Our sister city, Tampa Bay, is an easy two-hour drive away and is packed full with delightful diversions perfect for fun weekend together.
Earlier this year, the city launched a brand-new program designed to give out-of-towners the key to the city… sort of. The Tampa Bay CityPASS includes tickets to all of the area’s best attractions, including:
- Busch Gardens Tampa
- The Florida Aquarium
- Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Choice between St. Petersburg’s Chihuly Collection or Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Ticket booklets are $119 for adults, $99 for children, age 3-9. Passes, which can be purchased online at CityPASS.com or at any of the CityPASS partner attractions listed above, are valid for nine consecutive days, beginning with the first day of use.
Visitors who use all of the booklet’s tickets will save more than $70 on combined admission to the included attractions… that’s 38% off combined admission to the attractions listed above.
Where to Stay
In order to take full advantage of all the tickets, you’ll want to spend a night, maybe two, in Tampa. Here are some suggestions:
Grand Hyatt Tampa
Three fantastic onsite restaurants, an outdoor pool and a gorgeous contemporary veneer make this bay front hotel with lovely water views an ideal spot for a weekend escape.
Epicurean Hotel
Located in Tampa’s trendy South Howard (SoHo) district, this foodie-focused boutique hotel features a culinary décor, rooftop bar, French patisserie, luxurious spa, and state-of-the-art culinary classroom where cooking classes, wine tastings and mixology seminars are held continuously throughout the month.
Aloft Downtown Tampa
This trendy downtown hotel is located steps from museums, parks, restaurants and nightlife.
Where to Eat
Columbia
The oldest restaurant in Florida, this legendary Spanish/Cuban restaurant is known for its tapas, dinner shows and tableside sangria.
Bern’s Steakhouse
Expect a haughty aesthetic and a whopping bill at this world famous steakhouse, where fine cuts of meat, a novel-esque dessert list and one of the world’s largest private wine collections keeps people coming back again and again.
The Refinery
This multiple James Beard nominated restaurant is known for its locally sourced, southern/internationally influenced menu and huge selection of craft beers.
Other Things to Do
See a Tampa Bay Lightening, Buccaneers or Rays game
Visit the Tasting Room at Cigar City Brewing
Travel along the TECO Line Streetcar system from downtown to Ybor City
Go on a bike tour with City Bike Tampa
For more ideas and suggestions, go to Visit Tampa Bay.
