Tampa Travel Guide
Located on the Florida peninsula's west coast, Tampa is a thriving city where historic neighbourhoods co-exist with sleek skyscrapers, and where shrimp boats are docked next to cruise liners in the busy port. Vicente Martinez Ybor, a Cuban immigrant, put Tampa on the map when he introduced the cigar industry in the 1880s. This developed Ybor City, now fully restored to its Latin Quarter elegance.
Most visitors to the Tampa area stay in the resorts of St Petersburg and Clearwater, across Tampa Bay from the city. However, every visitor has ample reason to pay at least one visit to Tampa itself for the exciting attractions and museums on offer. Tampa is a firm family favorite due to the city's most popular attraction, the Busch Gardens entertainment park. Tampa is also within easy reach of Orlando, which is the site of the world-famous Walt Disney World and numerous other theme parks. Tourists staying in Tampa can look forward to some thrilling excursions, and enjoy both urban attractions and the sun, sand and sea of the resorts just outside the city.