car. The main freeways in Tampa are Interstate 275, Interstate 4, the Veterans Expressway (toll FL 589), and the Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (toll FL 618). Some of the main east-west roads through town are Kennedy Boulevard (SR 60), Gandy Boulevard (SR 694), Hillsborough Avenue (US 92) and Fowler Avenue (SR 582), while some of the north-south roads are Dale Mabry Highway (US 92) and Florida/Nebraska Avenue (US 41). Traffic is especially bad during the rush hours: from about 7:30 to 9:30 am and 3:30 to 7:30 pm. During these times, try especially to avoid the notorious Malfunction Junction, the junction in downtown of I-275 and I-4. Driving in Tampa can be a bit daunting for those unfamiliar with the area, but with some city driving experience and a good navigator in the passenger seat, driving is probably the easiest way to get around Tampa. By CarCar rentals are the most convenient for of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.Car Rental Companies include: Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-462-5266, .Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-331-1212, .Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-527-0700, . Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-800-3665, .E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-277-5171, . Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-261-7331, .Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: 1-800-654-3131, ].Thrifty, Toll free: 1-800-847-4389, .See
English Language InstituteFlorida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Phone: (813) 273-4000, . Daily 9:30AM-5PM. Channelside district, just east of downtown. Fabulous aquarium following a drop of rain from a swamp through Florida's aquifer, to its rivers and out into the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Restaurant, gift shop, children's play area, touch tank, interactive dive experiences, and eco-tours of Tampa Bay. Adults $17.95, ages 3-12 $12.95.Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 West Sligh Avenue, Phone: (813) 935-8552, . Daily 9:30AM-5PM. One of the top-rated zoos in the country, featuring children's areas, restaurants, a manatee hospital, and first-rate encounters with animals from around the world. Make sure to tour the aviary and feed the lorikeets. Adults $15, ages 3-11 $10.50.Busch Gardens, McKinley Drive, Toll Free: 1-888-800-5447,. More than just an amusement park -- also a top-notch zoo. Expensive, but a very enjoyable day -- rides, shows, and the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales! This is a fun place for all ages, kids, teens, and even adults. It has a family friendly atmosphere with lots of things to do and see. The scenery is amazing; it has a feel of different places as you travel throughout the park. Rides vary from a huge merry go round to the famous rollercoaster, Montu. There are many different types of rides to choose from and also many roller coasters to choose from as well. Not a ride fan? You can check out the many shows they perform daily. Ice skating, singing, magic, birds, dolphins and other performances can be found all around the corners of Busch Gardens. Not a show fan either? Then check out the many food establishments spread out through the park. They offer fast food like popcorn and fries to a nice sit down meal. Also check Busch Gardens out during different holidays. They always have special events and offers. For instance, for Halloween they have Howl-O-Scream when the park is open all night long. They also have special events for over night stays, New Years, and special ticket sales for Florida residents. Always watch out for these special events because they happen all the time. If you do one thing while you’re in Tampa, go visit Busch Gardens. It is a great place to remind you about how fun Tampa really is. It is one of the biggest attractions in the Tampa Bay area. The rides, food, and shows will make you want to come back!Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E Fowler Av., Phone: (813) 987-6100, . Daily 9AM-6PM. Hands-on children's science museum, including an IMAX dome and stellar revolving exhibits. Great way to spend a day with the family. Adults $23.95, ages 2-12 $19.95.Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin Street, Phone: 813) 274-8982, . Opened in 1926 and located right downtown, the Tampa Theatre is a historic movie palace featuring a wide range of independent, foreign, and documentary films on a daily basis. Architecturally stunning both inside and out, it is no wonder that the Tampa Theatre has become both a city and national landmark being listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. It is Tampa's only non-profit theatre and operating costs are largely covered by its membership program, various corporate sponsors as well as ticket sales.University of Tampa. Formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel built at the turn of the 20th century by railroad magnate H.B.Plant, the beautiful old building is now used as the administration building and classrooms for the University of Tampa. It has been lovingly restored to most of its prior glory; the ballroom is a showpiece with its domed ceiling under brilliant silver minarets. There is a small, but very interesting museum in the building that recreates a large portion of Tampa's early history, as well as giving visitors a peek into how the hotel appeared when it first opened.University of South Florida. The main campus for this university. Blossoming from five buildings in its opening (1960) to 164 buildings on the Tampa campus alone, this beautiful college is now educating more than 29,000 students. With beautiful greenery, fountains, and named the “top architecture school in Florida” by the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design in 2002. A sports fan? The University of South Florida has you covered here as well! Home to the Division-1 football and basketball among others.Ybor City. Is a historic Spanish district located near downtown featuring a wide range of nightclubs, bars, and shops making it a popular evening and weekend hotspot. Originally home to Cuban and Italian immigrants the city was famous for its many cigar factories and is where the Cuban Sandwich first popularized in the United States. Ybor City is also a National Historic Landmark District and can be easily visited by catching one of its famous streetcars that connects downtown Tampa to Ybor City.Raymond James Stadium Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Do
Cruise ships, Port of Tampa.Gasparilla Pirate Festival, is an annual event consisting of several parades, live entertainment, and fireworks. The event is also known as the Mardi Gras of Tampa, and normally takes place on the last two Saturdays in January.Guavaween. offers daytime events and nighttime parade on the last Saturday in October in Ybor City.Sant'Yago Knight Parade is an illuminated nighttime parade that takes place one Saturday in February in Ybor City.Several film festivals take place at the Tampa Theatre several times a year.Read the Tampa Tribune -- Tampa has some sort of event going on nearly every weekend, especially in the spring and early summer. Art festivals, a terrific Renaissance festival, street festivals -- take advantage of the great weather and enjoy our city.The Tampa Bay Skating Academy in nearby Oldsmar has two NHL-sized ice surfaces.Tampa Theatre Historical point of Interest in Downtown Tampa. Catch an Indie Flick or a Folk performance.University of TampaUniversity of South FloridaLettuce Lake Park between I-75 and the University of South Florida has boardwalks that go through a nearly pristine area with 700 year old cypress trees, alligators, egrets and herons. One end of the boardwalk overlooks the Hillsborough River in its original state, a far cry from what it looks like in the downtown area.Work
Citigroup, Raymond James, Outback Steakhouse Corporate Office, Home Shopping Network, Tech Data. Buy
International Plaza MallWestshore Plaza MallEat
BudgetLa Teresita Inexpensive Cuban restaurant. A true Tampa institution.Mid-rangeBahama Breeze, 3045 N. Rocky Point Drive E., Phone: (813) 289-7922.SplurgeBern's Steak House, 1208 S Howard Av. +1 813-251-2421. .The Columbia Restaurant, 2117 East 7th Avenue, Phone: (813) 248-4961, . See description under "Drink".Cafe Don Jose, N. 56th St. A bit cheaper than the Columbia Restaurant, yet the quality seems to be much better.The Palm, 205 Westshore Plaza Dr. +1 813-849-7256. .Drink
Ybor City is a historic area of Tampa which now hosts the region's best known bar and nightclub district. In the 1980's it was reborn as an arts/bar district, but increased demand for rental space eventually crowded out the artists and independent, small-scale bars. Now chains and drunken hooligans predominate in the late hours. Although not spectacular, Ybor City now boasts a very respectable list of very dependable upscale restaurants. Make sure you find time, however, to have at least one meal at The Columbia, a beautiful Spanish restaurant in continuous operation since 1905. Excellent food and attentive service for a very affordable price -- make sure you stay for the Latin dance show staged twice each evening (nominal fee). Ybor’s newest addition, Centro Ybor, includes a 20-screen movie theater with stadium seating, restaurants, a comedy club, retail stores, and Steven Spielberg's fun center, GameWorks. Sleep
BudgetAmerisuites Tampa Airport/Westshore Hotel, 4811 W Main St Tampa, FL 33607 Tel: (813) 282-1037. A favorite of both business and leisure travelers, AmeriSuites hotels offer guests an attractively designed suite with 25% more space than a traditional hotel room.Amerisuites Tampa/Busch Gardens Hotel, 11408 North 30th Street Tampa, FL 33612 Tel: (813) 979-1922. Most AmeriSuites provide guests with amenities such as kitchenettes with microwaves and refrigerators, complimentary Bountiful Breakfast Buffet, fitness rooms and pools.Amerisuites Tampa/Sabal Corporate Park Hotel, 10007 Princess Palm Avenue Tampa, FL 33619 Tel: (813) 622-8557. AmeriSuites has received the Three-Diamond designation from AAA in recognition of its good design, exceptionally well-maintained structures, quality of guest service and chain-wide consistency.Amerisuites Budget Hotel , Various locations, free Wifi access, breakfast and special offers.Best Western All Suites Hotel Near USF Behind Busch Gardens, 3001 University Center Drive, +1 813 971-8930, Toll-free: +1 800 786-7446, Fax: +1 813 971-8935, .Best Western Brandon Hotel & Conference Center, 9331 Adamo Drive, +1 813 621-5555, Toll-free: +1 877 287-6026, Fax: +1 813 699-1939, .Best Western Tampa, 734 S Dale Mabry Highway, +1 813 490-2378, Fax: +1 813 490-2380, .Best Western The Westshore Hotel, 1200 N West Shore Boulevard, +1 813 282-3636, Toll-free: +1 800 449-4343, Fax: +1 813 282-0055, .Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 8610 Elm Fair Boulevard, +1 813 490-1000, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 4750 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., +1 813 877-6061, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 9402 Corporate Lake Dr., +1 813 885-3700, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 8310 Galbraith, +1 813 910-7171, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 3025 North Rocky Point Dr, +1 813 287-8585, Motel 6 Tampa Downtown, 333 E Fowler Avenue, +1 813 932-4948, Fax: +1 813 931-4577, Motel 6 Tampa East - Fairgrounds, 6510 US 301, +1 813 628-0888, Fax: +1 813 620-4899, Residence Inn Tampa Downtown, 101 East Tyler Street, +1 813 221-4224, Fax: +1 813 221-4228, Residence Inn Tampa North/I-75 Fletcher, 13420 North Telecom Parkway, +1 813 972-4400, Fax: +1 813 972-3376, Residence Inn Tampa Sabal Park/Brandon, 9719 Princess Palm Avenue, +1 813 627-8855, Fax: +1 813 627-8899, Residence Inn Tampa Westshore/Airport, 4312 W. Boy Scout Boulevard, +1 813 877-7988, Fax: +1 813 877-8078, SpringHill Suites Tampa Westshore Airport, 4835 West Cypress Street, +1 813 639-9600, Fax: +1 813 639-9700, Tampa Stadium (Hillsborough) Microtel Inn & Suites, 5405 North Church Ave., +1 813 739-2244, Fax: +1 813 739-2250, Mid-rangeCrowne Plaza Hotel, 10221 Princess Palm Avenue, +1 813 623-6363, DoubleTree Guest Suites Tampa Bay Hotel, 3050 North Rocky Point Drive West, (813) 888-8800. Embassy Suites Hotel Tampa-USF Busch Gardens, 3705 Spectrum Blvd, (813) 977-7066, Holiday Inn Tampa Busch Gardens Hotel, 2701 E. Fowler Ave, (813) 971-4710. Courtyard Tampa Brandon, 10152 Palm River Road (Rt 60 & Falkenburg Road behind Circuit City), +1 813 661-9559, Fax: +1 813 661-4583, Courtyard Tampa Downtown, 102 E Cass St, +1 813 229-1100, Fax: +1 813 224-9200, Courtyard Tampa North/I-75 Fletcher, 13575 Cypress Glen Lane, +1 813 978-9898, Fax: +1 813 978-1835, Courtyard Tampa Westshore/Airport, 3805 West Cypress, +1 813 874-0555, Fax: +1 813 870-0685, Fairfield Inn Tampa Brandon, 10150 Palm River Road, +1 813 661-9719, Fax: +1 813 661-0416, Tampa Airport Marriott, Tampa International Airport, +1 813 879-5151, Toll-free: +1 800 564-3440, Fax: +1 813 873-0945, TownePlace Suites Tampa North/I-75 Fletcher, 6800 Woodstork Road, +1 813 975-9777, Fax: +1 813 975-9776, SplurgeSafety Harbor Resort, 105 North Bayshore Drive, Tampa. +1 888 237-8772,Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Drive, +1 813 874 1234, +1 813 207 6790, Hyatt Regency Tampa, 211 N. Tampa St., Tampa. +1-813 225-1234. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 5223 N. Orient Rd., Tampa. + 1-813 627-7625.Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza, 4200 Jim Walter Blvd, +1 813 877-9200, Toll-free: +1 800 644-2685, Fax: +1 813 877-3000, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Boulevard Clearwater Beach + 727-595-1611 FAX: 727-596-8488 Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, 700 South Florida Ave, +1 813 221-4900, Toll-free: +1 888 268-1616, Fax: +1 813 204-6342, Tampa Marriott Westshore, 1001 N Westshore Boulevard, +1 813 287-2555, Toll-free: +1 800 564-3489, Fax: +1 813 289-5464, Westin Tampa Harbour Island Hotel, 725 South Harbour Island Boulevard, +1 813 229-5000. Wyndham Westshore Tampa Hotel, 4860 West Kennedy Boulevard, +1 813 286-4400.Rentalsrentalintampa.comGet out
Disney World''' in Orlando.
Tampa is a United States city in Hillsborough County, on the west coast of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County.. The population within the city limits in 2006, according to the City Government was 334,550. it is the third-largest city in Florida, behind Jacksonville and Miami. Tampa is a part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area, most commonly referred to as the "Tampa Bay Area". The four-county area is composed of roughly 2.7 million residents, making it the second largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the state, and the third largest in the Southeastern United States. The continuous Tampa Bay urban area reached a rare milestone earlier than expected in April of 2007 by passing the 4 million population mark. The area also gains an unexpected 97,000 people a year since the turn of the century, pushing the current population to numbers that were not expected for another decade. It is the largest media market in the state of Florida and twelfth largest DMA Market in the United States. History
The word "Tampa" is a Native American word used to refer to the area when the first European explorers arrived in Florida. Its meaning is believed to be "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa, a Native American tribe. Other historians claim the name refers to "The place to gather sticks". "Sticks of fire" may also relate to the high concentration of lightning strikes that Tampa Bay receives every year during the hot and wet summer months.Toponymist George R. Stewart writes that the name was the result of a miscommunication between the Spanish and the Indians, the Indian word being "itimpi", meaning simply "near it" (Stewart, pg. 231). The name first appears in the "Memoir" of Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda (1575), the author of which had spent 17 years as a Calusa captive. He calls it "Tanpa" and describes it as an important Calusa town. While "Tanpa" is the apparent basis for the modern name "Tampa", archaeologist Jerald Milanich places the Calusa village of Tanpa at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor, the original "Bay of Tanpa". Later Spanish explorers, having failed to locate Charlotte Harbor, assumed that the large bay they did find was the Bay of Tanpa, and the name stuck with the current Tampa Bay. In April of 1528, the ill-fated Narváez Expedition landed near Tampa with the intention of starting a colony. After being told by the natives of better riches to the north, they abandoned their camp after only a week. A dozen years later, a surviving member of the expedition named Juan Ortiz was rescued by Hernando de Soto's expedition. A peace treaty was conducted with the local Indians and a short-lived Spanish outpost was established, but this was abandoned when it became clear that there was no gold in the area, and that the local Indians were not interested in converting to Catholicism and were too skilled as warriors to easily conquer. When Great Britain acquired Florida in 1763, the bay was named Hillsborough Bay, after Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the Colonies. Spain transferred Florida to the United States in 1821 (see Adams-Onís Treaty). An Indian reservation was established in what is now North Tampa. As part of efforts to firmly establish United States control over southern Florida, then a vast swampy wilderness with sparse Seminole Indian population, a military outpost ("Cantonment Brooke") was established at what is now the Tampa Convention Center in Downtown Tampa in 1823 by Colonels George Mercer Brooke and James Gadsden. In 1824, the post was renamed Fort Brooke. It was a vital military asset in the Seminole Wars. The village of Tampa began to grow up around the fort, which was decommissioned in 1883. Except for two cannons now on the University of Tampa campus, all traces of the fort are gone. Tampa was incorporated on January 18, 1849 with 185 inhabitants (excluding military personnel stationed at Fort Brooke). The city's first census came in 1850 when Tampa-Fort Brooke accounted for 974 residents. Tampa was reincorporated as a town on December 15, 1855, and Judge Joseph B. Lancaster became the first Mayor in 1856. During the Civil War, Fort Brooke was occupied by Confederate troops, and martial law was declared in Tampa. In 1862, a Union gunboat shelled the city during the Battle of Tampa. Union forces took Fort Brooke in May of 1864, and occupied the town for the next year. Phosphate was discovered in the Bone Valley region near Tampa in 1883. Tampa is now one of the world's leading phosphate exporters. Henry B. Plant's railroad reached the town shortly thereafter, enabling the commercial fishing industry to thrive. In 1885, the Tampa Board of Trade persuaded Vicente Martinez Ybor to move his cigar manufacturing operations to Tampa from Key West. The Ybor City district was built to accommodate the factories and their workers. Tampa soon became a major cigar production center. Thousands of Italian (the majority coming from Alessandria Della Rocca and Santo Stefano Quisquina, two small Sicilian towns which Tampa maintains strong ties with) and Cuban immigrants came to Tampa to work at the factories. Henry B. Plant built a lavish luxury hotel called the Tampa Bay Hotel in the city in 1891, which became the foundation of the University of Tampa when it was established in 1933 becoming Tampa's first institute of higher learning. Tampa was an embarkation center for American troops during the Spanish-American War. Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were part of the 30,000 troops stationed in Tampa for training. In 1904, local civic association Ye Mystic Krewe "invaded" the city for the first time, establishing the yearly Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Before it was incorporated two category 4 hurricanes hit Fort Brooke nearly destroying the whole Fort and town. In 1921 a category 4 hit Tampa. Illegal bolita lotteries became very popular among the Tampa working classes, especially in Ybor City, where many gambling parlors sprang up. Profits from the bolita lotteries and Prohibition-era bootlegging led to the development of several organized crime factions in the city. The first boss of Tampa's organized crime world was Charlie Wall, but various power struggles culminated in consolidation of control by Sicilian mafioso Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his faction in the 1950s. After his death in 1954 from cancer, control passed to his son Santo Trafficante, Jr., who established alliances with families in New York and extended his power throughout Florida and into Batista-era Cuba. The University of South Florida was established in 1956, sparking development in northern Tampa and nearby Temple Terrace. There were four attempts to consolidate Tampa with Hillsborough County (1967, 1970, 1971, and 1972), all of which failed at the ballot box with the biggest margin was 33,160 for and 73,568 against the proposed charter in 1972. The city of Tampa grew rapidly, growing by another 150,289 residents from 1950-1960, but only grew by 2,600 (population:277,714) people from 1960-1970. It lost about 9,000 residents from 1970-1980,(population:271,523) but has grown past the 1970 point and is now 303,447 and is estimated at 333,040 and is expected to rise even further to 352,285 by 2010, which would be a 80,000 increase from the figure in 1970. The biggest development of the city was the development of New Tampa that started in 1988 when the city annexed a 24-square mile (mostly rural) area between I-275 and I-75. Today, the district boasts over 22,000 inhabitants. With the advent of air conditioning, thousands of new residents have arrived in Tampa from the northern United States. The population continues to grow rapidly, and construction is proceeding rapidly on new housing developments around Tampa. Tampa is known for its abbundance of lightning, being dubbed "The Lightning Capital of America." During the summer months (rainy season) East coast and Gulf coast seabreezes clash along Florida's Gulf coast, generating nearly daily Thunderstorms in the summer, with the Tampa Bay area accumulating more than any other location. Tampa is also nicknamed "Cigar City" for its historic cigar factories headed by Victor Martinez Ybor, and "Pirate City," for the city's historic association with swashbuckling thieves and criminals in the city's early days. Others include "Big Guava" and "T Town." On January 5, 2002, just four months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 15-year-old amateur pilot Charles Bishop stole a Cessna plane and flew into the 42-story AmSouth Plaza building in Downtown Tampa. Bishop died, but there were no other injuries (because the crash occurred on a Saturday, when few people were in the building). A suicide note found in the wreckage expressed support for Osama bin Laden. Bishop had been taking a prescription medicine for acne called Accutane that may have had the side effect of depression or severe psychosis. His family later sued Hoffman-La Roche, the company that makes Accutane, for $70 million; however, an autopsy found no traces of the drug in the teenager's system. See also 2002 Tampa plane crashIn 2004, The Marvel Comic themed film "The Punisher" starring Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Rebecca Romijn, Roy Scheider, and Will Patton was filmed in Tampa and Pinellas county. Geography
Tampa is located on the West coast of Florida at (27.970898, -82.464640). It is bordered by two bodies of water: Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay , which both flow to form Tampa Bay, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Hillsborough River (Florida) flows out into Hillsborough bay, passing directly in front of Downtown Tampa and supplying Tampa with its main source of water. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 441.9 km² (170.6 mi²). 290.3 km² (112.1 mi²) of it is land and 151.6 km² (58.5 mi²) of it (34.31%) is water. The highest point in the city is only in the forties. Weather and climate
Tampa's climate is subtropical, with a threat of frost about once every 2-3 years. Highs usually stay between 65 and 95 °F (18 and 35 °C) year round, and lows rarely go below 32 °F (0 °C). These occasional freezes are an enormous threat to area agriculture and aquaculture. Likewise, summer temperatures are predictable, and have never risen above 100 °F (38 °C). The all-time record high temperature in downtown was 99 °F (37 °C), recorded on June 5, 1985. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Tampa was 18 °F (-7.8 °C) on December 13, 1962. In the Great Blizzard of 1899, Tampa suffered its one and only blizzard, with bay effect snow coming off of Tampa Bay. The last measurable snow in Tampa occurred on January 19, 1977; the accumulation amounted to 0.2 inches. Fog can also be an occasional problem in the winter and spring. Temperatures are hot from May through October, which coincides with the rainy season. These summer days have highs around 90 °F (32 °C) and high humidity. The summer nighttime temperature drops to only around 75 °F (23 °C). Other times of the year, the temperatures are moderate and sunshine is abundant. Thunderstorms are a major concern on summer afternoons, as Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S. High winds, small hail, and torrential rain often accompany these common afternoon thunderstorms which can be severe. Tornadoes are not unheard of. These storms often move out over the Gulf of Mexico at night, where they are easily seen from land as spectacular light shows. Tampa has a pronounced wet season, averaging 20.6 inches (524 mm) between July and September, but only 6.2 inches (157 mm) between November and January. The wettest month is August, which averages 7.6 inches (193 mm); November is the driest month, averaging only 1.6 inches (41 mm). Yearly precipitation averages 44.8 inches (1137 mm). Another major concern for Tampa is the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks in September. Tampa feels the effects of tropical systems, on average, every two to three years, but the city has not had a direct hit by a hurricane since the 1930s. If a category four or five hit the area, Tampa would see a storm surge of 25-30 ft. This surge, coupled with the fact that most of the downtown area is within five feet of sea level, means that Tampa could see greater destruction than Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst disasters in American history. Tampa also is popularly known as the "Lightning Capital of the United States" (Darwin, Australia maintains the World title), due in part to the frequent, dangerous and (on rare occasions) deadly lightning strikes. Culture
TourismGalleries and museumsAfrican Art GalleryAmerican Victory MuseumArtists Unlimited located in the Channelside district.Cigar Museum And Visitor Center is in Ybor City.Covivant Gallery is on North Florida av. heading downtown.Flight 19, a gallery located in the Union Train Station located at 601 North Nebraska Ave. is programmed by Experimental SkeletonGraphicstudio is a world famous print studio located at USF.Henry B. Plant Museum is located at the University of Tampa across the Hillsborough River from downtown.Kid City, the Children's Museum of Tampa. It is located alongside Lowry Park ZooMuseum Of Science and Industry (MOSI)Saunders Planetarium is part of MOSI.SS American Victory The American Victory Mariners Memorial & Museum Ship is a unique and innovative maritime attraction aboard the World War II era merchant ship SS American Victory.Tampa Bay History Center displays artifacts, memorabilia, maps, military uniforms and photographs depicting life in the Tampa Bay regions from 12,000 years ago to the present. Changing exhibits also are featured. It is located at the corner of Franklin and Platt Streets.Tampa Museum of Art is in downtown on the Hillsborough River.Tampa Police Museum preserves historically important record and equipment and promotes enthusiasm for a career in police work.Ybor City Museum State Park is near downtown Tampa in Ybor City.Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is a photography museum located at the corner of Tampa and Jackson Streets, across from the Hyatt.USF Contemporary Art MuseumAttractions and points of interestFlorida AquariumAdventure Island, a 23-acre water park composed of fantastic slides, (wave) pools, and a lazy river. Adventure Island is owned by Busch Brewing Company is directly across the road from the famed Busch GardensChannel District, Tampa, upscale nightlife district featuring higher-end restaurants, clubs, and an IMAX movie theatreSoho, trendy nightlife district featuring upscale clubs, many fine restaurants, and a 24-hour StarbucksTampa Bay Performing Arts Center at http://tbpac.org is the largest performing arts complex in the Southeast, presenting high quality performing arts programming from major Broadway tours to grand opera, dance, cabaret, comedy and concerts to the region. TBPAC is also home to the Patel Conservatory, which opened in 2004.Historic Hyde Park is a historical district in South Tampa with many fine architectural examples.The Skatepark of Tampa is a world-famous skatepark, with many professional skateboarders flocking to it in January for the Tampa Am, and in March, for the Tampa Pro skateboard contests.Tampa Union Station is an historic train station between downtown and Ybor City.Park Tower, once called the Lykes Building, was the tallest skyscraper in the Tampa skyline when it was first built in 1973.Ybor City is a historic district near downtown. It is a hotspot at night (especially on the weekends due to the many nightclubs, bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues in the area). Ybor City and Tampa in general were an integral part of the Florida death metal scene.West Tampa, south of Raymond James Stadium, includes many Cuban and Spanish businesses, along Columbus Drive. Columbus Drive is also known as Boliche Boulevard after a famous Cuban dish. La Teresita, La Ideal, Lincoln Restaurant, The Italian American Club, and the Letter Carriers Hall are some of the well known local gathering places in Tampa. The "Brothers to the Rescue" Corner monument is in West Tampa at Dale Mabry Highway and Columbus Drive.Malibu Grand Prix, renamed to Tampa Grand Prix, featuring a large realistic go kart track, and other family attractionsSeminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 24-hour gaming/nightlife venue and certified four-diamond hotel/resortHorse Racing at Tampa Bay Downs, near Oldsmar, first opened in 1926. The Tampa Bay Downs live racing season is from December to May with simulcasting year round. They also have a card room offering poker games.Greyhound Racing at Tampa Greyhound Track first opened in 1933. They have live racing from June to December, with simulcasts year round. They also have a card room offering poker games.Zoological parks and aquariumsBig Cat Rescue is a non-profit sanctuary for large cats. The facility is in the Citrus Park area and is open to the public.Busch Gardens is a popular theme park with rides, shows and animals. The newest roller coaster, Sheikra, is vertical drop roller coaster, one of only two in the United States. The other one is Griffon, at Busch Gardens Europe. Florida Aquarium is located in the Channel District near downtown.Lowry Park Zoo is rated one of the nation's top mid-sized zoos.Suncoast Primate Sanctuary.University of South Florida Botanical Gardens.LandmarksSulphur Springs Water Tower is a highly visible but somewhat mysterious landmark.Sidewalk along upscale Bayshore Boulevard, longest continuous sidewalk in the U.S.Babe Zaharias Golf Course in the Forest Hills area of Tampa has been designated a Historical Landmark by the National Register of Historic Places. It was bought in 1949 by the famous 'Babe' who had a residence nearby and closed at her death. In 1974, the City of Tampa opened the golf course as a public facility for the enjoyment of golfers.The Story of Tampa, a public painting by Lynn Ash, is a 4' x 8' oil on masonite mural that weaves together many of the notable aspects of Tampa's unique character and identity. It was commissioned in 2003 by the City of Tampa's Public Art Program and can be found in the lobby of the Tampa Municipal Office Building.The Tampa Riverwalk is a project in the works, designed to open the Hillsborough River, which winds through the city, to the people.The city of Tampa is proposing building a more recognizable landmark in the downtown area - and one idea that has been proposed is a Space Needle building similar to that of Seattle's. Another plan calls for four large fabric "gates" to be placed at four areas leading into the downtown area that would be illuminated at night and would be recognizable to outside visitors, welcoming them into the downtown area. EventsOutback Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game held at Raymond James Stadium, normally on New Year's Day (January 1).Gasparilla Pirate Festival is an annual event consisting of several parades, live entertainment, and fireworks. The event is also known as the Mardi Gras of Tampa. The main parade takes place on the last Saturday of January along Bayshore Blvd, happening the afternoon after a pirate ship (and a flotilla of 300+ private boats) "invades" the city and the mayor surrenders the key to the city at the Convention Center.Sant'Yago Knight Parade is an illuminated nighttime parade that takes place one Saturday in February in Ybor City.Florida State Fair lasts over a week in February and features livestock, food, entertainment and midway rides. It takes place at the Florida State Fairgrounds.Guavaween offers daytime events and nighttime parade one Saturday in October in Ybor City.Tropical Heatwave is a diverse series of concerts sponsored by community radio 88.5 WMNF.The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival takes place in October at several local venues including the Tampa TheatreBonk Festival of New Music is an annual event to promote public awareness of new music and to foster relationships between musicians. It takes place at a variety of venues around Tampa.Tampa Bay Jewish Film FestivalTampa International Film FestivalImagine International Film FestivalPerforming artsCinemaTampa Theatre is a historic movie palace that shows a wide range of independent, foreign and classic films in addition to an occasional live show. It also is the home of several film festivals that occur throughout the year.Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) has an IMAX dome theaterThe Fun-Lan Drive-In is the only drive-in theater left in Tampa. Fun-Lan has four screens each showing first-run movies. There is also a flea market in the morning five days per week. (The Ruskin area just south of the city is home to the Ruskin Drive-In, one of America's oldest.)TheatreFriday Morning Musicale The building, originally built in 1926, now serves as a community center and theatre. It is in Hyde Park area of Tampa.Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is located in downtown on the Hillsborough River and hosts a variety of live shows and concertsTampa Theatre shows classic and art house films. It occasionally hosts live performances.Jobsite Theater is downtown's 8-year old regional theater company, and resident theater company of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts CenterMusicThe Florida Orchestra in a professional orchestra that plays concerts in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and ClearwaterThe Tampa Bay Symphony is an all-volunteer community orchestra that gives concerts throughout the Tampa Bay areaTampa in TV/film/novels/pop cultureAir ForceAnna in the Tropics (play by Nilo Cruz)Black Like MeCigar City Mafia by Scott M. DeitcheCocoonCop and a HalfCoupe de VilleEdward ScissorhandsA Guy Named JoeGoodfellasHell HarborLethal Weapon IIIThe NorsemanOrion's CloudThe Parent Trap IIThe PunisherSecond Noah (TV Series)Strategic Air CommandA Time To KillTony Hawk's UndergroundTriggerfish Twist (novel)"100 Tears"See also: Tampa Chapter of the FL Motion Picture and Television Assoc. For up to date information on the film and television industry in the Tampa Bay area, go to Green Room Tampa BayLanguagesAs of 2000, English spoken as a first language accounted for 77.43% of all residents, while 22.56% spoke other languages as their mother tongue. The most significant was Spanish speakers who made up 17.76% of the population, while French came up as the third most spoken language, which made up 0.63%, and Italian was at fourth, with 0.56% of the population. ReligionTampa's first church was the First Methodist Church, founded in a cabin by circuit rider J.C. Lay in 1846. The most famous church, however, is the Sacred Heart Church which was officially opened in 1905. The city also contains St. Paul's A.M.E. Church which was founded by Reverend Thomas W. Long in 1870 and is Tampa's oldest African-American congregation, and First Presbyterian Church which is housed in a Spanish mission style building from 1930. There are also many other churches such as St. Patrick Catholic Church and Christ the King Catholic Church. The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was one of the first also, in 1899 the church was downtown on top of the old railroad station which is still there today. It has since been remodeled into restrooms. The church moved in the 1920's to Hyde Park Avenue. And has been a part in starting satellite churches throughout the area. ShoppingInternational Plaza and Bay Street, located in the Westshore business district, is home to many upscale stores: (with Nordstrom, Dillard's, Robb & Stucky Interiors and Neiman Marcus as anchors) as well as the Renaissance Hotel, which was recently built on the premises. International Plaza is located next to Tampa International Airport.WestShore Plaza is an upper-middle class shopping center, one mile away from International Plaza and Bay Street. On the middle class end, the mall is anchored by Sears and JCPenney, and on the higher end, anchored by Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue.University Mall, in the northern part of the city near the University of South Florida, with Sears, Macy's, Dillard's, Steve and Barry's University Sportswear, and Burlington Coat Factory as anchors.Westfield Brandon, A fairly large mall located in an eastern suburb, Brandon, with Sears, Dillards, Macy's and JCPenney as anchors. Westfield Citrus Park, A mid-size mall located in the north western part of the county in Citrus Park, located northwest of the city. Like the other Westfield mall in the area, it is anchored by Sears, Dillard's, Macy's and JCPenney.Hyde Park Village, a small collection of specialty boutiques anchored by Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma. It has a pleasant park-like setting. Hyde Park is accessible by trolley from downtown, the Cruise Port and Ybor City.SportsSee also
Neighborhoods in TampaFamous people from Tampa, FloridaMayors of Tampa, FloridaInternational Arts and Film Foundation (IAFF Official Site)Further reading
Deitche, Scott M. Cigar City Mafia : A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld (2004), Barricade Books ISBN 1-56980-266-1Stewart, George R. Names on the Land, Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston (1967).External links
City of Tampa Web siteTampa Bay Convention and Visitors BureauTampa Chamber of CommerceTampa Bay History CenterTampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling FestivalTampa Meetings Info
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