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| Tampa Area Beach |
Tampa Bay Quick Tour
Located about halfway down Florida's west coast, the city of Tampa is home to over 280,000 residents. St. Petersburg and Clearwater, on the other side of the bay, are about fifteen miles away, with a variety of communities, such as St. Pete Beach, Indian Shores, and Clearwater Beach dotting the shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico. Taken together, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater comprise a metropolitan area of more than two million. Thanks to the health-friendly climate, that number grows steadily.
Tampa itself covers roughly 170 square miles, 65 of which consists of inland water. Included in the Tampa city limits is Ybor City, which, in addition to a world-famous cigar industry, holds most of the area's Latino residents and some of the hottest nightclubs in town. The seat of Hillsborough County, Tampa is one of the state's most important seaports. About 45 million metric tons of phosphate ore, fish, soft drinks, cement, lumber and canned fruit are exported yearly to destinations around the world, and a thriving fishing industry insures that the Bay area's seafood restaurants are provided with the freshest catch available. Tourism is important too.
What follows is a quick summary of some of the information contained in the guide, hitting some of the highlights of each section. Complete listings with addresses and phone numbers of each attraction can be found in the respective sections.
THINGS TO SEE
There's a lot to see in the Tampa Bay area, but anyone who's only in town for a few days should definitely check out the following:
The Museum Of Science And Industry has a lot of great exhibits, and the Gulf Coast Hurricane tunnel is truly an experience, specially for visitors NOT living in this area of the country.
Ybor City Brewing Company Conveniently situated in the lively Ybor City district, this attraction offers product tasting and an education on how beer is made.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, as the name implies, carries motorists high into the sky over Tampa Bay, connecting the southern point of St. Petersburg with the rest of the mainland. A Greek freighter ran into one of the central spans in 1980, but don't worry-- it's been fixed.
THINGS TO DO
Busch Gardens is a must if you like amusement parks. Approaches Disney World on the fun meter, but not as jam-packed. After riding the rides, visitors can relax by walking around and seeing the animals.
Tennis, Golf, Biking, Watersports Central west Florida is sunny almost year-round, perfect for outdoor recreation. Golf courses, tennis courts, biking areas, and water abound.
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Tampa Bay
