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Tampa’s Florida Aquarium is a little gem.
My favorite part of the Aquarium is the area that highlights the sea life found in Florida’s bayous, rivers and coral reefs in a natural looking atmosphere. The exhibit also features Florida’s birds.
The aquarium has a “no bone zone” with different types of jellyfish and an entire section of different types of seahorses from around “down under”.
Advice:
The aquarium also offers free shows but most of the time you’ll have to ask for a schedule to find out the show times. I would recommend looking at the schedule when you enter and plan your visit around one or two shows.
The shows are entertaining and educational. The main show to see is the one in the largest tank with the scuba divers. It’s offered several times a day and is a winner with the kids. Many of the shows are run by docent volunteers and vary. Two of my favorites are on training river otters (with demonstrations when the otters choose to cooperate) and feeding the baby alligators.
The aquarium also has a small outdoor water park so if you have children be sure to bring their bathing suits, shoes they can wear in the water and a towel or two.
The aquarium offers additional tours and packages such as swimming with the sharks, backstage passes and a dolphin tour – all cost additional.
The aquarium is next door to Tampa’s cruise ship port and the Channel Side Entertainment district. A free trolley is also available to take you to/from Ybor City (entertainment area) so you may want to combine your visit with some of the activities available in this area.
Tampa Residents: It takes less than two visits to pay for a years pass to the aquarium, so buy the pass the first time you visit and use it throughout the year. The pass also offers free/discounted entrance to other area attractions and is well worth the money. If you are going to buy the pass, do it before you park and save the parking fee (parking is free to members). Leave a Comment Directions: Downtown on Channelside Drive right next to the cruise ship terminals. The Ybor/downtown trolley stops at the entrance.Website: http://www.flaquarium.net/
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I just did this last weekend and had an AMAZING TIME. I did it as a mentor as part of a youth at risk program I am involved in and spent the weekend at the camp. The ropes course is also available for groups of family or friends. Call to check availability.
High Ropes Challenge Course*: Cedarkirk's High Ropes Course consists of 15 challenges suspended 24 feet in the air! This course focuses on the individual as they are "challenged by choice," learn more about themselves, and hopefully grow as people. This course is led by trained Cedarkirk facilitators. Participants must be 12 and older.
Low Ropes Initiatives Course*: Led by trained Cedarkirk staff, the initiatives course provides a great opportunity to learn more about group dynamics. This course consists of several obstacles that will hopefully challenge and stretch the brain. Discussion will follow as the group learns about how it communicated and how it can grow.
Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center
1920 Streetman Drive
Lithia, FL 33547
The camp is geared towards groups,churches, non profits and retreat planners but individual groups/families are also welcome.
Please view the Cedarkirk website for more information and directions to the camp: http://www.cedarkirk.com/
Cedarick also offers canoing, tubing, a spiritual labyrinth, pool, volleyball, Zip lining, climbing wall and archery. Leave a Comment Address: 1920 Streetman Drive Lithia, FL 33547Phone: (813) 685-4224Directions: South of Brandon, on Lythia Pine Crest Road Past Fish Hawk From downtown Tampa it will take approximately 40 minutesWebsite: http://www.cedarkirk.com/ Other Contact: mark@cedarkirk.com
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There are quite a few places to go to high tea in Tampa. My favorite way to do "high tea" is to go all out and dress in a flowered dress and hat. Little girls love it too. Call ahead for high tea times and reservations.
High tea is also a great way to get out of heat during Tampa's summers.
Tea Rose Cottage
1901 N. 19th Street
Tampa, FL 33605
(813)248-2040
In Historic Ybor City
Rosemary Cottage Tea Room
4006 S Macdill Ave
Tampa, FL 33611-1545
Phone: (813) 805-6601
Maggies Tea Room
Phone: (813) 991-1212
10335 Cross Creek Blvd
http://www.experiencemiracles.com/
The Empress -
6810 E. Fowler Avenue, Temple Terrace, FL
ph 813-988-9027
Mon - Sat: 11:00am to 3:30pm (High Tea)
Kaleisia Tea Lounge
1441 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL
ph 813-977-8266
Mon-Sat: 10:00am to 10:00pm; Sun: 12:00pm to 6:00p Leave a Comment
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 by tampa_shawn
At one time Ybor was the "Cigar capital of the world". Due to that distinction it is best known for its Cuban history but other ethnic groups who were new to America also settled in this area, including the Spanish and Italian immigrants. The area maintains its old feel, the streets are paved with bricks and the street lamps are wrought iron. They area is also littered with historical markers.
When walking the streets of Ybor look for:
1) Cigar shops = Ybor was originally Tampa?s cigar making districts and is therefore a great place to sit down and have a cigar and see demonstrations on hand rolling cigars
2) Columbian Restaurant - located at the far end of 7th street the Columbian is a landmark Tampa restaurant opened for lunch and dinner
3) Ybor Museum - Great way to get a feel for the area?s history
4) Shops - tons of small unique shops and galleries are in this area many our quite eccentric and fun to visit
5) Centro Ybor Entertainment district -is an upscale modern area but retains the Ybor's red brick facade and flavor located on 6th street and has modern shops, bars, nightclubs, eateries
6) Historical Markers that document the local area
7) Historic Buildings - These include the large cigar factories and ?Clubs? that serviced the ethnic population in the area. Most of these clubs are large red brick three story buildings and are easy to spot once you know to look for them. In the past these clubs were an essential part of the ethic populations. Clubs such as the Centro Espanol, Centro Asturiano and Unione Italiana have been restored and are still used today. Many are worth peaking inside. If your luck a club member will take you on a tour and explain the history of the building. Leave a Comment Address: 7th and 8th street Ybor CityDirections: Minutes from Downtown Tampa. Close to the Flordia Aquarium and Channelside districts. They are too far to walk but free public trollies are available The best place to park in Ybor is in the public parking garages. The first hour is free.
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Swing Dancing is always a great thing to do around Tampa. There are many great venues to visit. I think one in Ybor is at Centro Asturiano every Thursday in the Grand Ballroom. Also, you can learn more about Tampa and other cities in the area at http://www.tampahomeguides.com.
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Ybor City is known as Tampa’s Latin section and offers an eclectic array of Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Greek and French food, shops and bars.
This area of the city was originally founded in 1885 by Vicente Martinez-Ybor as a cigar-manufacturing center. Today, you can wander through the old cigar factories that have now been adapted into shops and restaurants. Ybor City is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida.
The atmosphere feels a little like New Orleans with wrought iron balconies and narrow stone streets. You can feel the history as you wander through the neighborhood.
On a slightly less appealing side, I’ve heard that most people are careful not to venture far from Ybor Centro at night as the area gets a little rough.
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Lowry Park Zoo is a nice zoo that surprised my whole group with its size and variety of animals. I had no idea a zoo like this was located in Tampa. Apes and gorilla, camels and manatees...it's a large and fun location for the family.
The zoo is fairly spread out, so wear comfortable walking shoes. The animals are broken up by region and you can move between regions without backtracking much (a problem I've run into at other zoos).
The zoo has been open since 1988 and is a zoological garden. The landscaping and walking trails make the visit pleasant (for reasons other than the animals) and the large trees shade visitors from the Florida sun. Aside from the usual zoo features, Lowry Park Zoo offers a few rides, animal shows, a kids zone, camel rides and an opportunity to feed the giraffes and rhinos - a must!
The zoo's hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Check the weather if you're planning a visit as it may close for bad weather as well.
Tickets are $14.50 for kids 3-11, $18.95 for adults, and $17.95 for seniors. Kids 2 and under are free. There is also a large lot with free parking. Directions: Lowry Park Zoo is on the corner of Sligh Ave. and North Blvd about 1 mile west of I-275Website: http://www.lowryparkzoo.com
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 Reef Exhibit by Lhenne1
We visited on a fairly crowded day and it was difficult to observe some of the exhibits, but we managed to see most of the fish and sea critters. The entire aquarium can be experienced in a couple of hours depending on how crowded it is.
We enjoyed watching the river otters and water fowl. The large reef exhibit was a relaxing place to sit and watch the fish go by. The shark exhibit looked interesting, but the viewing area is small and it was quite crowded the day we were there.
The Florida Aquarium’s hours are 9:30AM-5:00PM daily. Tickets are $17.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors, $12.95 for kids ages 3-12 and children 2 & under are free.
Check the website for show schedules and feedings to plan your visit around some of the extras the aquarium offers. Directions: Downtown on Channelside Drive right next to the cruise ship terminals. The Ybor/downtown trolley stops at the entrance.Website: http://www.flaquarium.net/
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The employees seem to hate their job...no personality at all. There is nothing aestheticly pleasing to look at while in line, it's just a big long wait with nothing to do, no TV's, no artifacts...nothing. Employees were painting things in the park during the day! I almost touched wet paint more than 4 times! The park seems dirty and the floor is ALWAYS wet. The lines were long because most of the coasters only had 1 cart on the track, while the others were away in storage, even on the new shiekra, they had only 1 cart on the track with a 30min+ wait. The employees don't bother to fill the ride either....while you are waiting in line they will send a coaster down the track with 4 or 5 empty seats...often with 2 next to each other and not bother to fill them and keep the line moving. I tried to get a funnel cake at the FUNNEL CAKE STAND and they told me they didn't have any funnel cakes!!! I had to walk to the other side of the park where I ordered a funnel cake and they looked at me like they had no idea what I was talking about. The park is just trashy and gross and I was finished after a day there, We arrived at 9:15, the park opens at 10....they actually make you sit in your car in line to recieve your parking pass until 9:30 there are NO employees to attend to you...by 2:00 I wanted to go home but since there is NOTHING to do in tampa anywhere near the park, we stayed. We paid about $70 for a FULL YEAR PASS which I thought was an amazing price until I realized it was only good because the park is horrible and they are trying deprately to get people to come! Address: Corner of Busch Boulevard and 40th StreetPhone: 1-888-800-5447Directions: Eight miles northeast of downtown Tampa · Two miles east of Interstate 275 at the Busch Boulevard exit · Two miles west of Interstate 75 at exit 265 · One hour from Orlando via Interstate 4
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The Florida Aquarium in Tampa opened in 1995 and features a variety of local habitats including wetlands, beaches, coral reefs, and deep sea. Some seven million visitors annually see the 20,000 plant and animals on display. Some of the aquarium highlights include a huge 350 pound grouper, alligators, river otters, sharks, eels and octopus.
Entrance to the aquarium costs about $15 for adults, with a slight discount for AAA members, seniors, and children. Plan a good two or three hours fro your visit, especially if you plan to take the time to visit every exhibit and read the displays. The aquarium is located in Channelside right next to the mall, and has easy access to the Ybor City-St Pete Time Forum streetcar line. There is a convenient parking garage right across the street. Leave a Comment Phone: 813-273-4030Directions: Downtown on Channelside Drive right next to the cruise ship terminals. The Ybor/downtown trolley stops at the entrance.Website: http://www.flaquarium.net/
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