Tampa Travel Guide

Many of the attractions in Tampa offer discounts on the price of admission if they are purchased prior to the day a person wishes to visit. These discounts can range from three to ten dollars a ticket and when ticket prices reach the sixty dollar a day mark, ten dollars is a lot of money, especially for families with children. Most of these attractions have online web sites where the tickets can be purchased and some tickets can even be gotten at the local AAA Automobile Club in the area where a person lives. Not only can some money be saved but also time spent standing in line to buy tickets. Naturally, it is usually much quicker to already have a ticket and just proceed right into the park.  « hide

When swimming in the warm coastal waters of Tampa Bay, it is important to realize that there may be some unpleasant sea life to be avoided. A jellyfish is nearly transparent and kinda looks like a floating balloon. If you see one, you are probably too close to avoid getting stung by its tentacles. The best way to get relief is to apply meat tenderizer on the sore spot as it breaks down the poison. Another thing to avoid is the stingray, a bottom-dwelling creature with a spiny tail. The best way to scare them off is by shuffling your feet through the water. However, if a person steps directly on one, chances are a barb from the tail is going to be the result. There is no quick relief from this unfortunately except a quick trip to the emergency room.  « hide

Most people realize that summertime in Florida is very hot and humid with temperatures in the high eighties and low nineties. But it is important for the visiting tourist to realize that an additional hazard also exists. That of course is the prospect of tropical storms and hurricanes. If a person has never been through one, it is not an experience to enjoy. If one is forecast to hit the area, please make sure to heed the advice broadcast on the news. Should the storm be projected as a category three or above, it is best to beat the crowd by getting out of the area and heading for home immediately. Even if one gets through the storm okay, and these can include category one storms as well, chances are the power will be out for several days and it will be very, very hot, not to mention uncomfortable, without air conditioning, hot food or cold drinks.  « hide

Regardless of what city a tourist may choose to visit, there are areas that are best avoided. In Tampa, the area is a roughly rectangular area in East central Tampa bordered by I-275 on the west, Busch Blvd on the north, 50th Street, which turns into 56th Street on the east, and I-4 on the south. Although there are tourist areas that border right on this edge, this is a mostly neglected part of town where life is pretty harsh. There isn’t anything there for the visitors anyways so it is best to avoid this part of town.  « hide