Things to do in Tampa?

[reed1285]

So I'm headed to Tampa early Thursday morning for work. I need some of that Florida sunshine in my life right about now, so I'm really looking forward to it. I will be there till Sunday. Any must see's? Must do's? Good (not fancy) places to eat? I will have a decent amount of downtime in between work so I'm open to suggestions. Thanks! 

[ArmyBrat61]

Busch Gardens!

[sigmtnman]

So I'm headed to Tampa early Thursday morning for work. I need some of that Florida sunshine in my life right about now, so I'm really looking forward to it. I will be there till Sunday. Any must see's? Must do's? Good (not fancy) places to eat? I will have a decent amount of downtime in between work so I'm open to suggestions. Thanks! 

 

The absolute best prime steaks are at Charlie's Steakhouse on West Cypress St.  They are cooked on a wood pit using oak and orange tree wood.  It aint cheap but it's casual dress.  http://www.talkofthetownrestaurants.com/charleys_tampa.html

 

You can get good cuban food at La Terisita: http://www.lateresitarestaurant.com/ or the Columbia restaurant in Ybor, or Pipo's Cafe on south McDill.  If you want good barbque go to big johns alabama bbq but you may want to carry your heater. http://www.bigjohnsalabamabbq.com/

 

Let me know what you want to eat in particular and I'll be happy to direct you.

 

As far as things to see, the Dali museum in St Pete is a good time. 

[Erik88]

Do you like craft beer? Cigar City Brewery is a great place to visit if so. 

[whitewolf001]

Deep sea fishing man, nothing like it. Well, except maybe fishing...

[reed1285]

[quote name="sigmtnman" post="1129854" timestamp="1395786266"]The absolute best prime steaks are at Charlie's Steakhouse on West Cypress St. They are cooked on a wood pit using oak and orange tree wood. It aint cheap but it's casual dress. [url="http://www.talkofthetownrestaurants.com/charleys_tampa.html"]http://www.talkofthetownrestaurants.com/charleys_tampa.html[/url] You can get good cuban food at La Terisita: [url="http://www.lateresitarestaurant.com/"]http://www.lateresitarestaurant.com/[/url] or the Columbia restaurant in Ybor, or Pipo's Cafe on south McDill. If you want good barbque go to big johns alabama bbq but you may want to carry your heater. [url="http://www.bigjohnsalabamabbq.com/"]http://www.bigjohnsalabamabbq.com/[/url] Let me know what you want to eat in particular and I'll be happy to direct you. As far as things to see, the Dali museum in St Pete is a good time. [/quote] Charlies sounds right up my ally! I like cuban too so ill have to try to check out La Terisita as well. Any good wing places down there? I noticed Adam Richman did a man v food hot wing challenge there at a place called Rapscallions.

[reed1285]

[quote name="Erik88" post="1129871" timestamp="1395787653"]Do you like craft beer? Cigar City Brewery is a great place to visit if so. [/quote] Its on the list now, thanks!

[whitewolf001]

If you were heading down to Miami I could tell about a lil mom and pop place that is 100% authentic Cuban and by that, I mean you had better have someone with you whom can speak Spanish...

[Nynick81]

Havn't been in years but, the hard rock hotel and casino has a really nice poker room if your into that kinda stuff.

[sigmtnman]

Charlies sounds right up my ally! I like cuban too so ill have to try to check out La Terisita as well. Any good wing places down there? I noticed Adam Richman did a man v food hot wing challenge there at a place called Rapscallions.

 

Ker's Winghouse on hillsborough is where we used to go, though I've not been there in probably 5 years.  They have turned into a chain so who knows if the quality is still there.  Not sure about Rapscallions.  I just googled it and it looks like it was in Land O' Lakes but is closed now.  I graduated from Land O' Lakes HS and it was not there then.  Land O' Lakes had(has?) a lot of nudist resorts if you are into that though.  : )

 

Where are you staying?

Edited March 26, 2014 by sigmtnman

[sigmtnman]

If you were heading down to Miami I could tell about a lil mom and pop place that is 100% authentic Cuban and by that, I mean you had better have someone with you whom can speak Spanish...

 

Tampa has a very large cuban community and influence.  Ybor was the cigar capital of Florida before it went bust and then became one big night club, before evolving into a tourist trap (assuming it still is).

Edited March 26, 2014 by sigmtnman

[sigmtnman]

Charlies sounds right up my ally! ..

 

Charlie's is probably what I miss most about Tampa, other than friends and family.  It makes Ruth's Chris seem like McDs.  Well, not really, but you catch my drift.

[dlmeadows]

Wyoming Antelope Club is a fantastic range to go shoot at while you are there. Thats where they held the FL State IDPA match the last few years excluding this one. I'll also be flying down on Thursday morning till Sunday, but this time to Palm bay for the match.

[reed1285]

[quote name="sigmtnman" post="1129949" timestamp="1395795637"]Ker's Winghouse on hillsborough is where we used to go, though I've not been there in probably 5 years. They have turned into a chain so who knows if the quality is still there. Not sure about Rapscallions. I just googled it and it looks like it was in Land O' Lakes but is closed now. I graduated from Land O' Lakes HS and it was not there then. Land O' Lakes had(has?) a lot of nudist resorts if you are into that though. : ) Where are you staying?[/quote] Im staying at the Marriott Waterside

[TMF]

Busch Gardens!

 

I second the motion!  My favorite theme park I've ever been to.  Gonna hit that place up again this summer, hopefully.

 

To the OP, just north of Tampa is the Tarpon Tap House, which has all you can eat crab and drinks on Monday. 

 

Also, if you're into beaches, there is Sand Key park which is nice and doesn't get too busy like the regular public beaches.  If you like beaches and a little bit of history, go to Ft. De Soto Park.  They still have guns on display there at the battery.  Very scenic, and a sense of "old Florida".  Also, Fort De Soto was surveyed orginally by (then) Colonel Robert E. Lee.  March/April is the best weather the Bay has to offer, so take advantage of that and see some sites.

[sigmtnman]

You will be close to the ice palace.  I'm not a hockey fan but man that is a good time.  If the lightning is playing try to catch it.

 

Bush Gardens is a good time if you are into theme parks.  Many moons ago when it was owned by Anheuser-Busch you could tour the brewery, but they quit brewing there.  Now it's not even owned by InBev who bought Anheuser-Busch.

 

Keep in mind that the Desoto Park in Tampa (somewhat close to your hotel) is not  Ft. Desoto State park, which is across the bay in Pinellas.

 

If you make it over there, you can check out the Sunshine Skyway bridge, it's pretty cool to see.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge

[reed1285]

sigmtnman did you use to live there lol? Thanks for the suggestion of ker's as well. I hate seeing the local places turn into chains like that, but I'm a hot wing and beer kind of guy so I am going to give them a go. I cant compare them from their non chain days, but hopefully it hasnt gotten too bad. 

 

Aside from food. I'm also an aquarium nerd. Any good aquarium's in the area? I'd imagine there are.

[sigmtnman]

Yes, I was born just south of Tampa and grew up in the rural area (or what used to be) just north of it .  Worked all over Tampa for many years.

 

You will be right near the Florida Aquarium which is real nice. http://www.flaquarium.org/

[sigmtnman]

Like I stated earlier, if you have time, check out the Dali museum.  Seeing his work in person is amazing and quite surreal (get it?). http://thedali.org/home.php

 

Also, MOSI  (The museum of science and industry) is pretty cool. http://www.mosi.org/

[TMF]

[quote name="reed1285" post="1130086" timestamp="1395836485"] Aside from food. I'm also an aquarium nerd. Any good aquarium's in the area? I'd imagine there are.[/quote] Yes! My favorite is a small one at the South Florida Museum. It is about 40 mins south of Tampa in Bradenton. It houses Snooty the Manatee, which is the oldest manatee in captivity... they've had him since the '40s. I remember seeing him when I was a kid at his old home, which was nothing more than a tank, but now they have a state of the art aquarium facility for him which includes other manatees who are being rehabilitated. I took my son there last year while down in Florida. Very nice Museum/Aquarium/Planetarium. You won't see anything like it anywhere else in the country. Just enough stuff to see in an afternoon. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[TMF]

[quote name="sigmtnman" post="1130080" timestamp="1395835508"]You will be close to the ice palace. I'm not a hockey fan but man that is a good time. If the lightning is playing try to catch it. [/quote] I remember going to Lightning games during their first season. I used to be a huge fan. I've only been to a few games at the Ice Palace... was pretty disappointed they named it that as the previous place was called the Thunderdome. "Ice Palace" sounds a little "dandy". I took a wrong turn by the Ice Palace when I went to watch practice one day and ended up in the part of town where a prostitute had her breasts completely exposed. It sounds a lot cooler than it actually was. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[sigmtnman]

TMF is right about about the the South Florida Museum in Bradenton.  I was born two blocks from there.  They have some cool shows at the planetarium; cool laser light shows too.

 

Speaking of Manatees.  It's a bit of a drive north, but Homasassa Springs has some pretty cool stuff: http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/default.cfm

 

If you want to see hot chicks dressed up as mermaids in an aquarium go to Weeki Wachee http://www.weekiwachee.com/

Edited March 26, 2014 by sigmtnman

[sigmtnman]

For, eh hem, adult entertainment... Joe Redner has you covered at mons venus.

[TMF]

[quote name="sigmtnman" post="1130096" timestamp="1395837871"]TMF is right about about the the South Florida Museum in Bradenton. I was born two blocks from there. They have some cool shows at the planetarium; cool laser light shows too. Speaking of Manatees. It's a bit of a drive north, but Homasassa Springs has some pretty cool stuff: [url="http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/default.cfm"]http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/default.cfm[/url] If you want to see hot chicks dressed up as mermaids in an aquarium go to Weeki Wachee [url="http://www.weekiwachee.com/"]http://www.weekiwachee.com/[/url][/quote] Ha, been a loooong time since I've done Weeki Wachee and Buccaneer Bay. Plan on taking the kids there when they're a little older. I used to canoe the Weeki Watchee as a kid. Looked like you could reach in your hand and scoop out mullet as they swam by. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[sigmtnman]

mmmm smoked mullet.