Where to go near tampa airport

[hELEN H]

We are flying out to florida on 28th dec until 11th jan. Cant wait!
Coming back our flight leaves around teatime from Tampa. We have to vacate our place in sanibel in the morning and where thinking of then driving up to Tampa. Does anyone know somewhere interesting to visit or to have a nice last lunch quite near the airport. We have boys aged 9 and 11. We will be visiting Busch gardens the week before
thanks
helen

 

[WDWfan uk]

Hi Helen

You could visit Lowry Park Zoo - they have manatee viewing tanks which are quite a draw.
If you take a look at this site, you will find more info and a map locator and directions and the column on the left gives you more places you could consider visiting. There is also a link to the Lowry Zoo's own website.

Tampa attractions

 

[currycook]

Hi from Florida.

I am guessing it will take you 2.5 hours or so to drive from Sanibel to Tampa airport (TPA). Dont think you will have time to see any attrractions.

I dont know the airport area too well. I would recommend Ybor city for lunch. Or for when you are in Tampa at Busch-gardens. Ybor (pronounced E-bore) is the old Cuban cigar making area that has been turned into the night hot spot of tampa with many resturants, bars and clubs.

Its a nice quiet place for lunch. The most well known is the Columbia which is the oldest resturant in Florida which is known for its Spainish/Cuban food. Here is the web address to it.

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

I hope this helps in some way and I hope you have a good time here.

 

[Olaf]

Well if shopping is your thing, then you're in luck. The International Plaza Mall is very near the airport. I don't know if it's walking distance, but I'm sure you could easily get a very inexpensive cab ride over there. It's a terrific mall, with tons of upscale stores: Tiffanys, Lord & Taylor, Norstroms, etc.

International Plaza

One of my favs!

 

[hELEN H]

Thanks for all your great ideas. I think we may go with a leisurely lunch and browse round ybor city
helen

 

[vernon]

May not work with boys that age but we visted the Salvadore Dali Museum in St Pete's. It's a fantastic gallery dedicated to Dali's works. We spent a couple of hours there, but I'd have spent longer if it hadn't been so busy. My daugher's 12 and she really enjyed it. Afterwards we spent a couple more hours on the pier at St Pete's wandering around the shops and ate on the fourth floor restaurant overlooking the bay. Very nice view and considering the location the food was excellent and the price pretty reasonable