A Little Bit Of Everything

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, everybody looking for a great vacation spot. What do
you say we head down to Tampa, Florida. You know,
Tampa has a little bit of everything. You know, it's
it's a it's a vibrant city. It has awesome beaches

(00:21):
all the Gulf Coast, beautiful white stands, world class attractions,
diverse dining, and a nightlife that knows really how to party.
So that's it's a great place to go. It's a
great place to take a vacation. So whether you're traveling
with family, friends, or solo, Tampa is a destination that delivers.
We're going to take a look at the best activities

(00:44):
for families. We're gonna take a look at the must
visit beaches and top restaurants in the city's overall vibe. Plus,
we'll share some travel tips on how to get in
and out of the city the easiest, save you some time.
So you know, Tampa is packed with attractions that will
thrill the kids and the adults. So let's start with

(01:09):
Bush Gardens Tampa Bay. Been there. This African themed amusement
park is a must visit, combined exciting roller coasters, live shows,
and a zoo with over two hundred species of animals.
It's a really, really neat place. The Florida Aquarium that's
located downtown. This aquarium is home to fascinating exhibits from

(01:32):
sea turtles to sharks. Kids love the outdoor Splash Pad
Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park, known for its interactive experiences,
This zoo offers animal encounters, a Manhattan Rehab Center, and
a kid a friendly splash area. And I said, Manhattan.

(01:56):
That's a Manatee rehab center. Though sometimes I think Manhattan
might need some rehab to anyway. Tampa Tampa River Walk.
This is a scenic two point six mile path along
the Hillsboro River. It's perfect for walking, biking, scootering. Along
the way. You'll find parks, restaurants, attractions like the Glazed

(02:21):
Children's Museum and Tampa Bay History Center. It's a great
place for family to take a walk, take a stroll
if you can, scooter scooter and stop by. The kids
will love the museums and the history center. Sparkman Wharf,
this waterfront destination features a mix of dining, lawn games,

(02:43):
and live music. Great for families, especially if you're looking
for that relaxed evening. Great place to go take the
family beaches. We don't always hear a whole lot about
Tampa beaches, but right around there there are some really
really nice ones. So Tampa isn't directly on the Gulf,

(03:07):
some of the forests most stunning beaches are just a
short drive away, so Clearwater Beach consistently ranked one of
the best beaches in the US. Clearwater offers soft white sand,
crystal clear waters, and plenty of family friendly activities like
jet skiing and paddle boarding. Is an absolutely beautiful place and
completely different than the East Coast beaches and just with

(03:31):
the ways aren't too big and the sand is absolutely
amazing and the beaches are just the perfect size. Saint
Pete Beach a more laid back option with gorgeous sunsets,
beachfront restaurants, and plenty of water sports. Fort de Soto Park.
This park offers a quiet, more natural beach experience with

(03:55):
calm waters, picnic areas, and even historic fort to explore.
Some travel tips. Parking at the beach can fill up quickly,
and I think that's the case for every beach in
the country, particularly on the East Coast, especially in the southeast,
so this is particularly true on the weekends, so arrive early,

(04:16):
get yourself a spot, beat the crowds. What about food?
Where are we going to eat? Tampa's food food seen
is diverse and it's culture. It has everything from Cuban
classics to fresh golf seafood. That really is something for

(04:36):
everyone here in Tampa. As far as restaurants go, one
of one of the most famous is Columbia Restaurant in
i War City. It's a Tampa institution. It's serving up
authentic Spanish and Cuban cuisine since nineteen oh five. Try
the famous nineteen oh five salad. It doesn't mean they

(04:59):
made it, It just means that that's the name of
it because that's when they started a restaurant. You can
have that with a Cuban sandwich, and there's nothing like
a good Cuban sandwich, right Pickles mustard you Leiley. That's
located along the river Walk. This Native American inspired restaurant

(05:19):
features locally sourced ingredients and waterfront views. I bet that
is absolutely awesome. So seafood lovers, you're gonna love Oyster Catchers.
It offers fresh seafood with a stunning view of Tampa Bay.
For something casual, or big raised fish. Camp is a
local favorite for friar grouper sandwiches and shrimp tacos. Like

(05:42):
if it's a local favorite, then go casual spots amateur works.
This is a trendy food haul in Tampa Tampa Heights,
featuring a variety of vendors offering everything from sushiet to
barbecue dats. And that is spelled d a t Z.
It is a funky spot. I like that word funky,

(06:03):
a funky spot and it's in South Tampa. It's known
for creative comfort food and massive portions. Now let's take
a look at Okay, so you've had your you've had
your dinner, and now we're looking for the nightlife a
little vibe. What does Tampa have to offer? Well, Iybor City,

(06:24):
Tampa's historic Latin quarter transformed into a nightlife hub after dark.
Check out the Ritz Yyboar for live music or Cigar
City Cider and Mead for unique drinks. All of that
sounds absolutely incredible. Downtown Tampa Edison Food and Drink Lab

(06:47):
offers creative cocktails and a chic atmosphere. CW's gin Joint
is a cozy, speakeasy style bar perfect for a classic
night out. Love the speakeasies, they're always just so well
to walk into. Enjoy that waterfront hotspots, American Social and
Jackson's Best True Bistro offer great drinks and views of

(07:11):
Tampa bay Craft Beer. See Tampa as a lot of
really cool breweries. One of them is Cigar City Brewing.
It's a must visit for beer lovers. And there's also
the High Ali I p A is a local favorite.

(07:38):
So when you're in Jacksonville, here's a little tip. Use
uber or lyft very available in Tampa, and it makes
it very easily easy to get around, so you're not
trying to drive around a city that you have no
idea where you're going, especially if you're out checking out
the nightlife and the vibe is happening. Make sure you

(08:00):
you use uber or lyft. Don't try to drive yourself
or rent or anything like that. Don't try to bike
or scrooter would be that would be nasty. Exploring Tampa's neighborhoods,
Like we said, lib Or City beyond nightlife, Explore this
historic area's boutique shops, it's cigar lounges, and the fascinating

(08:24):
Limar City Museum, A State Park, which it would be
absolutely amazing. Hyde Park Village, a chic shopping district with
upscale stores, trendy cafes, and a relaxed vibe. Tampa Heights
a rising neighborhood with trendy spots like amateur works and
hip coffee shops. Downtown for a perfect This would be

(08:48):
perfect for first timers, with attractions for the Tampa Museum,
the Curtis Hicks, and Waterfront Park. And there's a lot
more stuff to do downtown than just that, so you
got to check that out, do a little bit of
research before you head downtown. Travel tips to and from Tampa.
Tampa International TPA is one of the easiest airports to navigate,

(09:11):
and it's just fifteen minutes from downtown. Piece of cake
in out there you go. Amtrak also offers service to Tampa,
which you know, I got to be honest, I have
never taken the Amtrack anywhere, but I think it is
on my bucket list to do some traveling on the train.

(09:34):
I think that would be absolutely amazing and how cool
would that be to roll into Tampa on the Amtrack.
You know, you can also take Highway I seventy five
or I four make it very easy to get to
by the car. Renting a car is ideal if you
plan to visit the beaches are exploring outside of downtown.

(09:57):
The Teco street car t COEO. It connects downtown Tampa
with wild Wore City and it's free to ride. I
like free to ride. Best time to visit. Like everything
in the Southeast, you know, it's it's spring and fall.
It's not quite so hot. The weather is a lot milder,

(10:20):
fewer crowds. Summer is great for beach lovers, but it
can be really hot and humid with afternoon rain showers
or are pretty common in Tampa. So you know, believe me,
the beach is still available in spring and fall, and
actually it's it's I think it's a better time. So

(10:42):
I was thinking about some of my trips to to
Tampa and the last time it's been a while. The
last time I was there was when I don't know
if you're if you're a college football bat fan, but
when Tampa in Tampa, when when Clemson beat Alabama and
they hit Hunter Renfro on that little two or three

(11:03):
yard out route, the little pick play, and the great
giant Alabama was slain that night and Clemson became national
champions for the first time in a long time since
nineteen eighty one. So that was a great experience for
me and Tampa. We got we stayed in the downtown area,
so we got to explore a lot of the downtown.

(11:26):
My wife. If kids have been to the Clearwater area
many times, they love it. The beaches are great. There's
plenty of things to do just off the beach as well,
so if you get tired of just just sitting on
the beach, you got plenty of things to do. So
I think that's going to wrap up the Tampa ideas

(11:46):
here and the topic. So if you go to Tampa,
I hope some of the things we talked about come
together for you and you have a great time. So
we'll be back with some more info on Tampa a
little bit later on. So you guys, I want you
guys to have a great day and God bless