Tampa Area Attractions

Tampa, Florida offers a sunshine-filled destination with exciting tourist attractions and things to do. Perfect for everything from family vacations to romantic getaways, the Tampa Bay area is home to outdoor adventure, dining, shopping, universities, museums, zoos, aquariums, nightlife, casinos and top concerts. The 56-acre Lowry Zoo is widely recognized as one of the top attractions for children in Tampa area and was voted #1 Zoo in the United States by Parents Magazine. Head down the Hillsborough River on a canoe or kayaking adventure. Swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove. Visit more than 20,0000 aquatic animals and plants on display at the Florida Aquarium. Theres plenty of adult fun too. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino offers a 90,000-square-foot casino for exciting gaming action, or unwind with a drink and great country music shows at Dallas Bull, a legendary Tampa Bay area bar and concert venue. The SpringHill Suites by Marriott Tampa Brandon in Florida offers the perfect place for experiencing all the fun and attractions of sunny Tampa, Florida.

Tampa, Florida Things to do

Tampa Bay History Center.

The Tampa Bay History Center is an innovative museum that details the rich history of the Tampa Bay Area in interactive exhibits. The state-of-the art Tampa Bay History Center museum features exhibits on Tampa's cigar industry history and the first European explorers who landed in Tampa in 1528. To learn more about the many attractions at the Tampa Bay History Center, visit www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.

University of South Florida.

University of South Florida is ranked a top research university and has more than 46,000 students on campuses in Tampa, Sarasota-Manatee, St. Petersburg and Lakeland. A well-established institution of higher learning, the University of South Florida offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. For more information about the University of South Florida, visit www.usf.edu/index.asp.

Hyde Park.

Hyde Park is a charming historic district located in Tampa, Florida with an open-air downtown shopping area called Hyde Park Village. Hyde Park is also known for having an exciting nightlife with a variety of bars and restaurants in the SoHo (South of Howard Avenue) area. For more details about fun things to do in Hyde Park in Tampa, FL, visit www.oldhydeparkfl.org.

Seminole Hard Rock Casino.

Seminole Hard Rock Casino offers top-notch gaming action and entertainment in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. Enjoy rocking concerts, gourmet restaurants and a wide choice of games from slot machines to poker in the sprawling 90,000-square-foot casino. To learn more about things to do at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Florida, visit www.seminolehardrock.com.

Dallas Bull.

Since 1979, the Dallas Bull has been one of Americas best bar venues for seeing country music stars play. Superstars like Kenny Chesney and Big & Rich have played at Dallas Bull. Just a mile and a half from the Ford Amphitheatre, country music artists often make surprise visits and play intimate, unscheduled sets. To learn more about Dallas Bull, visit www.dallasbull.com.

Canoe Escape.

Tampa Canoe Escape offers canoeing and kayaking adventures for families down the Hillsborough River. Lasting anywhere from 2 hours to 1 day, canoe trips offer bird watching, photography, and the sights of wild animals. To learn more about the many things to see and do on a Tampa, Florida Canoe Escape, visit www.canoeescape.com.

Lowry Park Zoo.

Lowry Park Zoo has been voted #1 Zoo in the United States by Parents Magazine and offers one of the top attractions for children in the Tampa area. Home to monkeys, tigers and all kinds of wildlife, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo occupies a huge 56-acre location and offers a wide variety of entertaining animal exhibits. To learn more about the top attractions at Tampas Lowry Park Zoo, visit www.lowryparkzoo.com.

Florida Aquarium.

The Florida Aquarium is a 250,000-square-foot aquarium and aquatic animal center located in Tampa, Florida. The Florida Aquarium houses more 20,000 aquatic plants and animals and displays exhibits that simulate beach, coral reef and wetlands environments. To learn more about the many top Tampa Bay attractions at the Florida Aquarium, visit www.flaquarium.org.

Westfield Brandon Shopping Mall.

Westfield Brandon is an upscale shopping and dining center located in Brandon, Florida, 8 miles east of Tampa. Top department stores featured at Westfield Brandon include Macy's and Dillard's. Leading retailers range from the Apple Store to Dick's Sporting Goods and Lucky Brand Jeans. Westfield Brandon Shopping Center, visit westfield.com/brandon

Big Cat Rescue.

Big Cat Rescue is located in Tampa, Florida and is the largest accredited big cat shelter in the world. Home to more than 140 wild cats from lions and tigers to snow leopards and lynx, all kids of cats roam the facility's 45-acre compound. Because it is not a zoo, you must view the park on a guided tour and are not allowed to wander the grounds unescorted. Making advance plans to visit is strongly advised. There are a number of tours to choose from, you can even go a tour that allows you to help the Keepers feed some of the smaller cats, like ocelots and bobcats. For more information about seeing the animals at Big Cat Rescue, visit www.bigcatrescue.org.

Tampa Bay Florida Events

St. Pete Times Forum

Tampa bay Storm vs. San Jose Sabercats - 07/23/11
Jeff Foxworthy & Bill Engvall - 09/30/11
Cleveland Crush vs. Tampa Breeze - 10/21/11
Lingerie Football League: Tampa Breeze vs. Cleveland Crush - 10/21/11

Josh Groban - 10/28/11
Taylor Swift - 11/12/11
Andrea Bocelli - 12/04/11
Lingerie Football League: Tampa Brz vs. Orlando Fantasy - 12/30/11

Hard Rock Hotel

Joan Jett & the Heartbreakers - 07/30/11

1-800-Ask-Gary

Kings of Leon - 08/02/11
Far East Movement, Keri Hilson, Lloyd - 08/03/11
Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival - 08/13/11
Rascal Flatts - 08/19/11
Train & Maroon 5- 08/31/11
Brad Paisley w/ Blake Shelton - 09/09/11

Journey, Foreigner & Night Ranger - 09/17/11
Incubus - 09/18/11
Blink 182 & My Chemical Romance - 09/24/11
Toby Keith w/ Eric Church - 09/14/11
Judas Priest - 11/30/11

Downtown Tampa

IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships - 08/01/11 - 08/07/11

Florida State Fairgrounds

Suncoast Gun Show - 08/06/11 - 08/07/11
Horse Show - 09/10/11 - 09/11/11
Republican Presidential Candidates Debate - 09/12/11
All Specie Seminar - 09/21/11 - 09/24/11
Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show - 09/24/11 - 09/26/11
Horse Show - 10/08/11 - 10/09/11

Southeast Street Rod Nationals - 10/14/11 - 10/16/11
Fall Home Show - 10/21/11 - 10/23/11
Tampa Bay RV Show - 11/10/11 - 11/13/11
Horse Show - 11/19/11
Suncoast Gun Show - 12/03/11 / 12/04/11
Horse Show - 12/03/11 / 12/04/11

Tampa Convention Center

Floridas Largest Home Show - 09/02/11
Red Bull Flugtag - 10/08/11

Raymond James Stadium

USF vs. Ball State - 09/10/11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions - 09/11/11
USF Vs. Florida A&M Rattlers - 09/17/11
USF Bulls Vs. UTEP Miners - 09/24/11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons - 09/25/11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts - 10/03/11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints - 10/16/11

USF Vs. Cincinnati Bearcats - 10/22/11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Houston Texans - 11/13/11
USF Vs. Miami Hurricanes - 11/19/11
USF Vs. Louisville Cardinals - 11/25/11
USF Vs. West Virginia Mountaineers - 12/01/11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers - 12/04/11
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys - 12/17/11