If you are visiting Tampa Florida for the first time, the city is home to a rich historic heritage that includes Spanish, Cuban and Italian influences. These cultural blends make the city of Tampa and exciting place to explore.

Tampa, along with Miami things to do, is one of the most popular places where you can soak in Spanish cultural influences. In fact, some of the most popular fun things to do in Tampa can be found in Ybor historic district which is home to museums and charming shops.

The city of Tampa is also one of the most popular beach Vacation Spots in Florida as the city is only an hour’s drive from Kissimmee attractions, Orlando attractions and Orlando downtown nightlife.

Fun Things to do in Tampa: Festivals & Events

* Guavaween Festival, held in October in Ybor City, is the Latin version of Halloween and features live music and food contests.

* The Cigar Heritage Festival, held in November in Ybor district, is a renowned event and one of the most popular fun things to do in Tampa in this month. The festival features master cigar makers which show how hand-rolled cigars are made.

* Gasparilla Pirate Festival, held in late January, is one of the most popular events in Tampa where you can see a fully-rigged pirate ship sailing into the heart of Tampa, as well as people dressed in pirate clothing.

Fun Things to do in Tampa: Places of Interest

Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens is one of the most popular attractions in Tampa Florida as it is both an amazing amusement park as well as an eighty acre zoo where you can enjoy an African-style safari.

Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is along with Busch Gardens two of the most popular fun things to do in Tampa for families. The aquarium features many interactive programs where visitors can swim with the marine life that includes sharks.

The Henry B. Plant Museum

For history buffs, the Henry Plant Hotel/ Museum provides a great insight into how people lived in the 20th century. The hotel/ museum is home to many rooms which are open to the public to tour.

Ybor City District

Ybor City historic district, also known as the Latin District, is another popular place to visit in Tampa and admire the beautiful Spanish architecture, learn Ybor City history and soak in the thriving Latin culture here.

The Ybor City Museum State Park

The Ybor City Museum State Park is a state park home to the Ybor City Museum where you can see permanent exhibits on the founding and early history of Ybor City and learn about the history of Tampa.

Channel District

The Channel District, home to the Port of Tampa, is also an interesting place to be and see a variety of cruise lines and luxury sailboats.

Fun Things to do in Tampa: Sports

If you are a sports fan, Tampa is home to the NFL Tampa bay buccaneers NFL team and the Tampa bay lighting NHL team. The city of Tampa is also home to the New York Yankees spring training and the outback college football bowl game.

Fun Things to do in Tampa: Nightlife & Entertainment

* If you are traveling with the family Channelside Bay Plaza, nearby the Florida Aquarium, is perhaps one of the best places to hang out with the family.

Channelside Bay Plaza is a multi-entertainment complex home to a theater, IMAX, shops, restaurants and more; where you can spend a fun night out.

* For a more diverse night scene experience, head to the Latin District or Ybor district. Ybor City district is home to many live venues and bars to suit all tastes, as well as a comedy club at the Centro Ybor.

Fun Things to do in Tampa: Shopping & Dining

* If love retail shopping, you will find Channelside Bay Plaza a great place to shop. The plaza is home to a variety of shops where you can shop until your heart’s content.

* Another popular place to enjoy shopping and dining is Centro Ybor in Ybor City district. The plaza is home to restaurants, boutiques and theaters, where you can purchase souvenir gifts and enjoy Latin cuisine.

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If you are visiting the city for the first time, one of the most popular fun things to do in Miami Florida is spending time at the beach.

Things to do Along Florida's East Coast

Miami Florida is home to some of the most beautiful and trendy beaches in the world where you can enjoy fun water activities such as jet-skiing and surfing, or simply a relaxing time on the sand soaking  the sun.

Also, Miami is one of the most popular beach Vacation Spots in Florida as it is only half an hour drive from Fort Lauderdale.

At night, Miami Florida is home to a lively and buzzing night scene where you can enjoy anything from nightclubs and bars to family orientated musicals such as the ones at the famous Hollywood Beach Broadwalk.

Fun Things to do in Miami Florida: Outdoor Activities

* The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, located between North Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale, is a lovely two mile pedestrian trail where you can enjoy fantastic views of the ocean.

Apart from enjoying the lovely ocean views, Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is a perfect place to enjoy jogging, rollerblading, and cycling.

* Tropical Park is Miami’s largest and most popular city park and home to acres of grassland where you can enjoy a picnic, as well as sport facilities such as tennis and basketball courts.

Tropical Park, also boast a few lakes where you can enjoy swimming, fishing and paddle boating.

Fun Things to do in Miami Florida: Places of Interest

The Bacardi Building and Museum

The Bacardi Building, located in downtown Miami, is one of the most unique landmarks in the city, and features over 30,000 hand-painted murals.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The Vizcaya Museum is an old mansion open to the public where you can see lovely 19th century antiques. The mansion is also home to beautiful gardens where you can see coral stone walls and statues.

The Miami Children's Museum

The Miami Children's Museum is a popular place to visit among families and features fun interactive exhibits to engage the little ones.

The Venetian Islands

Exploring the luxury man-made islands of Miami Beach is also a popular thing to do in Miami. The Venetian Islands include San Marco Island, Biscayne Island, Di Lido Island, San Marino Island, Belle Island and Rivo Alto Island.

Fun Things to do in Miami Florida: Festivals & Events

Miami International Film Festival

The Miami International Film Festival, held in March, is a great place to catch independent domestic and foreign films.

The Calle Ocho Festival

The Calle Ocho Festival, held in March in Little Havana, is one of the most popular festivals in Miami where you can enjoy food, music and Latin culture.

Fete De La Musique

Fete De La Musique Festival, held in June in Coconut Grove, is a day long event that brings together artist from different music genres to play for the day.

Fun Things to do in Miami Florida: Nightlife & Entertainment

* If you like musicals and are traveling with the family, the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is home to the popular Hollywood Beach Theater which offers musical performances throughout the year.

For instance, Dancing in the Moonlight musical is one of the most popular performances among families.

* Bayside Marketplace is a much calmer and relaxed spot to hang out during the day and night for shopping and dining. In the evening, Marketplace is home to music bands that play for free.

* South Beach is another popular area to hang out if you are looking to enjoy some drinking and clubbing. In particular, Ocean Drive is home to the popular Clevelander club, which hosts a popular body painting contest.

Fun Things to do in Miami Florida: Eateries

The popular Ocean Drive Street, in South Beach, is one of the most popular places in Miami to find cheap eateries.

Fun Things to do in Miami Florida: Popular Beaches

Three of the most popular beaches in Miami include:

South Beach

South Beach, renown as a Spring Break destination, is also a great place to enjoy snorkeling. Also, South Beach is one of the few public beaches in Miami where people are allowed to be topless.

Hobie Beach

Hobie Beach Miami, located on Key Biscayne, is one of the best beaches to go if you intend on doing windsurfing as the bay front has great wind conditions.

Crandon Beach Park

Crandon Beach Park, also located on Key Biscayne, is a lovely beach that features a tropical rain forest park where you can enjoy some bird-spotting.

If you are traveling with kids, Crandon Beach Park also boasts a kid’s playground area and a carousel popular among the little ones.

Fun Things to do in Miami Florida: Shopping

* If you are taking a stroll on the famous Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, the Broadwalk is also home to charming shops where you can enjoy some souvenir shopping.

* Lincoln Road is another popular Miami shopping district where you can enjoy some retail shopping.

* If you are looking for upscale shopping, the districts of Collins and Washington Avenue are home to boutique shops where you can enjoy high-end shopping.


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