- Although I wasn't raised in Florida, I've been exploring the Tampa Bay area as a local for 19 years.
- The area is full of unique activities that can connect visitors to nature and local culture.
- I suggest going on a boat cruise or checking out the Manatee Viewing Center or Ybor City.
I can't call myself a born-and-raised Floridian, but I've lived in Tampa for 19 years and have been exploring the state as a local for half my life.
Although I love to travel outside the area, the Florida Gulf Coast has so many gems and is more than just sugar-sand beaches.
The Tampa Bay area is a treasure trove of adventure, offering extraordinary opportunities to discover the wonders of Florida nature and lively local culture.
Here are six of my favorite things to do around Tampa Bay that feel uniquely Florida.
Connect with Tampa's Latin culture and cigar history in Ybor City.
Tampa's Latin quarter Ybor City was known as the "Cigar Capital of the World" in the early 1900s because of its large concentration of cigar producers.
Today, you can tour the area's last remaining cigar factory operating in the US: J.C. Newman Cigar Company's El Reloj.
Ybor City is also famous for its historic charm, lively nightlife, and Cuban influence. You can even set your feet on Cuban soil at Ybor City's Parque Amigos de Jose Marti, a tiny piece of land donated from Cuba in the 1950s.
While here, try an authentic Cuban sandwich at the century-old La Segunda Bakery or the Columbia Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Florida that's also considered to be the largest Spanish restaurant in the world.
A classic Tampa Cuban sandwich consists of Cuban mojo pork, Spanish ham, Italian salami, German mustard, pickles, and Swiss cheese on Cuban bread.
Learn how to party like a pirate at Tampa's annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest.
A Tampa tradition about as old as the Cuban sandwich, Gasparilla Pirate Fest takes over Tampa every January.
The historic festival celebrates the mythical pirate José Gaspar with a merry pirate invasion: a parade of more than 100 themed floats led by a fully-rigged pirate ship.
Go on a day trip to watch mermaids perform in at Weeki Wachee Springs.
An Old Florida roadside attraction and an enchanting natural wonder, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is a day-trip destination about an hour north of Tampa.
Visitors have been drawn to Weeki Wachee for decades to watch live mermaid shows in an underwater theater where spring water flows from the aquifer deep below.
Kayaking down the crystal-clear Weeki Wachee River is also an incredible adventure with mesmerizing blue-green waters and occasional manatee sightings.
See how manatees keep warm in the winter at Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center.
On the south shore of Tampa Bay, a unique winter manatee refuge provides vital protection for Florida's cold-sensitive sea cows.
Each winter, Tampa Electric welcomes visitors to watch manatees from boardwalk trails around its power station in Apollo Beach, which discharges warm water that manatees require for survival.
The Manatee Viewing Center is free to visit and open seasonally from November through mid-April.
Take a boat ride through downtown Tampa.
My favorite way to see my city is from the water. Downtown Tampa's skyline really shines during a sunset cruise, but any time of day is a good time to be on the water in Tampa Bay.
Your time on the water will be well spent whether you hop on downtown Tampa's Pirate Water Taxi, take a culinary journey on a Craft dining river cruise, or climb aboard The Lost Pearl pirate ship.
Explore weird, wacky, wonderful Florida art with a day trip to FloridaRAMA.
Located just across the bay from Tampa, St. Petersburg is an art lover's playground.
It's home to stunning collections of works by renowned artists, including Salvador Dalí and Dale Chihuly — and home to FloridaRAMA, a unique immersive art museum.
FloridaRAMA is an interactive, artist-made wonderland that celebrates local folklore.
Its playful exhibits turn art into an adventure where you can explore mysterious Florida narratives centered on the retro-futuristic Mermaid Star Motel.
