Tampa Restarants & Sites

[sharlyn]

Will be in Tampa for the first time two days before our cruise in December. Anyone familiar with the area and some good restarants to visit? What tourist sites should I visit? would appreciate any help in this area.

[ecslady]

It's not right in Tampa, but go to St. Pete beach or the pier at St. Petersburg.....

here's link to the pier and activities http://www.stpete-pier.com/index.php

[outlaw1]

Try to take in YBOR CITY area of Tampa. Interesting shops and restuarants and not far from the port area. Also the Aquarium is next to the cruise piers.

[rebeccalouise]

Just got back from Tampa and loved the Zoo! It was one of the best zoos I have been to. My son loved the children's zoo and the they have a lovely manatee exhibit. Also, for a couple dollars you can feed the Giraffes. I have been to many zoos and this was my favorite.

[mii]

I found out alot of information is on the what I call the Table of Contents where you scroll down to North American Homeports and then hit gulf coast ports. There is all sorts of info on restaurants there by posters of CC.

 

Marilyn

[caviargal]

I lived in Tampa for 20 years. What a great city!

 

The Aquarium is one of the best and easy to reach. Ybor is ok, but IMO has lost a lot of its charm.

 

Are you staying near downtown? There are many very good restaurants in the Hyde Park Area, which is more residential than touristy.

 

For lunch, check out the Wine Exchange.

 

For a great steak, head to Charleys on Cypress. For Italian that is fresh and unpretentious, try Antipasto's on Platt. Mise en Place is a bistro which I used to really enjoy but the last two visits disappointed me.

 

If you have a car and like to be on the water, Oystercatchers is upscale and has a wonderful Sunday brunch. Rusty Pelican offers good food as well.

 

International Plaza is the home of trendy and Eclectic Bistro fits the bill fo creative food and live jazz.

 

Hope this helps.:)

[Cruise Arizona]

I love Busche Gardens. My MIL lives in St. Pete and she enjoys it too. She doesn't do any thrill rides, so don't be scared off by the thrill rides, there are plenty of other things to do that don't involve thrill rides. The African animals are beautiful to see. They also have a show that is sort of like the Lion King.

 

Not sure if it is your thing, but we enjoyed Busche gardens more than Disney World.

[woodofpine]

Downtown Tampa (I mean 'downtown' adjacent the cruise terminal etc.) is dead as a door nail at night. Extraordinarily so! Never ceases to amaze me...

 

But, there are some things of interest locally...

 

Restaurants:

 

Bern's Steak House (nationally ranked and unusual)

http://www.bernssteakhouse.com/

 

The Columbia Restaurant

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

(in Ybor City - which is youth central on weekend nights, don't get lost - the neighboring 'hoods' are that...)

 

The eateries mentioned by previous posters are worth considering. Hyde Park is worth a look.

 

Lowery Park Zoo and Busch Gardens, yep.

http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/

 

Findout what is playing at 'Skippers Smokehouse' outdoors for something local and interesting pop music a la cracker!

http://www.skipperssmokehouse.com/

 

St. Pete and its barrier island from Pass-a-Grille north to John's Pass to Clearwater are really outstanding strands.

http://www.johnspass.com/

 

In a funky wrought iron block a stroll from The Pier (more than a mere pier) is Janus Landing - again for the outdoor music enthusiast of the cutting edge... Wolfmother played this past Saturday night. see

http://www.jannuslandingconcerts.com/

 

For an unusual look at an 'old Florida' attraction there's Sunken Gardens,

http://www.stpete.org/fun/parks/sunken.htm

 

North of Clearwater (Scientology City) is Tarpon Springs which is an unusual touristic place of Greek culture and Spongers... (check out the sponge docks then Paul's on Dodecanese Street for steamed shrimp and beer)

http://www.tarponsprings.com/

 

I'd probably rent a car and stay out on St. Pete Beach or Treasure Island

then sort select from the above...

 

Enjoy!

[BaltiGator]

I "second" the recommendations for Bern's Steakhouse (expensive, but worth it) and the Columbia in Ybor City (inexpensive yet elegant and beautiful). They are each quintessential Tampa landmarks. (The Columbia in particular, it's been around for 100 years in that same location.)

[gbphipps]

I will "third" (lol) the recommendation for Bern's Steakhouse -- definitely worth it!

[shoreless]

Another vote for Bern's steakhouse. I haven't been there for many years, but still remember it as one of my alltime favorite restaurants.

 

I just clicked on the link and have been reading the menu; I really must try to get back to Tampa soon. :)

[dileep]

Another vote for Bern's steakhouse. I haven't been there for many years, but still remember it as one of my alltime favorite restaurants.

:)

 

Add another vote for Bern's. I was there in June and it was great. Ask for a tour of the wine cellar that has 80,000 bottles!

[floffsmgr]

Ditto for Bern's and Columbia. Don't forget to make reservations in the dessert room at Bern's, that is an experience all by itself!! Mmmmmm, I'm getting hungry!!!!

 

The State Aquarium is very nice and gives a lot of information about Floirda. We have always enjoyed the St. Pete Pier too. For a hint of Vegas, check out the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

[Mparis184]

This will be ou first visit to Tampa. How far is it from the airport to the port? Any idea how much a cab costs to the port from the airport?

 

Has anyone ever rented a car in Tampa? We will be in Tampa 2 days pre-cruise and will be renting a car. Do any of the car rental companies have a shuttle from the airport to the ship?

 

Many thanks,

 

Marion

[woodofpine]

CC's own ports section below answers a bunch of airport transfer cost and other public transportation questions,

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=45

 

a little added info on Ybor City below,

 

http://www.ybortimes.com/what-is-ybor.cfm

 

If one is a restaurant buff and is staying in Tampa proper, hitting the Columbia Restaurant and strolling Ybor on evening #1 would be a good meal and post travel day past time with a reservation for Bern's on night #2...

 

Just an idea...

[sharlyn]

Thanks for the info. I went to both websites and got lots of information. My husband and I love cuban sandwiches, beans and rice and all the seafood we can eat. Thanks again.

[caviargal]

Thanks for the info. I went to both websites and got lots of information. My husband and I love cuban sandwiches, beans and rice and all the seafood we can eat. Thanks again.

 

For a real cuban experience, try Le Teresita on Cypress which has been there for ages and serves fresh food at great prices. There are many other cuban restaurants on Cypress, also known as "Boliche Blvd".

 

I am one of those never impressed with Berns. I consider it an expense account restaurant and took customers there about 20 times. I think there are much better restaurants in Tampa.

 

Same goes for the Columbia which caters primarily to tourists.

 

JMPO.

[signman]

La Teresita is on Columbus Drive, about 4 blocks east of Dale Mabry. It is very good and very cheap.

 

http://roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=259

[caviargal]

La Teresita is on Columbus Drive, about 4 blocks east of Dale Mabry. It is very good and very cheap.

 

http://roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=259

 

Thanks for the correction! Got my streets mixed up.

[BaltiGator]

La Teresita is indeed another Tampa institution, and you'll sure find more locals there. But it lacks the ambiance and history of the Columbia. They both serve great, authentic food IMO, but for a first-time visitor to Tampa, I'd more highly recommend the Columbia.