Official Language:
English
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Currency:
US Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 300,000 call Tampa home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Tampa Florida: Sunny with warm temperatures are common for Tampa. High humidity takes over in the summer with an averary of 8°F2/28°C degrees. Winters are mild and generally dry, with as occasional cold front. Average winter temperatures are around 60°F/16°C degrees.
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Since 1880, Tampa's been a player since the railroad arrived in 1880, and the river was dredged to allow seagoing vessels to dock. It was a one-two punch that brought wealth and boom times, so big time trade and shipping has been a familiar part of the city's existence almost from the first. One of the direct consequences was Ybor City, a settlement a few miles outside of the central city founded by a tobacco magnate (a certain Señor Ybor, naturally), populated by Cuban migrants, and devoted to the art of the cigar. Hand rolled cigars can still be had here, of a quality not often equaled, but Ybor City is the nexus of Tampa's big league nightlife now, a nicely centralized and hopping area of restored red brick buildings and cobbled streets, populated by clubs and restaurants. Music, food, dancing — the whole ball of wax. It's even worthwhile to visit during the day, albeit with a more historical frame of reference.
Also located here is the Tampa Museum of Art, a point of pride for the city, a contemporary building on the riverbank, where one can see a masterful collection of twentieth century American art, as well as classical antiquities. On your way to the ship stop by and let the art soothe your soul before you set sail. It's also a good place to start the walking tour of downtown Tampa, helped along by a series of plaques detailing all the pertinent high points (Fernando de Soto Slept Here). One particularly intriguing sight is the main building of the University of Tampa, which once upon a time was the Tampa Bay Hotel, a rococo pile of five hundred rooms topped by silver minarets and cupolas, which was rescued from dilapidation by the city and leased to the university. It's a very odd sight, indeed. And there is also the Florida Aquarium, a big league attraction in itself, housing birds, fish, alligators, and otters in truly impressive displays of the Florida freshwater and saltwater habitats.
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Attractions |
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In this cruise port you will find that there are lots to do. Here you will find the Florida Aquarium, with its new Dolphin Quest attraction (travel on the bay on a catamaran looking for bottlenose dolphins), “Frights of the Forest” featuring the Amazon River and its scorpions, tarantulas, poison arrow frogs, vultures, vampire bats and pythons, and the aquarium’s salt and fresh water plants and animals. Channelside, located on the waterfront is an entertainment center with restaurants, shops, nightclubs, movie theaters (including a 3-D Imax cinema) and the Pop City interactive entertainment center.
Another popular spot is Busch Gardens, a 335-acre African- themed park. Among the most popular are the "Serengeti Plain" which features "Edge of Africa," a 15-acre animal exhibit that brings visitors face-to-face with lions, giraffes, hyenas and other African species and "Rhino Rally," an off-road river adventure through animal habitats. "Egypt" is the home of "Montu," the Southeast's largest inverted steel roller coaster, a replica of King Tut's Tomb and "Akbar's Adventure Tours," a simulated ride that transports guests to Egypt's wonders. There are five other roller coasters, including "Gwazi," the Southeast's largest and fastest dueling wooden roller coaster and "Kumba," the largest and fastest top-riding steel roller coaster in the region.
Ybor City: Tampa's popular Ybor City is a historic district where Cuban immigrants once settled (and which was once considered the “cigar capital of the world”), Ybor’s got red brick streets lined with globe street lamps and wrought iron balconies, and the smell of café con leche and Cuban bread permeates the air. Master tabaqueros (cigar rollers) can still be seen hand rolling cigars.
Lowry Park Zoo: Visit the 26-acre open-air natural habitat zoo is home to more than 1,500 animals in lush tropical settings, the zoo includes a free flight lorikeet aviary, children's petting zoo and educational center. One of the zoo's highlights is its Manatee and Aquatic Center, one of only three hospitals and rehabilitation facilities in the state of Florida for the shy and gentle sea cows.
The Museum of Science &Industry: Besides the IMAX DOME theater and some 450 hands-on activities,”don’t miss” exhibits include the Gulf Coast Hurricane Chamber, which allows you to experience 74 mile per hour winds, and the Challenger Learning Center where you can assume the role of astronaut or engineer.
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More Information |
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Tampa Port Authority
651 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
Web: www.tampaport.com
Phone: 800-741-2297
Fax: 813-905-5109
Port Parking: $10 per day
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