If you want to explore a little slice of America in the sun in a familiar, English speaking Western country this year you should consider Florida as your getaway holiday destination. Flights go to Tampa in Florida direct from Gatwick Airport. Choose gatwick airport hotels with parking so you can pack all the holiday gear into the car without worrying about transport and flight times.
Tampa lies on Tampa Bay on the Western side of Florida. It is a lovely city situated on a peninsula that juts out into Tampa Bay. There are plenty of things to do in Tampa and the nearby area alone is worth a visit from the U.K. but remember you are in Florida with its huge attractions – Disneyland, the Everglades and the Florida Keys just a few worth mentioning. This brief article will concentrate on the Tampa region itself as the attractions of the state deserve a book or two!
Tampa is a great place if you have kids as it has plenty of locally based theme parks like Adventure Island and Busch Gardens. However, a visit here is much more than a chance to stand in line at the next ride in a fun park!
Tampa’s geographical position close to the Gulf of Mexico makes it an extremely popular place – especially in the Northern winter time when days are warm and dry. The beaches of St Petersburg and Clearwater close nearby and there are plenty of things to do and see in and around the water. If you are looking for something involving thrills and spills then any of the water based adrenalin charged activities around Tampa Bay itself will more than satisfy you.
Ybor City’s museum is close by and well worth a visit. Many visitors reckon this is one of the most rewarding places to visit in this part of the state. The museum is at a National Historical Landmark and depicts how Ybor City helped in the development of Tampa. There are always interesting events going on at the museum so it is worth going to the tourist office in Tampa to get an idea of what might be coming up.
When it comes to attractions for the kids, then Big Cat Rescue is up there with the best. The cats range from American locals like pumas, jaguars and bob cats to exotic animals like tigers, leopards and lions. You can get up really close to these magnificent animals and the park offers a chance to see how they live and interact and offers an opportunity to discover the problems they might encounter in their native environments. The park has all sorts of options and tours like kids’ special tours, feeding times, even special occasions for weddings. There are games, contests and other activities which will keep you and your family entertained for hours.
Busch Park, within Tampa’s city boundaries, often gets overlooked by visitors but is a worthwhile destination in its own right – there are fantastic views from the 200 foot tower within the park and plenty of exotic and beautiful trees and plants in the gardens section. Time your visit for one of the daily concert performances which take place in the afternoons on a regular basis.