Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > TravelBuzz
Reload this Page >

anything fun to do in...(drumroll)...TAMPA?

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

anything fun to do in...(drumroll)...TAMPA?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 2:33 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
10 Countries Visited
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 40,059
anything fun to do in...(drumroll)...TAMPA?

I have been there but once and only for a business trip. It seemed quite lovely.

Anything to do there for a long weekend? For me and my teenage soon.

Thanks!
richard is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 2:53 pm
  #2  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
20 Nights
20 Countries Visited
500k
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 31,336
richard,

We were in Tampa in March a couple years back with 2 teenage sons. The highlights included the Dali museum (huge collection, big canvas, informative docent) in St Pete and The Pier in St Pete - we ate, fished with rented equipment and fed pelicans. We shopped and toured Ybor City - all the boys wanted to do there was play video games at Jillians. There were a couple places to rent jetskis around Rocky Pt where we stayed and the Clearwater Beach was quite nice. Tampa has an aquarium. Nearby is an IMAX theatre, some decent restaurants and the cruise pier.

Have fun.
BamaVol is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 3:06 pm
  #3  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Sunshine State
Programs: Deltaworst Peon Level, TSA "Layer 21 Club", NW WP RIP
Posts: 11,372
Use TPA

Best thing I can think of to do is to look in dreammaps, there are sometimes great cheap mileage runs available from Tampa.
Flaflyer is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 3:17 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: DC
Programs: AA EXP; UAMM
Posts: 1,902
ARe you ready for some football?

The Bucs will play there last game of the season this Sat. in Tampa.
nor4 is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 3:18 pm
  #5  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: BDL
Programs: NWA Platinum, HHonors Diamond, SPG, YX, AA
Posts: 5,354
Originally Posted by richard
I have been there but once and only for a business trip. It seemed quite lovely.

Anything to do there for a long weekend? For me and my teenage soon.

Thanks!
with a teenage son, I'd suggest Bush Gardens if you like theme parks
MKEbound is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 3:21 pm
  #6  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 13,344
I know someone fun to do in Tampa, but with your teenage son in tow, probably best not introducing the two of you.
MapleLeaf is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 3:27 pm
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,538
Not really a suggestion of 'what to do'...

... in Tampa, but a word of warning. Please make sure you arrive inside your airline's recommended minimum check-in time (which was 45 mins for NW).

We arrived at 44 mins before departure (literally one minute late) and we had already been off-loaded. They put us on 'standby' and we raced to the gate but the seats had been given away to other standby pax (who had just missed the minimum check-in time from the previous flight!) right on the 45 minute mark.

We then spent the next three hours waiting for a flight out.

Not a pleasant experience. (And one of us was a NW Plat so status didn't help us one bit!)

With regards

L/M/E FF
LHR/MEL/Europe FF is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 4:28 pm
  #8  
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: PHX
Programs: DL Gold, Hhonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 156
If you and your son are inclined towards the outdoors, you can take a jog along Bayshore Blvd, the view of the homes are beautiful and the people watching is interesting. In New Tampa there is Flatwoods Park, which has a 7 mile loop good for roller-blading, jogging, or bike riding. We used to see some interesting wild-life, wild boars, deer, etc. Canoe along the Hillsborough River, very nice way to spend a few hours, lots of alligators so I don't recommend swimming. In Dunedin take the Caladesi Island Ferry, fabulous and natural beach. Lots of sand dollars, dolphins, and sting rays, beautiful.
chica is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 5:20 pm
  #9  
20 Countries Visited
1M
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IND
Programs: UA Million Miler (Lifetime Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,533
Busch Gardens has some good rides, as well as a wild animal park: www.buschgardens.com
linsj is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 8:47 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
20 Countries Visited
1M
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 39,620
They have a magnificant aquarium in Tampa and Channelside is right next store, which is a collection of restaurants, shops, and nightclubs. They often have live bands in the center area.
You can take the trolley to Ybor City, but that is more 20something oriented these days. But they do have shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, cigar making places, etc.
The zoo, Lowery Park is nice. The beaches in Clearwater, St Pete, Indian Rocks are very nice. Lots to do there - Dolphin sight seeing, water side places to eat, jet skis, etc.
pbiflyer is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 9:03 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: WOH (G)lobotimized, SPG Tarnished Gold
Posts: 498
Originally Posted by nor4
The Bucs will play there last game of the season this Sat. in Tampa.
Is that because their next opponent had a better record and has home field advantage?
Somewhere Over the Atlantic is offline  
Old Jan 6, 2006 | 10:20 pm
  #12  
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
10 Countries Visited
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: source of weird and eccentric ideas
Posts: 40,059
great ideas and suggestions...what a wealth of knowledge you all have!!
richard is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2006 | 12:21 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 52
I agree that the Aquarium was very nice. I loved the white sandy beaches of Clearwater and St. Pete.

I loved going to eat at Oyster Catchers at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. And they have pink flamingos there at the hotel. I stayed there and it was great but expensive.
maceyr is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2006 | 3:07 pm
  #14  
10 Countries Visited20 Countries Visited30 Countries Visited20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: PHX
Programs: DL Gold, Hhonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 156
Oystercatchers for Sunday brunch is great! Definately make reservations if you wish to go.
chica is offline  
Old Jan 7, 2006 | 7:21 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: WAS
Programs: UAL (Premier), Hilton (Diamond)
Posts: 55
Originally Posted by Somewhere Over the Atlantic
Is that because their next opponent had a better record and has home field advantage?
If Tampa Bay *had* won tonight (they didn't, BTW), there still would have been a chance for them to have another home game. Next week, they would've played at Chicago (the #2 seed). If TB beats Chicago, and Seattle (the #1 seed) loses, then TB would host the NFC championship.
dcons is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.