AAA Destination Guide: Tampa. FL

AAA's guide to visiting Tampa, #Florida. It includes top attractions, restaurants, and things to do. Spend a day at Busch Gardens, MOSI, The Glazer Children's Museum, or Lowry Park Zoo and when you're done, grab a bite to eat at Bern's Steak House, The Colonade, Lee Roy Selmons, or The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.
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AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps,  
travel information and top picks 
AAA Destination Guide: Tampa includes trip-planning information 
covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants, exclusive 
member discounts, maps and more.Â Â 
Historical preservation and a good measure 
of civic pride have contributed to a cultural 
richness that makes Tampa comparable in 
Florida to Miami. Consider vibrant, historic 
Ybor City, birthplace of Tampaâ€™s cigar 
industry and now itâ€™s hot-hot-hot Latin-
infused nightspot. Or an eclectic mix of art, 
history and science museums that inspire 
adults and children to explore new horizons 
together while having loads of fun.  
When it comes to family-oriented entertainment, animals figure 
prominently in the mix at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and such top-notch 
attractions as Big Cat Rescue and Tampaâ€™s Lowry Park Zoo.  
Nearby Gulf Coast beaches sing a sirenâ€™s song to visitors who canâ€™t resist 
superfine sand and gently lapping waters. And while the areaâ€™s parks, 
rivers and other natural attributes are conducive to active participation, 
thereâ€™s plenty of spectator action for those who like a good game. 
Tampaâ€™s championship football, arena football and hockey teams provide 
seasonal sports excitement, but baseball rules in March when the Tampa 
Bay Rays and fellow â€œboys of summerâ€â€”the New York Yankees, Toronto 
Blue Jays and Philadelphia Philliesâ€”suit up for spring training. Family 
outings donâ€™t get any better than a day at the ballpark. 
And when youâ€™ve seen all there is to see, Tampa can be an ideal starting 
point for a cruise to Caribbean ports of call, or maybe just a drive trip 
down Floridaâ€™s scenic west coast to Bradenton, Sarasota, Sanibel or Fort 
Myers.  
Essentials 
Guide the family on a safari through Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Youâ€™ll 
be transported to the countries and landscapes of Africa the moment you 
walk through the arches of this extraordinary 335-acre animal preserve 
and theme park. 
Immerse yourself in the Cuban culture of Ybor City: Learn about this 
districtâ€™s historic cigar industry at Centro Ybor Museum; take a walking 
tour offered by the Ybor City Museum State Park; sample traditional cafÃ© 
con leche and guava pastry for breakfast at La Tropicana CafÃ©; buy a 
painting executed in coffee or tobacco extract by local artist Arnold 
Martinez; and watch sensuous flamenco dancers while dining at the 100-
year-old Columbia Restaurant. On weekends, live la vida loca (the crazy 
life) among thousands of club-hoppers along Seventh Avenue. 
Don your beach attire and head to the Gulf Coast beaches on the 
Pinellas Peninsula. These are some of the best sandy shores in the 
nation when it comes to climate, water, sand and safety. 
Get acquainted with the man who turned Tampa into a winter resort at 
the Henry Plant Museum, which occupies a wing of the railroad 
magnateâ€™s luxury 1891 hotel. The preserved Victorian-era building, with 
its sprawling veranda, ornate gingerbread trim and signature silver 
minarets, is part of the University of Tampa. 
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Root for the home team or cheer on a favorite at baseball exhibition 
games during March. On the Grapefruit Leagueâ€™s one-month spring 
training circuit you can catch the New York Yankees in Tampa, the 
Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, 
and Tampa Bayâ€™s own Rays in Port Charlotte. Even the workouts draw 
crowds. If you miss spring training, keep in mind that the Rays play their 
St. Pete home games April through October. 
Talk to the animals at Tampaâ€™s Lowry Park Zoo, or spend the day among 
lions, tigers and leopards, just some of the 140 residents of Big Cat 
Rescue. 
Essentials Map 
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Take a drive. Here are two suggestions: Tampaâ€™s Bayshore Boulevard 
meanders alongside Hillsborough Bay through picturesque Hyde Parkâ€”
Tampaâ€™s first subdivisionâ€”and is lined with stately homes. Beyond 
Greater Tampa, explore Bradenton, Sarasota and innumerable 
attractions, parks, keys and small coastal communities lining Floridaâ€™s s 
Sun Coast via I-75 or US 41. Return to Tampa via I-275 and the 
Sunshine Skyway, a 15-mile causeway spanning the mouth of Tampa 
Bay between the mainland north of Bradenton and the Pinellas 
Peninsula. 
 
Essentials Details - Get additional information on AAA.com 
 - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 
 
   - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 
1. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay   
3000 E Busch Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33674  
Phone: (888) 800-5447 
 
 
 
2. Ybor City  
1600 E Eighth Ave, Suite B-104  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 241-8838 
 
3. Centro Ybor Museum  
1600 E Eighth Ave, Suite B-104  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 241-8838 
 
4.Â Ybor City Museum State Park  
1818 E Ninth Ave  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 247-6323 
 
5. Henry Plant Museum  
401 W Kennedy Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 254-1891 
6. University of Tampa 
401 W Kennedy Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 253-3333 
 
7. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo   
1101 W Sligh Ave  
Tampa, FL 33604  
Phone: (813) 935-8552 
 
 
8. Big Cat Rescue 
12802 Easy St  
Tampa, FL 33625  
Phone: (813) 920-4130 
 
 
 
9. Sunshine Skyway  
11101 34th St S  
St. Petersburg, FL 33711  
Phone: (727) 865-0668 
 
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Tampa in 3 Days â€“ Day 1 Map 
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com 
 
 
Day 1 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;  
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 
 - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 
 
   - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 
1. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay  
3000 E Busch Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33674  
Phone: (888) 800-5447 
 
 
 
2. Tampa Bay History Center  
801 Old Water St  
Tampa, FL 33602  
Phone: (813) 228-0097 
 
3. Henry Plant Museum  
401 W Kennedy Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 254-1891 
 
4. University of Tampa  
401 W Kennedy Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 253-3333 
 
5. MOSI (Museum of 
Science & Industry   
4801 E Fowler Ave  
Tampa, FL 33617  
Phone: (813) 987-6300 
 
 
6. Kids in Charge! The Children's 
Science Center at MOSI  
4801 E Fowler Ave  
Tampa, FL 33617  
Phone: (813) 987-6000 
 
7. Bern's Steak House  
  
1208 Howard Ave  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 251-2421 
 
8. SideBern's 
   
2208 W Morrison Ave  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 258-2233 
 
9. The Colonnade 
   
3401 Bayshore Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33629  
Phone: (813) 839-7558 
 
 
Tampa in 3 Days 
Three days is barely enough time to get to know any major destination. 
But AAA travel editors suggest these activities to make the most of your 
time in Tampa.  
Day 1: Morning 
Youâ€™ll want to set aside a full day to enjoy all the shows, rides and live 
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animal exhibits at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Roller-coaster fanatics 
might need an extra day to do multiple laps on seven thrillers, including 
Kumba, an inversion coaster; Montu, delivering 3.85 Gs; floorless 
SheiKra; and Gwazi, a wooden classic.  
In the alternative, devote the first day of your itinerary to Tampaâ€™s 
museum group. Begin with an introduction to the early days at the Tampa 
Bay History Center. Four floors of interactive exhibits cover periods of 
native habitation, Spanish exploration and events of the 20th century. A 
satellite of the renowned Columbia Restaurant opens for lunch at 11.  
Afternoon 
Among Tampaâ€™s milestones was the arrival of railroad tycoon and 
developer Henry Plant in the late 1800s. Complement your history lesson 
with a visit to the Henry Plant Museum, in the restored Tampa Bay Hotel 
on the University of Tampa campus. With its exotic minarets, domes and 
cupolas, Plantâ€™s Moorish-design hotel overlooking the Hillsborough River 
was a magnet for the Victorian-eraâ€™s well-heeled. Peer into lavishly 
decorated rooms filled with antique furniture, period accessories and 
vintage clothing.  
Grasp the laws of physics on a high-wire bicycle, withstand the forces of 
nature in a wind tunnel and experience aviation technology through a 
flight simulator, all at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), another of 
Tampaâ€™s leading cultural attractions. Dozens of engaging exhibits appeal 
to all ages, but youngsters really get to push their imaginations to the limit 
at Kids in Charge! The Childrenâ€™s Science Center at MOSI. 
Evening 
Head back to your hotel and freshen up for a gourmet repast at either the 
Tampa landmark Bernâ€™s Steak House or SideBernâ€™s, in the Hyde Park 
neighborhood. For a more casual dining atmosphere, opt for signature 
seafood dishes and a view of Hillsborough Bay from a window seat at 
The Colonnade; after dinner, walk across the street and enjoy a leisurely 
moonlight stroll along Bayshore Boulevard.  
 
Day 2: Morning 
This is your day to talk to the animals. Start out in west Tampa at 
Tampaâ€™s Lowry Park Zoo, where you can feed giraffes, ride a camel, pet 
a pony, interact with kangaroos, observe submerged manatees and 
giggle over monkey shines in the primate exhibit. Arrive early for 
breakfast at the Garden Grille.  
If time allows, donâ€™t miss an opportunity to see lions, tigers, ligers, 
servals, snow leopards and other endangered cats living in harmony at 
Big Cat Rescue. Bring a cameraâ€”photo ops are guaranteed on a tour of 
this 45-acre sanctuary that lovingly shelters abused or abandoned cats 
for their lifetime.  
Afternoon 
Get up close for a personal encounter with penguins at The Florida 
Aquarium. Dive shows, animal feedings, touch tanks and a live coral reef 
place you within reach of the secrets of the sea.  
The aquarium is next to Channelside Bay Plaza, where you can grab a 
bite and a brew at Channelside Benniganâ€™s or several casual eateries 
serving everything from pizza and sushi to tapas and Thai.  
After lunch explore Tampaâ€™s Riverwalk, a waterfront linear park 
punctuated with plazas. Walk from Fort Brooke Park (just south of 
Channelside) on Ybor Channel to the Tampa Convention Center on 
Garrison Channel to USF Park facing the Hillsborough River. On the way, 
break for a snack at Sail Pavilion.  
Evening 
Don casual cocktail attire and step aboard Yacht Starship for a romantic 
evening of dining, dancing and stargazing in luxury surroundings. The 
ship departs from a berth near Channelside Bay Plaza and cruises the 
scenic waterways bordering Tampa.  
DestinationÂ Guide:Â TampaÂ 
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Tampa in 3 Days â€“ Day 2 Map 
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com 
 
 
 
 
Day 2 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;  
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 
 - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 
 
   - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 
1. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo   
1101 W Sligh Ave  
Tampa, FL 33604  
Phone: (813) 935-8552 
 
 
2. The Florida Aquarium   
701 Channelside Dr  
Tampa, FL 33602  
Phone: (813) 273-4000 
 
 
 
3. Big Cat Rescue  
12802 Easy St  
Tampa, FL 33625  
Phone: (813) 920-4130 
4. Yacht Starship  
 
223 S 12th St  
Tampa, FL 33602  
Phone: (813) 223-7999 
 
5. Garden Grille  
 
1101 W Sligh Ave  
Tampa, FL 33604  
Phone: (813) 935-8552 
 
6. Channelside Bennigan's  
  
615 Channelside Dr, Suite 205  
Tampa, FL 33602  
Phone: (813) 223-5108 
 
 
Day 3: Morning 
Spend the day in Ybor City, the 1886 birthplace of Floridaâ€™s once-
lucrative cigar industry. Transportation tip: Take the TECO streetcar from 
your lodgings in downtown Tampa, or park your own car in Yborâ€™s pre-
pay, self-park lots or one of two parking garages.  
Start with a breakfast of toasted Cuban bread, guava pastry and rich cafÃ© 
con leche at La Tropicana CafÃ©, on the corner of Seventh Avenue and 
19th Street. Exit through the back door on Eighth Avenue and walk 
through Centennial Park to Ybor City Museum State Park, on Ninth 
Avenue. On Saturday mornings an outdoor produce and crafts market 
enlivens this otherwise peaceful plaza.  
After perusing the museumâ€™s exhibits, walk over to Yborâ€™s bustling 
shopping district on Seventh Avenue. Between 15th and 17th streets 
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youâ€™ll find vintage clothing, Panama hats, jewelry, giftware, and artwork 
plus cigar shops with wine and coffee bars (a few even offer cigar rolling 
demonstrations).  
Afternoon 
Remain immersed in the Ybor cultural experience by sampling a 
traditional Cuban sandwich or deviled crabs at Carmineâ€™s, on Seventh 
Avenue. Youâ€™ll taste why this family-owned restaurant and bar has served 
the community for more than 60 years.  
Walk off the calories while you work up an appetite for dinner on a self-
guiding tour of the cigar city. Look for old cigar factories, historic casitas 
(frame houses rented to factory workers), benevolent society buildings, 
statuary honoring prominent citizens and unique architectural features 
such as wrought iron balconies and globe street lamps. Maps, brochures 
and an orientation film are available at the visitor information center on 
Eighth Avenue, just across from Centro Ybor, a popular entertainment 
center in the heart of the district.  
Tampa in 3 Days â€“ Day 3 Map 
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Evening 
Start the evening with authentic Spanish-inspired cuisine and a flamenco 
show at one of Floridaâ€™s oldest dining establishments. The Columbia 
Restaurant had its start as a lunch counter for cigar rollers in 1905 and is 
still operated by descendents of founder Casimiro Hernandez. An 
informative menu tempts you with detailed descriptions of dishes 
prepared from original family recipes.  
After dinner, return to Seventh Avenue and sample nightlife at a variety of 
clubs. See our Nightlife article under Things to Do for recommendations.  
Day 3 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;  
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 
1. Ybor City  
1600 E Eighth Ave, Suite B-104  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 241-8838 
 
2. La Tropicana Cafe 
  
1822 E 7th Ave  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 247-4040 
3. Ybor City Museum State Park 
1818 E Ninth Ave  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 247-6323 
 
4. Carmine's  
 
1802 7th Ave  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 248-3834 
 
5. Columbia Restaurant  
  
2117 E 7th Ave  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 248-4961 
 
Restaurants 
If you are visiting Tampa for the first time, chances are your itinerary will 
include a day of sightseeing in Ybor City, the historic cigar-making district 
established by Vicente Martinez Ybor in 1886. In the very heart of the 
district you will find the Columbia Restaurant, founded in 1905 by 
Casimiro Hernandez and owned and operated by fourth and fifth 
generations of the founding family. Latin traditions run deep in both the 
Spanish and Cuban cuisine created from family recipes, and in the 
excitement generated by flamenco dancers. Sample tapas classics such 
as black bean cakes, empanadas or chicken croquettes, then try a robust 
seafood, pork and chicken paella entrÃ©e or Casimiro Hernandezâ€™s red 
snapper casserole. This 52,000-square-foot restaurant with 15 dining 
rooms and patios sprawled over an entire city block is the flagship of a 
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fleet of six other restaurants in central and south Florida. 
With its upscale dÃ©cor and Mediterranean-influenced new American 
cuisine, Mise En Place, also downtown, caters to diners who tend to be 
adventurous in palate and spirit. Fresh local ingredients are the 
foundation for lunch and dinner originals that include crispy duck shiitake 
dumplings, roasted tomato tart with crab salad and grilled filet of beef 
tenderloin with horseradish goat cheese pavÃ©. The â€œGet Blitzedâ€ tasting 
menu pairs selected samples of Chef Marty Blitzâ€™s weekly specials with 
complementary wines.  
Nestled in Old Hyde Villageâ€”Tampaâ€™s oldest planned neighborhoodâ€”
since 1956, Bernâ€™s Steak House has built its reputation on the premise 
that preparing steak is an art form. Their menuâ€”more like a bookâ€”
features detailed descriptions of USDA Prime steak cuts ranging from filet 
mignon to delmonico to chateaubriand, plus all you need to know about 
rare, medium and well done cooking instructions. In addition to steak, the 
menu consists of nearly 95 other appetizer, soup, salad and entrÃ©e 
options. Because fresh ingredients are paramount, Bernâ€™s even grows 
most of its own vegetables. Every meal is a masterpiece, but the piÃ¨ce de 
rÃ©sistance here has to be the second-floor, after-dinner dessert retreat 
where guests can enjoy sweets and sip champagne, Cognac, coffee and 
dessert wines in cozy little spaces where you choose your own 
background music. 
Nearby SideBernâ€™s, sister to Bernâ€™s Steak House, is a fine-dining 
restaurant appealing to sophisticated palates. Chef Jeannie Pierolaâ€™s 
menu of international cuisine changes frequently, in synch with the 
availability of fresh seasonal ingredients, and might include selections 
such as dim sum, foie gras, cocoa cinnamon scallops, pistachio goat 
cheese-crusted rack of lamb, wild game and, for dessert, a Valrhona 
chocolate degustation. 
The Colonnade, owned and operated by the Whiteside family since 1935, 
specializes in seafood dishes made from the freshest catches of Gulf 
grouper, Alaskan salmon, mountain rainbow trout, jumbo shrimp, bay 
scallops and rock lobster. A tempting dessert menu features homemade 
pies baked daily. â€œThe â€˜Nadeâ€™sâ€ wraparound picture windows afford 
sweeping views of Hillsborough Bay. If scenery was a menu item, 
everyone would order a window seat. 
Locals go to Kojakâ€™s House of Ribs, just west of Bayshore Boulevard, for 
barbecue. Everything from tender pork spareribs to pit-smoked chicken 
and beef to hot smoked sausage links is cooked Oklahoma-style and 
served in a relaxed, country-kitchen atmosphere. Seating is available on 
the front porch shaded by stately old oak trees. 
In west Tampa, Charleyâ€™s Steakhouse specializes in aged USDA Prime 
and Choice beef cooked to perfection over aromatic hardwood flames. 
But if youâ€™re in the mood for something from the sea, try a succulent two-
pound lobster with your steak. Charleyâ€™s also operates three other award-
winning restaurants in the Orlando area. 
The fine dining experience of Vari Asian Crazy Buffet combines elegant 
dÃ©cor, nightly piano entertainment and a full-service bar with a delirious 
assortment of multicultural cuisines: an all-you-can-eat Asian fusion 
buffet, a 50-item sushi and sashimi bar, seafood delicacies, a Peking 
duck carving station, and wok and grill cooking stationsâ€”you select the 
ingredients, the chef cooks it to order. 
Soulful Southern cooking is the essence of Lee Roy Selmonâ€™s restaurant, 
namesake of the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and a member of the Pro 
Football Hall of Fame. The menu recalls Selmonâ€™s Oklahoma farm roots 
with comfort food made from Mama Selmonâ€™s recipes: fried green 
tomatoes, crispy fried chicken, smoked pulled pork, two-handed 
hamburgers and down-home desserts such as cobbler, bread pudding 
and pecan pie. Portions are generous enough to please a hungry 
defensive lineman, and sports fans will enjoy the football memorabilia 
displayed about the restaurant. 
Old Tampa Bay provides a tranquil backdrop for lunch, dinner or Sunday 
brunch at Oystercatchers, an upscale casual eatery. Signature dishes 
such as tandoori shrimp and Kentucky bourbon barbecued scallops 
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highlight the restaurantâ€™s flair for contemporary cuisine. Fish selections 
include yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, Chilean sea bass, Gulf Coast grouper, 
Alaska king crab and striped bass that you can have sautÃ©ed, grilled, 
poached, broiled or blackened. Oystercatchers is tucked behind the 
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. 
Restaurants Map 
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Armaniâ€™s, atop the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, claims bragging rights to 
spectacular views of Old Tampa Bay and beyond. The menu of Northern 
Italian cuisine is intriguing, partly because some of it is written in Italianâ€”
if youâ€™re not sure whether to order vitello or pesce, read on and all will be 
revealed in mouthwatering detail in the subtitles. Scaloppine Armaniâ€™s, 
the restaurantâ€™s signature dish, features veal (vitello) sauteed with exotic 
mushrooms and Cognac and finished with creamy truffle sauce. After 
perusing the menu, visit the elaborate antipasto bar that caught your eye  
on the way in. Armaniâ€™s dining room is elegant, the mood romantic, the 
service efficient and food presentations artistic. 
The View at CKâ€™s Restaurant, on the top floor of the Tampa Airport 
Marriott Hotel, revolves full-circle every 80 minutes while you feast on 
your choice of sushi, steaks, seafood, sweets and, of course, the ever 
changing view. CKâ€™s is known for its interesting fish dishesâ€”granola and 
cornmeal-crusted trout filet, for exampleâ€”and for USDA Prime beef steak 
cooked just the way you like it. A Japanese chef oversees the sushi and 
sashimi bar. 
Restaurants Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;  
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds 
1. Columbia Restaurant  
   
2117 E 7th Ave  
Tampa, FL 33605  
Phone: (813) 248-4961 
 
2. Mise en Place  
 
442 W Kennedy Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 254-5373 
 
3. Bern's Steak House   
 
1208 Howard Ave  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 251-2421 
 
4. SideBern's  
 
2208 W Morrison Ave  
Tampa, FL 33606  
Phone: (813) 258-2233 
 
5. The Colonnade  
 
3401 Bayshore Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33629  
Phone: (813) 839-7558 
 
6. Kojak's House of Ribs  
  
2808 Gandy Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33611  
Phone: (813) 837-3774 
7. Charley's Steakhouse  
 
4444 W Cypress St  
Tampa, FL 33607  
Phone: (813) 353-9706 
 
8. Vari Asian Crazy Buffet 
  
2702 N Dale Mabry Hwy  
Tampa, FL 33607  
Phone: (813) 998-9228 
 
9. Lee Roy Selmon's  
 
4302 W Boy Scout Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33607  
Phone: (813) 871-3287 
 
10. Oystercatchers   
 
6200 Courtney Campbell Cswy  
Tampa, FL 33607  
Phone: (813) 207-6815 
 
11. Armani's  
 
2900 Bayport Dr  
Tampa, FL 33607  
Phone: (813) 207-6800 
 
12. The View at CK's Restaurant  
  
Tampa International Airport  
Tampa, FL 33607  
Phone: (813) 878-6500 
DestinationÂ Guide:Â TampaÂ 
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Attractions 
In a city with dozens of attractions, you may have trouble deciding where 
to spend your time. Here are the highlights for this destination, as chosen 
by AAA editors. GEMs are â€œGreat Experiences for Members.â€  
Tampaâ€™s top attractions fall into four fun-
packed categoriesâ€”theme parks, museums, 
outdoor activities and historic sites. Busch 
Gardens Tampa Bay, the areaâ€™s only theme 
park and a AAA GEM attraction, predates 
Disneyâ€™s earliest Orlando park by several 
years, making it something of a regional pioneer in family oriented 
entertainment. Through exciting rides, live entertainment and natural 
animal habitats, Busch Gardens presents a grand tour of Africa. A 
Serengeti safari among free-roaming animals, a soaking raft ride on the 
Congo River and a lowland gorilla domain plus Egyptian tombs, a 
Moroccan bazaar and syncopated drumbeats re-create the sights and 
sounds of exotic places known only to world travelers. Four unique steel 
roller coasters punch up this parkâ€™s thrill factor. 
Tampaâ€™s Lowry Park Zoo features outstanding animal exhibit areas with 
lots of interaction, shows, safaris, rides and learning stations. Hop aboard 
the Treetop Skyfari for a round-trip aerial view of the park. 
Speaking of treetops, chances are you will spot a leopard lounging in one 
when you tour Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary for unwanted or abused 
exotic animals.  
Of the art, history, science and nature museums that dot culturally chic 
Tampa, two AAA GEM attractions exude exhibit excellence. The Florida 
Aquarium, set under a shell-shaped, glass and steel canopy, offers a 
marine life roundup of more than 10,000 oceanic and freshwater 
creatures plus dive shows and personal interaction with sharks, rays and 
other species. You donâ€™t have to be a science geek to get into MOSI 
(Museum of Science & Industry), where practical applications put 
scientific principals into perspective for all age groups. Ride a bicycle 
across a balance beam and learn why the laws of physics wonâ€™t let you 
fall off; or feel the power of nature as you sit in a hurricane-force wind 
chamber. And while youâ€™re at MOSI, take in an IMAX film or two. 
Take your inner child about 50 miles south on I-75 to Sarasota, the 
former winter home of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. 
Steeped in its circus heritage, Sarasota also is rich with tangible 
treasures bequeathed to the state by John Ringling. The John and Mable 
Ringling Museum of Art, a AAA GEM attraction, holds a world-class 
collection of European masterworks amassed by the couple on their 
world travels in the early 1900s. CÃ  dâ€™Zan (or House of John), the palatial 
Ringling mansion, reflects the familyâ€™s passion for all things Venetian. 
Costumes, posters and nostalgia-evoking displays at The Circus Museum 
preserve the Ringling legacy and even have the potential to trigger a few 
happy childhood memories of your day under the big top.  
In nearby Bradenton an important collection of American Indian artifacts 
unearthed in Florida during the 1930s and â€˜40s forms the core of the 
South Florida Museum. With cultural and natural history exhibits, a dome-
style planetarium featuring digital astronomy shows, and a habitat for the 
stateâ€™s oldest manatee born in a protective environment (Snooty marked 
his â€œgoldenâ€ birthday in 1998), this AAA GEM attraction captures Floridaâ€™s 
life stages like a cherished family scrapbook. Hope you brought a 
camera.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
DestinationÂ Guide:Â TampaÂ 
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Attractions Map 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com 
 
Attractions Details - Get additional information on AAA.com 
 - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 
 
   - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 
1. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay   
3000 E Busch Blvd  
Tampa, FL 33674  
Phone: (888) 800-5447 
 
 
 
2. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo  
1101 W Sligh Ave  
Tampa, FL 33604  
Phone: (813) 935-8552 
 
 
3. Big Cat Rescue  
12802 Easy St  
Tampa, FL 33625  
Phone: (813) 920-4130 
 
 
 
4. The Florida Aquarium   
701 Channelside Dr  
Tampa, FL 33602  
Phone: (813) 273-4000 
 
 
 
5. MOSI (Museum ofScience & Industry)  
4801 E Fowler Ave  
Tampa, FL 33617  
Phone: (813) 987-6300 
 
 
6. The John and Mable
Ringling Museum of Art   
5401 Bay Shore Rd  
Sarasota, FL 34243  
Phone: (941) 358-3180 
 
 
7. CÃ  d'Zan  
5401 Bay Shore Rd  
Sarasota, FL 34243  
Phone: (941) 359-5700 
 
8. The Circus Museum  
5401 Bay Shore Rd  
Sarasota, FL 34243  
Phone: (941) 359-5700 
 
9. South Florida Museum   
201 10th St W  
Bradenton, FL 34205  
Phone: (941) 746-4131 
 
 
 
Events 
In addition to its many cultural and historic landmarks, this destination 
hosts a number of outstanding festivals and events that may coincide 
with your visit. GEMs are â€œGreat Experiences for Members.â€ 
Around the turn of the 20th century, Tampa leaders introduced a citywide,