Top Things To Do in Tampa, Florida

Chief Cruiser
May 20, 2019
2 min read

Tampa started out as a cigar-peddling, immigrant-built boomtown at the turn of the 20th century. If you explore YBOR City which is the historic area, you will be fascinated with immigrant stories.

Here are my Favorite things:

Eat at Columbia Restaurant-Florida’s Oldest Restaurant

Founded in 1905 as a small corner cafe for local cigar workers, Columbia Restaurant is considered the oldest Spanish restaurant in America. Its sheer size and opulence would make the restaurant an institution, but it’s got great food and wine to boot. Best part of it all? The eatery still serves one of Tampa’s best Cuban sandwiches. A must-eat for any first time Tampa tourist and a regular retreat for locals as well.

In 1905, Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. started this restaurant serving steaming cups of Cuban Coffee and bowls of spanish bean soup, along with strong drink to fellow immigrants in the "cigar city".

Cuban sandwich is also very famous here as Cigar workers were walking to and from work. The sandwiches underwent changes as immigrants from different countries came to Ybor City. The City of Tampa was like the sandwich, a mixture of cultures and food. The spanish brought the fine ham, the Sicilians the Genoa Salami and cubans the mojo-marinated roast pork, the germans and Jews the swiss cheese, pickles and mustard.

Explore the rest of Ybor City:

A richly personable neighborhood of Tampa, Ybor City retains the Cuban, Italian and Spanish influences that remain from its heyday as the hub of Tampa's cigar industry, now reflected in its culture and cuisine. Ybor City is a place where brick-paved streets and wrought iron balconies frame historic buildings that reflect another place in time. Make sure to stop at the Ybor City Museum State Park and see a movie at Tampa Theatre. Whether strolling down historic 7th Avenue, sipping a café con leche at a sidewalk café or staying late for the entertainment and nightclub scene, Ybor City offers visitors a connection to the past.

TECO Line Streetcar

There’s no better way to experience the atmosphere of old Tampa than by cruising the Channel District in a mustard-colored trolley. Enter one of these heritage TECO Line Streetcars and feel yourself transported back in time—after the pirates but before lawlessness left Tampa Bay. Eleven stations are dotted along 2.7 miles of track.

Salvador Dali Museum

the largest collection of Salvador Dali paintings outside of Spain, the Dali Museum in Saint Petersburg is a must-see for any fan of art

Soak up some sun & Watch Sunset in Clearwater or Tampa Bay area

Compared to the other side of Florida beaches, tampa/Fort Myers area are less busy and less touristy. You can watch the sunset in the beach while chilling and enjoying the nature.

Famous Beach area are: Clearwater area, St. Petersbourg and If you want a nature preserved area, head to Sanibel Island.