Located just an hour away from one of the entertainment capitals of the world, Tampa Bay boasts sandy, white, palm-fringed beaches and a multitude of water activities such as fishing, parasailing, and jet skiing.

Key sights include Busch Gardens and Pier 60 Park for family outings, while the Florida Aquarium is a must for marine animal lovers. The Tampa Museum of Art exhibits some impressive Greek and Roman classical artefacts as well as some more contemporary art. The Moccasin Lake Nature Park provides some breathtaking walks and scenery for nature lovers.

Ships dock at the Port of Tampa Cruise Terminal located in the Channel District, from where several Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Holland America ships regularly depart.

Contact

www.visittampabay.com

Transport

Metered taxis such as United Cab can be easily hailed from the port and car rental agencies such as Avis and Hertz have offices in Tampa Bay.

Recapture the charm of the past in Tampa's unique attraction, the TECO Line Streetcar. The air-conditioned, vintage streetcar replica will take you between downtown Tampa, Channelside and historic Ybor City. Shuttle vans, such as Bay Shuttle and Super Shuttle operate from the cruise terminal as well.

Visitors can also take advantage of the 1-Day Unlimited Ride Fare card, which costs about $4 for adults and about $2 for youths and seniors.

Attractions

With so many attractions to see in Tampa, choosing where to begin is the hard part. Busch Gardens is a must, as is the Florida Aquarium, which boasts over 5,000 aquatic animals. Take a stroll through the Sunken Gardens, where more than 50,000 tropical flowers and plants can be seen, or head to Pier 60 Park in Clearwater, where the whole family can enjoy the theme park entertainment. Culture vultures will love the Tampa Museum of Art, while the Florida Holocaust Museum is also a popular attraction.

Restaurants

Bern's Steak House - popular restaurant with delicious cuisine

Seasons 52 Fresh Grill - an ever-changing menu of fresh and healthy food

Roy's Restaurant - upscale restaurant with Hawaiian-inspired cuisine

Best Dish

Fried shrimp

Shopping

There is plenty of shopping around the cruise terminals in Tampa Bay. Just across the street from some of the cruise terminals is the Channelside Bay Plaza and downtown, the Hyde Park Village shopping area is great for bargain hunting.

Best Buy

Unique clothing

Excursions

Go on the Captain Memo Pirate Cruise

Enjoy deep-sea fishing

Canoe down the Hillsborough River

Visit St Petersburg