Exactly one month ago, we were traveling to Tampa Bay with my family. This region is about a four hour drive from Miami (it all depends where you are coming from).

The Tampa Bay region combines everything people love about Florida – roller coasters, Cuban culture, year-round outdoor activities, and waterfront views. I am here to tell you more so you can start falling in love even before traveling. I hope I can tempt you, so you book a trip pretty soon.

At this point you may be thinking that you already know Tampa and that you were there many years ago. Me too! I visited Tampa in 2018 on my way from Clearwater to Orlando, but let me tell you that this area has grown so much that you will find a totally different scene.

Day 1
Our family trip started with a visit to The Florida Aquarium with a quick lunch at their cafe. Visitors follow the water from inland springs and swamps downstream to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, visitors encounter 20,000 aquatic plants and animals, including four sharks in its enormous coral reef exhibit. You can bring a swimsuit and towel for your little ones to enjoy the splash pads.

⏱️ Plan to be here around two hours.

Our next stop was checking in at Hyatt Place Hyatt House Downtown. Great location, modern and clean hotel. The pool area facing downtown with an enormous terrace to unwind was the perfect addition to our rest time. As soon as we were ready for dinner we headed to the Historic Ybor City District.

We met at The Columbia Restaurant for the first time and from the time you stand outside and contemplate the fabulous building, to the moment you sit at the table, you will be amazed by everything you see around you.

Founded in 1905 by the Spanish-Cuban Hernandez Gonzmart family, this flagship Tampa location is a gem you don’t want to miss. From the original decor, the numerous diverse rooms, flavorful Spanish-Cuban cuisine with signature dishes like the “1905” salad and Cuban sandwich, great service and so much history.

Tip: Don’t forget to grab their signature salad dressing from their store or the Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center.

Day 2
We drove to Hyde Park Village for breakfast at a local icon, Goody Goody Burgers. One of America’s first drive-in restaurants, reborn as a modern diner, but the menu and the decorations are rooted in its earliest days. I had a huge banana pancake with coffee and that was enough to fuel me for many hours!

When you are done, you will feel the need to go for a walk and no better place to be than the painteresque Hyde Park Village, an open-air shopping district, with cute stores, art and the main park with the fountain.

The rest of the day was full of thrills and chills, at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay. Combining an African wildlife preserve and breeding program and a theme park filled with pulse-pounding roller coasters. The newest addition is Tigris, the tallest launch coaster in the State of Florida. The little ones will have a blast with kid-friendly rides, cool water fun and plenty of shows and adventures with Sesame Street friends!

The day ended with dinner at Armature Works, more than a dozen local restaurants in a carefully curated waterfront food hall.

Day 3
We woke up early for our last day and enjoyed a very good breakfast at the hotel then headed to Glazer Children’s Museum. Located in downtown’s central Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the brightly colored three-story building contains plenty of options to entertain and educate the kids of all ages.

⏱️ Plan to be here around two hours.

Right next to the museum and crossing the beautiful waterfront you can take the Pirate Water Taxi. Visitors can ride to destinations all along the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel, providing a fun way to explore Tampa Bay from the water. You can get a day pass and hop on and off as you wish.

After two stops we arrived at Ulele Tampa, a must visit, this place is absolutely gorgeous and the food and service are out of this world! Ulele features a menu inspired by Tampa Bay’s early native and Spanish explorers. The restaurant included a $5 million restoration of Tampa’s original public water pump house, along with the spring that once supplied the city’s drinking water. The patio is a great place to enjoy the sunset.

If you love oysters you have to order them, and even if you are not a big fan, try them at least once in your life. The desserts also need a special mention, my favorite, the homemade coconut flavored ice cream served on a coconut shell.

After a full lunch we decided the weather was just beautiful for a walk along the Tampa Riverwalk and arrived at the Tampa Museum of Art, a very nice museum with amazing water views to end our stay.

As you can read there is so much to do and visit that I am positive three days are not enough. I am counting the days to go back and eat again in these restaurants and visit the places I did not go.

Thanks Visit Tampa Bay for a perfect stay, great memories with the family, amazing experiences and diverse culinary options.