During WDW Stay in Jan - driving to Tampa for the day -

[arizonacolbys]

We would like to spend a day in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area on our upcoming trip in January.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a nice mall to walk thru in that area? What is your favorite beach in the area? (Not sure it'll be warm enough to swim - may just walk on the beach & take in the scenery. )

Anything else we should try to check out if we're spending a day on the coast in Tampa? TIA!!

 

[spiceycat]

brush gardens....if it is still there!

 

[Lewisc]

There are a couple of regular malls plus several outlet malls in Orlando. I'm not sure it's worth the drive just for a mall.

If you want a beach you might go in the other direction. KSC plus a walk on a beach.

 

[flclarkkent]

It's not a mall, but Centro Ybor has several shops, restaurants and a large movie theatre. It's in the middle of Ybor City, Tampa's version of New Orleans' French Quarter. Ybor is Spanish-influenced, and was the site of Tampa's cigar industry.

Ybor is fun to walk around during the day, with some neat stores and cafes...at night, it becomes host to the nightclub crowd. If that's not your thing, then it's a good idea to clear out before dark.

From Ybor (pronounced ee-bor), you can catch a street car to the Florida Aquarium and Imax theatre. It's a nice aquarium.

Ybor City is right off I-4 before you get to downtown Tampa.

 

[arizonacolbys]

Thanks for the great ideas! We're not driving to Tampa just for a mall - we're going there for other reasons, but figured we might hit a mall or find a good restaurant before driving back to Orlando for the night. Thanks again!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Best mall, that's easy! International Plaza!!! It's a new mall near the airport with upscale stores, and nice restaurants. I agree that Ybor City is worth a visit. If you have kids, they'll love Game Works. There's Channelside, where the Aquarium is. There's also shops, and restaurants. This is where the port is, you may get lucky and see a cruise ship, there's also a military type ship to tour. I suggest parking at either Ybor or Channelside and taking the streetcar to the other. I would do this during the day, then go to International Plaza in the evening, and have dinner there. The closest beach would be Tampa Bay, but as the name suggest, it is on the bay. The closest gulf coast beach is Clearwater, which is about 30 to 45 min. depending on time of day. Hope this helps, and if you have any more questions, let me know.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

flclarkkent,
I just read over the other posts more thoroughly. Sorry, I repeated some of your suggestions.

 

[flclarkkent]

that's okay...i couldn't think of the name of the area...channelside..so thanks for that!

i haven't done the streetcar thing yet, but i think it's a great set up...it really lets you get to and from ybor and the aquarium pretty easily.

now if only orlando would get some better mass transit.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I took my family over there when they came to visit, and we rode the streetcar everywhere. It took up most of the day, but we had a great time.

 

[zalansky]

I vote for International Mall also! I live in Tampa and this is the best mall hands down. It has the pricier stores (Nordstrom, Tiffany's, Betsy Johnson etc) but some great restaurants and it great for people watching. It is easy to get to on your way back from Clearwater Beach if that is where you decide to go.
Ybor does have some cute shop and great restaurants as well, try the Columbia, spanish food with live entertainment.