Many people know that Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida after Miami and Jacksonville, and that it’s home to Gridiron greats the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Further, a few souls who are mad about stats might also report that Tampa’s estimated 2018 population was 392,890 and that it’s a growing city which gains around 97,000 residents each year. And there’s little doubt that they’ll also remind you that the Tampa Bay Region is home to more than three million people, and perhaps that 13 per cent of the population has Cuban ancestry.
Meanwhile, official tourist figures state that 23 million people visit Tampa/Hillsborough County annually, spending $5.9 billion during their stopovers, and that domestic visitors make up 61.4 per cent of the market.
So if you’re based Stateside and you’re looking for a vibrant vacay spot for 2020, you might be wondering exactly what this fabulous Floridian city has to offer you and your family.
So with that in mind, we’ve trawled the depths of the internet to draw together the top tips for Tampa tourists in 2020 – sit back, relax and gorge yourself on our brilliant brain pickings.
Tampa Bay Boat Show 2020
Tampa’s a great seafaring city, and if you enjoy yachting, powerboats or generally messing around on the river, you should certainly visit Tampa Bay Boat Show at Florida State Fairgrounds between March 6-8, 2020.
You’ll see sleek new boats, browse fishing supplies, mix and mingle with locals and much more – sounds superb!
Tampa Bay CityPass
Tampa is one of those tourist traps that’s so downright entertaining, it’s tough choosing which attractions to prioritize and difficult to discern how to get the best bang for your buck.
But by picking up a Tampa Bay CityPASS from citypass.com, you’ll enjoy outstanding discounts on tickets to the likes of Busch Gardens, The Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa and Clearwater Marine Aquarium – what’s not to love?
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Swashbuckling scallywag Jose Gaspar invaded Tampa Bay on a regular basis for more than a century and his piratical exploits are celebrated each year in the Gasparilla Festival, with events running from January to March.
If you attend the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts between February 29-March 1, 2020 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, you’ll enjoy everything from exotic pottery and photography to pristine paintings – it attracts 250,000 visitors and is not to be missed.
These three 2020 tips for tourists are merely the tip of a Terrific Tampa iceberg, so keep an eye out online for even mor eclectic events.
Getting there
You’ll find airport parking at Looking4.com for LAX, JFK and every other US hub and Kayak.com is a great comparison site for flights from your favorite carriers.
A Tampa holiday is easy to organize and a surefire winner for family entertainment – once you’ve tried it, your only regret will be not visiting sooner.