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Tampa Bay

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Overview: Located just an hour away from one of the entertainment capitals of the world, Tampa 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 all marine animal lovers. The Tampa Museum of Art exhibits some impressive Greek and Roman classic artefacts and contemporary art and 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:

Tampa Bay Tourist office
401 East Jackson Street
Tel: +1 813 223 1111

www.visittampabay.com

Info@VisitTampaBay.com

Transport: Metered taxis such as Tampa Bay Cab and United Cab can be easily hailed from the port and car rental agencies such as Avis and Hertz have offices in Tampa Bay. The TECO Line Streetcar System takes visitors from the cruise terminals to surrounding areas on a 2.4-mile (4km) journey round the Tampa Bay area. Shuttle vans, such as Bay Shuttle and Super Shuttle operate form the cruise terminal as well. Visitors can also take advantage of the 1-Day Unlimited Ride Fare card, which costs $4 for adults and $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 well as 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
• Skyway Jack's - laid back St Petersburg eatery with interesting takes on old fashioned dishes
• Fourth Street Shrimp Store - popular restaurant serving delicious seafood

Best dish: 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 which houses clothing stores, boutiques and a surf store. The Hyde Park Village shopping area downtown is also great for bargain hunting.

Best buy: Clothing

Excursions:

• Go on the Captain Memo Pirate Cruise
• Enjoy Deep-sea fishing
• Canoe down the Hillsborough River
• Visit St Petersburg
• Explore the Sunken Gardens