Sunset view of the Tampa Convention Center and pier.

Caribbean Cruises from Tampa

The sprawling subtropical metropolis of Tampa sits along the Gulf Coast of Florida, encircling Tampa Bay from Sarasota to Clearwater Beach. It’s a quintessentially American spot, with white-sand beaches sharing space with shopping malls, and a multicultural mix of residents that ensures flavors from Mexican to Vietnamese are always close at hand. The local lore is rich with moneyed magnates: Both Henry B. Plant and John Ringling, of the Ringling Brothers Circus, left their marks on the region in the form of palatial buildings which now house museums. And, of course, there is no shortage of family fun.

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Things to do in Tampa

Are you trying to figure out what to do in Fort Lauderdale? Explore a few of these top picks.

The Ringling

Circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable, built their ostentatious winter home just south of Tampa, and today the lavish estate houses a series of galleries and gardens. Ca' d'Zan was the Ringlings' Prohibition-era, Venetian-style mansion, with ceiling frescoes and no shortage of marble. Not surprisingly, the Ringling is also home to an impressive collection of memorabilia related to American circuses, which can be viewed in the Circus Museum.

The Dali Museum

Fans of the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí need not travel to Spain's Costa Brava to explore an exceptional display of his work. St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum houses the private collection of Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, the largest assembly of pieces by the artist outside Europe. Among the museum’s 2,100 items by Dalí are paintings, drawings, sculptures, photos and much more, including many of the artist's most important works.

The Florida Aquarium

Beneath the towering glass dome of the Florida Aquarium, visitors can explore the depths of the sea. The fantastic 2-million-liter (500,000-gallon) Coral Reef Gallery has a walk-through tunnel where guests can feel surrounded by colorful reef fish, moray eels and sharks. Those looking for a hands-on experience can dive with sharks or swim in the coral reef tank. The aquarium also offers daily cruises around Tampa Bay to spot wild dolphins, birds and the occasional manatee.

Columbia Restaurant

Ybor City can boast that it is home to the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Florida. The Columbia Restaurant opened in 1905 as a café serving coffee and Cuban sandwiches to local cigar workers. Today, the original family continues to run the eatery, and while it now has a much larger menu, the Cuban sandwiches remain a favorite.

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