Visitors to Tampa don't always make it to its outer neighborhoods, but one you should be sure to see is Ybor City. It's here that you'll learn about the city's early history and how it came to be known as "Cigar City." You'll learn of the Cuban community that is the oldest in the United States (yes, predating Miami's Little Havana!). In the 1880s, workers from Spain and … [Read more...] about The History of Tampa’s Ybor City Neighborhood
Tampa
Visiting the Florida Aquarium
In a state with so much coastline, it makes sense that Florida would have plenty of experiences that connect aquatic creatures with visitors. The greater Tampa area is blessed to not only have the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which focuses on rehabilitation, but also the Florida Aquarium, located downtown, which focuses on education. The aquarium is well located near the … [Read more...] about Visiting the Florida Aquarium
Weekend Guide to Tampa
Tampa, Florida is a city on the western side of Florida that is often overshadowed by other state destinations but has plenty to offer travelers. Indigenous peoples settled here early on and later the bay became known for its pirate presence. Today, the city pays homage to that history with the yearly Gasparilla Festival. After the Civil War, the railroad and cigar industries … [Read more...] about Weekend Guide to Tampa
Southern Stays: Epicurean Hotel
Long before I planned a trip to Tampa, I knew I'd wanted to stay at The Epicurean Hotel after hearing about it on The Travel Bite. The foodie hotel opened in 2012 in the Hyde Park neighborhood, a short drive from downtown Tampa. It started out as a partnership between the hotel and the iconic Bern's Steak House. The neighborhood surrounding the hotel is very walkable to … [Read more...] about Southern Stays: Epicurean Hotel
5 Places to Shop for Small Business Saturday
In an effort to support small businesses in a time of mass consumerism and big box stores, Small Business Saturday was born. It's the counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so here are a few of our favorite Southern shops to frequent this Saturday. There you'll find local gifts and handmade products. The Beehive, Atlanta, Georgia Located at the Edgewood Retail … [Read more...] about 5 Places to Shop for Small Business Saturday
