Tampa Hotel & Activities for a day?

We're flying in on Friday night in March for a Sunday departure. What is the best area to stay in for ease of access to something to do on Saturday? Any can't miss activities? Two ladies, one thirty something and one sixty something.

Ybor City might be fun for dinner/drinks Friday evening. On Saturday rent a car and head over to St. Pete/Clearwater - lots of hotels, dining, shopping, nightlife, beach, etc. Avis, Hertz and Enterprise have drop offs close to the port. If you get a better deal returning the car to the TPA airport, an Uber to the port will run about $20.

Have a great cruise! :D

1. FOOD: when I'm in Tampa there is ONE dinner destination for me (if not a steak person you can skip this)

BERN'S ... one of the best steak places in the country ... arguably the largest wine cellar of any rest' in the WORLD. Not just dinner, it can be a full night of entertainment ... ask and you can tour the wine cellar (a true cellar with only a FRACTION of the wine collection), and the kitchen. And when you make your reservation (recommended) you'll be asked if you'd like a dessert ressie too - desert is a completely different room ... and WORTH IT. https://bernssteakhouse.com/ (and no it does NOT have to cost a million dollars ... a simple steak dinner comes with soup & salad and sides and a glass of wine OR a bottle that won't break the bank is EASY to do. Cruise dress is FINE. Been going here since the late 70's ... I show my age)

COLUMBIA ... when I can't get into BERNs I go to Columbia in YBOR ... been here forever and good food in an old 'Cuban' or latin style. It is HUGE but reservations again suggested. More on this one in a bit. http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

2. While the beaches of Clearwater are very nice (lived there for a while), perhaps you don't want to drive. THEN Tampa's Riverwalk is probably for you. A very nice (and safe) paved walk along the bayside and river that happens to connect most of the downtown museums. Tired of walking? there is a water taxi that runs the route with a pay once rate ... or better yet, downtown Tampa has a FREE RIDE service: https://www.tampasdowntown.com/getting-around/downtowner-ride-service/ Downtown hotels will all be close to Riverwalk ... I like the hotels close to the convention center myself (also close to the cruise terminals) https://thetampariverwalk.com/

3. Along Riverwalk is the Straz Center for the Performing Arts ... check the schedule and maybe you can catch a show or a concert .... this is the theater of Tampa. <The Barrymore hotel is just across the street and on Riverwalk>

4. Also along Riverwalk, near the 'cruise port' end is the Tampa Bay History Center. Here there is a sister of the Columbia Rest' .... Columbia Cafe.

open air

same menu as Columbia but not the full menu ....

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/Menus-By-Location/Locations/Tampa-Bay-History-Center

Live music on our waterfront, outdoor patio bar:

Friday 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday 7 p.m. - 10 p.m

5. YBOR was mentioned .... a few comments:

a. YBOR is outside of the 'free ride' zone I mentioned but IS accessible via the trolley

b. IMO YBOR is dead during the day and is a 'club scene' at night that does not wake up until 10pm or so .... the club area is one street (E 7th ave.. for a few blocks) and venturing much to either side is not something I'd recommend.

c. If you take the streetcar/trolley to YBOR with final destination Columbia you will have a bit of a walk .... I'd UBER/LYFT it.

d. there is a lil hidden gem in YBOR .... a very small Italian place .... not pizza!!!! LA TERRAZZA RISTORANTE

We did lunch one day at the Riverwalk area Columbia restaurant and it was excellent!