Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Located in Old Tampa Bay among a gorgeously verdant 35-acre natural preserve, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay provides a luxury hotel experience in one of the most picturesque settings anywhere on Floridas Gulf Coast.
With 10 room, suite, casita, and villa options featuring everything from separate dining tables to private patios overlooking downtown Tampa, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay truly knows how to provide its guests a genuine home-away-from-home feeling.
What makes this one of Tampa’s best hotels?
Besides its simply overwhelming luxury, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay impresses with its ability to provide a multifaceted guest experience.
With its proximity to the beach, multiple pools, two award-winning restaurants featuring romantic sunset views and 22,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay is the perfect choice for families, couples, and business travelers alike!
Day : Coaster Time At Busch Gardens
Check out of Hotel Alba: after a breakfast that will set you up for a day of highs and lows yes, Im talking roller coasters! You can spot some of the thrilling rides as you edge closer to Busch Gardens, the family-friendly theme park featuring animal encounters, live entertainment and more.
Go on safari: across the 65-acre Serengeti Plain where giraffes, in particular, will pose for photos and a lettuce leaf or radish lunch. Youll also get to see rhinos, zebras, antelopes and ostriches from your open-air truck.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay/Facebook
Have a pit stop lunch: in one of the many eateries and restaurants throughout the park. I went to Dragon Fire Grill, a market-style indoor food court, where performers put on a show thats almost Broadway-worthy, as you chow down on pizza, chicken platters, Asian cuisine or burgers.
Feeling brave? Its time to hit the rides. Tackle them all if you can, from park favourites such as Scorpion and Cheetah Hunt, to Cobras Curse, Sheikra and Montu where your legs dangle, you tackle seven inversions, and ride on the outside of the track. Its all over in around one minute. And speaking of fast, Tigris is the tallest launch coaster in the state, catapulting riders up 150 feet in one heart-stopping surge, before twisting and looping its way around 1,800 feet of steel track in 45 seconds flat.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay/Facebook
Postcard Inn On St Petersburg Beach
If youre looking for the place where the cool people hang out, Postcard Inn on the Beach is where you need to go. This property is a great example of how to take an old motel from less demanding times and turn it into something hip that a new generation of travelers will embrace. Although there are seldom waves on the Gulf of Mexico coast, its got a surfer vibe goingwhich sometimes means a full-wall photo mural behind the bed. The restaurant here is good and fun and the beach bar goes well beyond Corona and rum punch. Even if youre staying elsewhere, its worth swinging by this fun and stylish small resort at the end of the day for a drink.
See info and rates here for Postcard Inn and note that they have caught the resort fee gotcha bug toothats an extra $33 for what you get in the rates normally at most hotels, like internet, a coffee maker, the safe, use of the fitness center
You May Like: Winthrop Wa Bed And Breakfast
Where To Stay In Tampa Florida
This post contains affiliate links. Learn more.
Tampa, Florida is the place to stay if you love the hustle and bustle of the city, but still want to be on the water! With an incredible selection of day trips, boat tours, zoos, water parks, and so much more Tampa is a great destination for families, couples, and groups alike. As a local resident, Ive stayed at just about every hotel in Downtown Tampa so let me show you where to stay in Tampa!
Downtown Tampa is the place to be for the traveler who wants to enjoy arts and culture, museums, shops, theatres and more. With a population of approximately 335,709, Tampa is a busy place with a lot of really interesting things to do and see.
The downtown area isnt all that large, but its packed with arts and culture, along with delicious restaurants and unique shops!
Tampa makes a great home base for exploring the areas theme parks, marine life and even hopping aboard some amazing cruises. Slip and slide down waterslides, go on a dolphin sightseeing cruise, or spend time at the Florida Aquarium. If youre a traveler looking for a beach experience, then youre going to want to visit Clearwater Beach or St. Pete Beach as well.
Recommended Area: Tampa Bay Harbor
Located a few miles west of Downtown Tampa, Bay Harbor offers a great location by the sea.
This neighborhood offers spectacular views, hotels near the piers, restaurants, and terraces where you can enjoy excellent dishes and cocktails and several entertainment options.
In Tampa Bay Harbor, you can enjoy shows, exquisite wines, craft beers, modern stores, museums, historical places and much more, making it one of the best areas to stay in Tampa.
Tampa Bay Harbor is home to Ben T Davis Beach, one of the most popular beaches in the Tampa metro area.
Tampa Bay Harbor offers top-notch hotels and the best accommodation option for those who want to enjoy the fresh air and open spaces next to the bay.
Why is this a recommended area to stay in Tampa, FL:
- Tampa Riverwalk
You May Like: Places To Stay In Bradenton Fl
Day : Outdoor Adventures In Pasco County
Get back on the highway: and head to Pasco County, an hour or so from Clearwater, where youll find the fantastic TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park. A bit like Go Ape in the UK, you can test your nerves on a range of courses high up in the treetops. You get equipped with harnesses and clips before being taught how to use it all in a briefing.
Florida Sports Coast
Swing through the trees on zip wires, cross log, wire and chain bridges, stand-up swings and tunnels. Its great fun and such an achievement afterwards. Dont forget to take a picnic for lunch to have on site.
Continue your sense of adventure: at The Lift Adventure Park, not far from TreeHoppers. This inflatable aqua park is super enjoyable, as you test your balance skills, Total Wipeout-style. Fear not if you fall in, you have life jackets on. The park is situated on beautiful white sands so when you’ve had enough, swim ashore and watch the others.
Florida Sports Coast
Having worked up a huge appetite: head to Craft Street Kitchen for dinner. Try the Tuscan flatbread and skillet cornbread with maple pecan butter, and if you can manage it, the steak mac n cheese is incredible.
Check into: SpringHill Suites by Marriott for a much-needed rest after a day of activities.
Getting To And Around The Tampa Bay Area
International and domestic flights arrive daily at Tampa International Airport , consistently ranked as a top airport in the U.S., and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport , across the bay. Travelers also can arrive into Tampas historic Union Station onboard Amtrak, and sail into the Port of Tampa via ship.
Once here, your best bet is to rent a car to navigate the area, or request an Uber or Lyft, both of which are readily available. The 2.7-mile long Tampa Historic Streetcar line connects downtown Tampa to the Channel District and Ybor City.
The Dalí Museum
Don’t Miss: French Quail Winthrop
Downtown Tampa Where To Stay In Tampa First Time
Downtown Tampa is the neighbourhood at the heart of the city. It is the central business district and is home to skyscrapers, cultural institutions, restaurants, museums, and the incredible Florida Aquarium. Because there is so much to see and do in downtown Tampa, this neighbourhood is our pick for where to stay if youre visiting for the first time.
In addition to being the business and cultural hub of the city, downtown Tampa is one of the citys most well-connected neighbourhoods. So whether youre looking to delve into history, indulge in the delicious food scene or enjoy the fun and games of Busch Gardens, from your base in downtown youll be able to explore Tampa with relative ease.
The Westin Tampa Waterside
Located just across from the Tampa Convention Center , The Westin Tampa Waterside is also right in the heart of Tampa!
This is a great hotel choice for business travelers due to the easy access to the convention center. Plus, it has a working area with a desk in each room!
Overlooking Tampa Bay, it also features an on site restaurant, small outdoor pool and gym. Previous guests have repeatedly mentioned that the comfort and service was simply outstanding.
Recommended Reading: Cheap Hotels Bradenton Florida
What To Eat & Drink In Tampa
The Cuban sandwich isnt just a sandwich. Tampanians claim this meaty monster featuring layers of ham, pork, salami, cheese, pickles and mustard in crisp Cuban bread was invented in Ybor City. The people of Miami lay a counterclaim, but most agree that it was named here and that the salami was added by Tampa-based Italian workers.
La Segunda Bakery, which has been baking the bread essential to the Cuban sandwich since 1915, is one of the best places to try one. Or order a sandwich at Columbia, Floridas oldest restaurant. This behemoth started as a small café and now occupies an entire block in Ybor City. Crowds pack in for the nightly flamenco show.
A post shared by Cubanbread on Aug 23, 2018 at 10:54am PDT
Spanish and Cuban flavours mingle with other influences in Downtown Tampa, nowhere more so than at Anise Global Gastrobar. This cosy spot started as a food truck selling stinky bunz, fluffy, sticky white pillows filled with slow-cooked pork belly or crispy chicken. Its menu now proudly defies categorisation featuring buns, ramen, lobster mac n cheese, and burgers.
Craft beer is huge in Tampa. Try a selection of local saisons, IPAs and porters at bright, modern food hall Armature Works.
Hotel Bar is not in a hotel. Tucked a few blocks back from the Riverwalk, however, it is the nightcap spot of dreams where expert bartenders mix and stir perfect Old Fashioned and Negroni cocktails .
History Of Tampa Florida
The modern history of Tampa, Florida, can be traced to the founding of Fort Brooke at the mouth of the Hillsborough River in today’s downtown in 1824, soon after the United States had taken possession of Florida from Spain. The outpost brought a small population of civilians to the area, and the town of Tampa was first incorporated in 1855.
Growth came slowly as poor transportation links, conflicts with the Seminole tribe, and repeated outbreaks of yellow fever made development difficult. The Civil War and Reconstruction caused the city government to disincorporate for over a decade.
In the 1880s the construction of the first railroad links laid by Henry B. Plant brought the development of thriving cigar and phosphate industries. The founding of the cigar-centered neighborhood of Ybor City in 1885 brought an influx of Cubans, Spaniards, Italians, and other immigrants. Tampa’s population jumped from less than 800 residents in 1880 to over 15,000 in 1900, making it one of the largest cities in Florida.
By the 20th century Tampa emerged as a modern financial, trade, and commercial hub. It saw the start of the Gasparilla Pirate Festival and pioneering aviator Tony Jannus captaining the inaugural flight of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, the world’s first commercial passenger airline. It also saw the rise of organized crime.
Also Check: Houghton Mi Lodging
Where Do The Tampa Bay Rays Play Baseballtropicana Field
Finding out where the Tampa Bay Rays play is important when planning your sports trip. Depending on the time of the year and what other Tampa Bay sports teams are in town, you might be able to see multiple sports events when planning your vacation. Elite Sports Tours can not only help you figure out where the Tampa Bay Rays, but where the other teams in Tampa Bay play also.
Where Do Nhl Teams Stay In Ottawa
Senators Hockey Away teams Choice of Hotel
- Brookstreet Hotel. Ottawa, Canada.
- The Century House Bed and Breakfast. Ottawa, Canada.
- Lord Elgin. Ottawa, Canada.
- Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Ottawa, Canada.
- Best Western Plus Ottawa Downtown Suites.
- Hampton Inn by Hilton Ottawa.
- The Westin Ottawa.
Read Also: Winthrop Wa Accommodation
The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
Located right next to the performing arts center and the Hillsborough River, The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk is great for anyone that wants easy access to the Tampa Riverwalk, or anyone visiting the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk has an incredible number of features. A full-service restaurant and bar. a great outdoor pool, and a 24-hour fitness center.
The Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf are only a 10-minute drive from the hotel.
What To Do In Tampa
Tampas Riverwalk skirts along the Hillsborough River, winding its way from the Channel District through downtown Tampa to the Tampa Heights neighborhood. Along the 2.6-mile pedestrian path youll find public art, city parks, restaurants and cafés, Amalie Arena , and museums: The Tampa Bay History Center, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa Museum of Art, and Glazer Childrens Museum are all off the Riverwalk. About a mile east of the childrens museum, the Best Richardson African Diaspora Literature & Culture Museum is filled with educational artifacts and information on African Diaspora literary and cultural history the bookstore is a must-see, too.
From downtown Tampa, hop onto the Cross Bay Ferry for a ride to downtown St. Petersburg. The new St. Pete Pier was unveiled last summer after a decade of development its 26-acre waterfront park boasts plenty of eating and drinking options along with art installations, as well as the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
Across from the pier is the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, and about a mile south, the Dalí Museum, which houses more than 2,400 works of art by Salvador Dalí. In addition to the permanent exhibit of the surrealists works, the museum hosts traveling exhibits. Van Gogh Alive, an immersive experience, features more than 3,000 images of Vincent Van Goghs paintings .
Don’t Miss: Gateway Apartments Houghton Mi
Take A Riverwalk Art Crawl
Tampas Riverwalk is dotted with striking sculptures and bold murals. An online official map will help you find them. The Tampa Museum of Art, however, outshines them all. Its mesh exterior shimmers in the sunlight and, after dark, is illuminated with multicoloured LEDs. Its rare antiquities and modern art collections are worth a look, too, as is the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, which occupies two floors of the Cube building by the river. The low-key space hosts absorbing exhibitions on topics from retro road trips to 20th-century history.
Tampa Heights Where To Stay In Tampa On A Budget
Tampa Heights is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. It sits nestled between downtown and North Tampa and is close to the bars, clubs and restaurants of Ybor City.
Not only is Tampa Heights noted for its great location, but it also holds the distinction of being home to Grams Place, the only hostel in Tampa.
Additionally, this neighbourhood is where youll find a good selection of good-value hotels, charming vacation rentals, and modern apartments to help you offset some of the higher costs of Tampas famous attractions.
So, if youre a backpacker on a budget or a cost-conscious traveller, youre going to want to make your base in Tampa Heights.
Recommended Reading: Best Area To Stay In Punta Cana
Visit An Architectural Icon
The University of Tampa is an architectural patchwork on the west bank of the river. Built by transport pioneer Henry B. Plant as an opulent hotel at the terminus of his railway line in 1891, it combines soft-pink brickwork and Moorish-influenced intricate archways and silver minarets. It became the main university campus in 1933 and now has a free on-site museum focused on Plant and the buildings history.
Ilya Images/Shutterstock
Tampa Bay Harbor: Stay In This Area For Seaside Activities
If you wonder where to stay in Tampa for beach activities, Tampa Bay Harbor, Florida, is among the best areas for that! Its also an ideal district to stay in Tampa for a brief visit since Tampa Airport is near. Moreover, several luxury hotels make the neighborhood one of the best areas for a high-end stay. For beach-hopping, Tampa Bay Harbor is among the best areas in Florida. Besides local beaches, those of St Petersburg and Clearwater are reasonably close.
The nearest beach is Ben T Davis Beach, featuring outdoor showers. Romantics and gourmands that stay in the area benefit from sunset spots and cozy restaurants within walking distance. Golfers should also stay in this area since Rocky Point Golf Course is nearby. The best place to go to see the top attractions of Tampa, FL, is the downtown, located some 20 minutes away by car.
Also Check: Accommodation Winthrop Washington
Where To Stay In Tampa On A Budget
You’ll need a car â or to rely on Uber or a taxi service â to really access any of the budget hotels in Tampa, but these places are not too far outside the hot neighborhoods. To be close to Ybor City, try the Quality Inn & Suites Near Fairgrounds Ybor City, which features basic but clean rooms for a good price. They also offer a free breakfast and have an outdoor pool in a landscaped garden area.
Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa – North is another good hotel for families. Located within walking distance of Lettuce Lake Park in North Tampa, it features contemporary rooms and suites. The latter are a great choice for families, as many feature kitchens, and all come with a .
A hot breakfast buffet is offered for free, and should you need to eat on the way out the door, you can even grab a complimentary breakfast bag to go. Parking is also free.