The hospitable resort city of Tampa hosts many exciting events every year. Its hallmark is its long coastline, famous for night illuminations and cruise ships.

History of Tampa

This port has not always been a center of recreation and entertainment. The tourism industry began to develop after the closure of many industrial enterprises in the 70s. Since then, the face of Tampa has been constantly changing, and today it is one of the pearls of the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida became a US state in 1845, and four years later the settlement of Tampa was registered, with 187 inhabitants. Geographical isolation hampered its development, but in 1883 phosphates were discovered here and a railway was built. The outlying town and its trading port are growing so rapidly that the tobacco magnate Vincent Martinez Ybor is moving his factory here.

From that moment on, the history of Tampa is closely associated with the production of Cuban cigars: 200 factories, 12,000 workers, 700 million units a year. Cigars are produced in Tampa to this day, and the name of the far-sighted businessman is the central quarter.

Fashion factories in Tampa and how to have fun with the plot

Ybor was once a working settlement for immigrants. Today it is a charming, lively area with a strong personality. For its distinctive past and architecture, the quarter was declared a cultural heritage. Its characteristic features are low-rise red brick houses, an old tram and rounded signs from the 50s.

Seventh Avenue in this retro paradise is one of America's 10 Famous Streets, lined with shops, eateries, teahouses, outdoor fairs and street performances. Here you can also look into immigration and tobacco museums, wander through art galleries, and also meet free roosters and hens — descendants of runaway poultry.

Theme parks are the right way to maximize positive emotions in the shortest possible time, for adults and kids. In Busch Gardens, you can ride roller coasters, watch animals in their natural environment, and watch exciting circus and variety acts.

In the Oceanarium, after watching the marine fauna, you can sign up for diving in an aquarium with scuba diving, swimming and yachting side by side with dolphins and feeding the penguins. The expansive Lowry Zoo is renowned for its educational hands-on classes and fun rides.

Walking tours and events

This resort has many unique hiking trails. The Riverwalk is a walking trail along the waterfront, with fifteen stops at major and minor attractions in Tampa. The Art Tour is organized by the city hall, which has a collection of more than fifty objects of contemporary art.

The municipality exhibits them in the open air, and these free galleries add color and expressiveness to the urban space. Also, the original sea promenade can be made on the deck of a warship — the American Victory Museum.

For fans of rollerblades and bicycles, there are six special trails — Greenways, which cross squares and embankments. For jogging enthusiasts, there are 14 directions — trails, also lying in green areas.

January is the month of corsairs. The Gasparilla Festival is dedicated to pirates and is very popular. At this time, the main avenues are full of costumed parades, performances and shows are staged on open stages, and colorful pavilions are set up in the Palace of Congresses, famous for its scale. In April there is a dragon boat rowing competition, Dragon Race.

The founder and organizer of the races, Mike Kerkmann is a real fan of this unusual sport with origins from China, where the boat battle was part of the ritual of worshiping the dragon, which awakens from hibernation in the spring. In October, Gawauin, Halloween with Spanish motives are held, and in November, people from all over the country gather in Tampa for the colorful celebration of the Latin American culture of Conga Caliente.

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The nightlife with artistic light installations in the center is very spectacular. The evening is a great excuse to visit the bars and restaurants in Downtown. The dynamic Hyde Park Cafe always has an incendiary atmosphere, you can listen to comedians of the stand-up genre in the Improv, and enjoy live music in Ferg Life. With a five-level dance floor, eclectic dance rhythms and a panoramic rooftop bar, the Prana Club is always at the peak of popularity.

Seminole Hard Rock Casino — magnificent halls, more than 4,000 slot machines and 150 tables with traditional poker, roulette and blackjack, as well as exotic gambling from Asia