Unlock Tampa Bay in 2018
May 14, 2018 by PR@VisitTampaBay.com
International air connections grow
Tampa Bay is one nonstop flight away with new daily COPA Airlines flights from Latin America beginning July 2018. Air connections continue via Lufthansa from Frankfurt, Edelweiss from Zurich and British Airways from London Gatwick. New in 2018, Icelandair links Tampa Bay with cities across Europe via its hub at Keflavik International. Air Canada and WestJet both make regular non-stop flights to Tampa Bay. Domestically, all-new nonstop flights to Los Angeles and Las Vegas via Spirit Airlines begin and daily flights to San Francisco via United Airlines continue.
Ranking as one the most affordable airports in the country, Tampa International Airport showcases a multi-billion dollar expansion with new options for shopping and dining, new U.S. Customs technology and a new rental car hub and tram system.
New luxury hotels on the horizon
Downtown Tampa will welcome two new five-star, luxury hotels – the 173-room Tampa EDITION (opening in 2021) and a 519-room JW Marriott Hotel & Resort (opening in 2020). In 2019, a co-branded Home2Suites and Hampton Inn will grace the Channelside District, a development that will prove to be popular for cruise goers.
Newly opened this year, European visitors will find a familiar name — AC Hotel by Marriott — in the heart of the West Shore District. And the newly flagged Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas stuns with boutique-like features just minutes away from the airport.
Treat your taste buds to Tampa Bay flavors
New in 2018, food halls bring a dynamic vibe to historic Tampa Heights. Sample mouth-watering fare at Hall on Franklin or at Heights Public Market located inside the fully restored Armature Works, both iconic buildings reborn as stylish, modern eateries.
In Seminole Heights, new in 2018 Mortar & Pestle, unites an innovative café, local coffee, and old-time pharmacy. Downtown’s waterfront dining growing with new in 2018 seafood-focused Blue Harbour. Our favorite eateries imbue their menus with local flavor are Ulele, Oxford Exchange, and the Columbia, Florida’s oldest restaurant.
Florida’s top spot for a pint, whiskey or cocktail
In Florida’s hub for craft brewing, great drinks are part of life like sunshine and hand-rolled cigars. Find your favorite at nationally known Cigar City Brewing Co., Coppertail, or Angry Chair. Or let Brew Bus do the driving on a beer-tasting tour across the region. New in 2018, Rock Brothers Brewing blends beer and music at its Ybor City site.
Discover Tampa Bay’s cocktail culture by sampling iconic spots like the all-new CW’s Gin Joint and Ciro’s Speakeasy (be sure to call ahead for the password). New in 2018, a joint project by Hyde Park’s Irish 31 and Florida Cane Distillery have produced Florida’s first craft whiskey derived from Florida-grown sugar cane. Mingle with the locals in the intimate confines of Ybor City’s Cigar City Cider & Mead where the menu of small-batch specialties changes regularly.
Did someone say ‘dessert?’
Indulge your sweet tooth with new in 2018 spots specializing in delicacies. Ybor City, land of hand-rolled cigars, now has Snobachi hand-rolled ice cream. New in 2018, Dough Nation blends raw cookie dough into ice cream to benefit local charity. For true decadence, reserve a table at Bern’s Steak House’s opulent Harry Waugh Dessert Room, a landmark of fine dining for 60 years. Order the macadamia nut ice cream!
For an after-dinner espresso, try local coffeehouses such as new in 2018 Foundation Coffee or Kôfē at the Hall on Franklin. They’ll also be ready for you in the morning.
It’s a pirate’s life for us!
Discover Tampa Bay’s link to piracy and the high seas at the Tampa Bay History Center’s new in 2018 permanent exhibit highlighting the lives and times of privateers, conquistadors, and treasure seekers in Florida. Explore a replica pirate ship and learn about life below decks in the 18th Century. The museum’s new in 2018 cartographic center will be the first of its kind in the Southeast U.S.
Dress the part of a scurvy scalawag each January, when legendary pirate José Gaspar sails into Tampa Bay with cannons blazing. Join Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla for the country’s third-largest parade down scenic Bayshore Boulevard. The invasion kicks off Gasparilla Season: 8 weeks of parades, festivals, and sports events.
Paddle your way to adventure
Where the river meets the bay, downtown abounds in ways to get out on the water. New in 2018, rent a ride from Urban Kai Stand Up Paddleboards and explore the waterfront in a whole new way.
Pirate Water Taxi stops at downtown’s popular spots on its daily runs up and down the Hillsborough River. See the city from a new angle when you rent a water bike, biyak or e-boat for a self-guided and self-propelled trip on the sparkling waterfront.
Canoe Escape will guide you among lush cypress forests filled with wildlife minutes from the city.
Like gems on a string
Day or night, the 2.4-mile (4km) Tampa Riverwalk is the perfect, pedestrian-friendly way to move among downtown’s popular hotels, restaurants, museums, and festival parks.
New in 2018 floating docks will give boaters, kayakers, and paddleboards access to the Riverwalk’s treasures from the water.
After dark, the Riverwalk becomes a canvas for shifting colors of light, joining downtown’s bridges and the Tampa Museum of Art in the nightly display.
Save on fun with Florida’s only CityPASS
For less than half the cost of a regular ticket, CityPASS gets you into some of Tampa Bay’s most popular attractions. Experience Cobra’s Curse at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, Vanish Point at Adventure Island or the new in 2018 4-D theater and splash pad at The Florida Aquarium. Plus, brave the brand-new Roaring Springs at ZooTampa at Lowry Park, named the best zoo in the U.S. by Parents magazine. Build robots or and get plenty of hands-on learning at MOSI, the Museum of Science and Industry.
CityPASS costs $107 for adults, $97 for children 3-9 years of age -- a 51% saving compared to buying all the tickets at full price.
Cruise to Cuba & the Caribbean
The charm of Old Havana lies within easy reach of Port Tampa Bay aboard Royal Caribbean or Carnival ships. Before you leave, visit Cuban soil here in Tampa Bay with a stop at historic Ybor City’s José Martí Park, owned by the Cuban people in honor of the Apostle of Freedom.
Port Tampa Bay hosts four cruise lines: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian America and Holland America. They make Tampa Bay the ideal point of departure to explore the western Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
Add a day to your stay to enjoy the destination “Porthole” magazine named its Best Kept Secret.
