Tampa Bay Blog

RECOVERY UPDATE: Hillsborough County has opened a majority of its nature preserves and walking trails. Residents will be required to follow physical distancing guidelines, and portions of the parks will remain closed, including playgrounds, picnic areas, and kayak/canoe facilities. CATCH SOME (SUN) RAYS THE GREAT OUTDOORS Tampa Bay has some of Florida's best city adventures, but it's also home to amazing outdoor experiences just minutes from downtown's glittering towers. Paddling,

Curator of Collections, Tampa Bay History Center The Tampa Bay History Center brings 12,000 years of human achievement together under one roof. Along with artifacts like a centuries-old dugout canoe and a replica pirate ship, the collection

BAKING AT HOME Baking is the latest and greatest activity while practicing social distancing in the safety of your home. Voted by our Instagram followers, we bring to you the recipe for The Dessert Spot’s Gooey Toffee Bars, one of the many local recipes featured in Tampa’s Table: A Culinary Journey Through Tampa Bay. For a limited time, Visit Tampa Bay is selling a #TourismStrong culinary bundle, which includes Tampa’s Table plus its cocktail book, Tampa With A Twist, for...

Eric Hovland Associate curator, resident shark guy The Florida Aquarium It's always Shark Week in Eric Hovland's world. The native of Wisconsin and marine biologist helped develop the unique sea life collection when The Florida Aquarium opened in

As sea dogs go, Captain Chris "Castaway" Pawlak, is a little less salty than most. This former land-lubber grew up in the Rocky Mountains before moving to Tampa Bay. He earned his sea legs on the crew of the Yacht Starship dining cruise, eventually

TAMPA – Avast, me hearties! Talk Like A Pirate Day is still nine months away, but this month you can heave to and prepare yourself for Gasparilla, Tampa Bay’s annual pirate party! As they have every year since 1905, legendary pirate José Gaspar and his band of rapscallions will sail the nation’s only fully functional pirate ship, the José Gasparilla, once more into the heart of our city on Jan. 26. Then, beads a-flyin’, they’ll lead the Gasparilla...

In case you missed it, Tampa Bay made a name for itself in 2019 as one of the country's top places to live, work, and vacation! From the South's best breakfast spots to the most dog-friendly communities, the hip, urban heart of Florida's west coast is bursting the possibilities! We're excited that everyone else is getting to know what we locals realized a long time ago -- that treasure awaits in Tampa Bay! JANUARY Livability: The Best Places to Live in Florida Southern...

Since 1905, Florida's oldest restaurant, the Columbia, has been a pillar of historic Ybor City, Tampa Bay's Latin Quarter. Now in its fifth-generation under the Gonzmart family, the Columbia embodies Tampa Bay's Cuban and Spanish heritage from the menu to the decor. Six nights a weeks, visitors experience an authentic piece of Spain when the restaurant's Flamenco dancers take the stage to perform. Maria Esparza, whose mother was born in Seville, Spain, has led the troupe for...

The kids are back in school, the summer crowds are gone: Now’s the perfect time to treat yourself to a grown-up's get-away in Tampa Bay. Whether you're in the mood for a romantic weekend with your significant other, a girls' getaway or a guys' trip, the hip, urban heart of Florida’s west coast is here for you with just the right combination of fantastic food, exciting experiences, and grown-up fun for Fall. Couple's Weekend Sleep In a Little No one needs...

If you've sipped a hand-crafted cocktail at Tampa Bay's hippest watering holes, chances are good that Ro Patel developed the drink you enjoyed. The master mixologist has made a name for himself as a king of local bar culture as the founding drink