Culture, cuisine and historic districts

Lifestyle | Travel | Worldwide Holidays
At a glance: a Gulf Coast culture break
Where: Buzzy Tampa Bay, an easy direct flight from the UK
Best for: Eclectic neighbourhoods, culture and top-class dining
Don’t miss: A wander along the Tampa Riverwalk, connecting museums, cafés and activities
Road trip highlight: Driving Bayshore Boulevard, a 7.2km waterfront stretch
Nature fix: Joining a stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) session off the Riverwalk
Getting started: Fly direct to Tampa with British Airways
Sun-kissed, coast-fringed and easy to reach from the UK, Tampa Bay is a breezy holiday spot that combines a bit of everything.

It’s got culture-rich districts and laid-back waterside living, highbrow museums and sporty thrills, plus Orlando’s world-famous theme parks and some of the finest powder beaches in the United States are within easy reach.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury accommodation.

Nestled in central Tampa, the Hyatt Place Tampa Downtown and Hyatt House Tampa Downtown hotels are unforgettable holiday bases for city-loving couples and families alike.

However, Tampa still flies under the radar for many Florida visitors.

Here’s why you should add it to your travel bucket list…
Life in Tampa unfolds along the water, especially along the 2.6-mile Tampa Riverwalk, which links city highlights from the meandering Hillsborough River to the Garrison Channel.

By day, locals walk, cycle or jog along the boardwalk, stopping off for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) sessions, boat trips or to let kids cool off at one of the many splash pads.

By night, the scene turns colourful and twinkly, as city lights illuminate the pathway for low-key evening strolls.

The waterfront is also a hub for Tampa Bay’s thriving food scene.

At Sparkman Wharf, a destination for live music, communal fitness classes and shopping, you can choose from street eats like glazed doughnuts and fried chicken, or opt for more formal fare like modern sushi or Mexican from Michelin-starred chef Joe Isidori.

At Armature Works, a reimagined warehouse, the Heights Public Market contains trendy cocktail bars, coffee spots and barbecue joints, who serve up edible delights with a river view.

Beyond its sparkling waterfront, Tampa Bay is a city defined by vibrant, eclectic neighbourhoods.

Bursting with Cuban, Spanish, Italian and African American cultural influences, each corner of the city has a different feel, architectural character and mood – from the skyscrapers of Downtown Tampa’s entertainment district to leafy and historic Hyde Park, and artsy, trendy Seminole Heights.

With roots dating back centuries, Tampa Bay has a glut of historic buildings, and there’s no better place to see them than in Ybor City, centred around 7th Avenue.

Once known as the Cigar Capital of the World, due to the abundance of factories producing hand-rolled tobacco, it retains an old-world ambience with its brick-fronted buildings, Victorian-style street lamps and retro streetcars.

Pop into the oldest restaurant in Florida, Columbia Restaurant, for unreal Cuban sandwiches, and look out for the wild chickens that famously wander the streets of Ybor City, too.

A thriving Gulf Coast arts scene
When it comes to the arts, Tampa Bay boasts an array of museums, galleries and creative institutions.

At the Tampa Bay History Center, located on the Tampa Riverwalk, you’ll travel through 12,000 years of Florida history.

In Ybor City, the J.C.

Newman Cigar Company showcases the past and present of cigar-making, and in Downtown Tampa, the Henry B.

Plant Museum, a National Historic Landmark, exhibits opulent Moorish-inspired architecture, lush tropical gardens and Victorian-era antiques.

Tampa Bay delivers the perfect balance of buzzing city culture and laid-back coastal charm.

Just a 90-minute drive from Orlando and a half-hour drive from the sublime, sugar-soft beaches of St.

Pete-Clearwater, it’s easy to tie Tampa into a broader Florida road trip thanks to British Airways Holidays’ exclusive hire car partner Avis.

*Full balance due seven weeks before departure
**Subject to availability.

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