Many visitors who live near the spotlighted destination will choose to drive there and make a day trip. For that reason, beginning with this month’s column, we will include information about Park and Ride lots (or other facilities) where visitors can leave their cars and use public transportation.

In the past, we have focused on areas with good public transportation where it is easy to enjoy a weekend getaway, or up to a week, without needing to drive.

However, at least in the United States, many cities and other destinations are car-oriented, and directions and suggestions for visitors are focused on how to drive there. (This is true for this month’s destination: Tampa, Florida.) Fortunately, walking, public transportation, and sometimes bicycling can provide an alternative - if we instead plan a visit where no driving is required.

Car Free Journey, with the help of local visitor centers, public transportation staff, and (when possible) local residents, will include tips and strategies to help you enjoy a car-free getaway - even in car-oriented destinations where “everyone” believes “you need a car to enjoy a visit there.”

Some attractions may be difficult to reach without driving. Bicycling, taxicabs and car-sharing services (such as Uber and Lyft) can make it possible to reach state parks and other places that are not near public transportation. Fortunately, there is often so much to see and do that is near public transportation or walkable areas that you can have a wonderful visit without needing to drive.

Remember that you are free from high gasoline and parking costs. Traffic delays are something other people have to worry about. Walkers, bikers, and public transit users are often friendlier (with time to talk, instead of waiting for the light to turn green) than other drivers. By walking, biking, and using public transportation whenever possible, each of us is helping to make our world more ecologically friendly—and a good place to build and sustain ecologically healthy cities and other communities.

Now, let’s begin our Car Free Journey. Our March 2014 destination is Tampa, Florida.

Tampa, Florida: An Undiscovered Treasure

At first glance, Tampa seems an unlikely choice for a vacation - especially one without a car. It is one of the few Florida cities without its own beach (even though St. Petersburg and Clearwater beaches are less than an hour away). Rush hour traffic can be frustrating, and some of the most popular attractions are easiest to reach by driving.

But, you and I can have a totally different experience. Downtown Tampa is very walkable, with a great Riverwalk that includes museums, an aquarium, a nearby supermarket, and several good eating places. My wife Karen and I visited Tampa for two days. The first day, we spent exploring downtown Tampa, followed by a ride on the TECO Line Streetcar System and lunch in historic Ybor City.

Our guide from Visit Tampa Bay, Dave Reynolds delighted in showing us the wealth of walkable areas and attractions. Coast Bike Share has several kiosks throughout downtown Tampa where bikers (who rent from them or join as members) can leave or return their rented bikes.

The second day, we visited two attractions outside downtown Tampa. Both Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) are easy to reach by local HART buses.

Dave Reynolds told us, “We may not have beaches right in town, but we have nearly anything else you can think of: interesting and walkable neighborhoods, a historic streetcar, a great performing arts center, restaurants, museums, major league sports, and lots to do for the entire family…I could go on and on. And if you come in the summer (admittedly, the weather is hotter and more humid than in winter or fall), rates at hotels are a lot less expensive than the rest of the year.”

My wife Karen and I agree with Dave. After strolling along the Riverwalk, visiting the Tampa Museum of Art, Channelside Bay Plaza, the Florida Aquarium, the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, and then riding the TECO Line Streetcar System to Ybor City where we explored 7th Avenue and had lunch in a restored Spanish Social Club, we realized that we had just begun to discover Tampa’s varied delights. Best of all, we were able to walk or take the streetcar nearly anywhere we wanted throughout downtown Tampa and Ybor City.

Join us as we begin our Car Free Journey to Tampa.

Getting Here

By Air: Tampa International Airport is served by both legacy and discount airlines, and is a major regional airport. HART (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority) Route 30 serves the airport seven days a week: from 4:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, and from 6:30 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Route 30 runs from downtown Tampa along Kennedy Boulevard to Westshore and then to the airport, with many stops along the way. From downtown Tampa to Tampa International Airport, it’s only a 40-50 minute ride for just $2 each way, $4 for a one-day unlimited ride pass, or $11.75 for a three-day unlimited ride pass. (For detailed information about schedules, fares, and unlimited-ride passes, visit www.goHart.org, or call (813) 254-HART (254-4278 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. (You can purchase a complete Route and Schedule Book for $2 from HART’s online store.)

By Train: Amtrak’s Silver Star stops at Tampa’s historic Union Station: 601 Nebraska Ave., Tampa 33602 (813) 221-7602.

Southbound trains (from New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Richmond VA, Raleigh, NC, Columbia SC, Savannah GA, Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida) arrive at 12:34 p.m. daily.

Northbound trains (from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach) arrive at 5:05 p.m. daily.

HART’s Metrorapid (weekdays only), and Routes 2, 9, and 12 serve Union Station as well as the Greyhound Bus Terminal.

By Bus: Three intercity bus lines serve Tampa.

Greyhound’s terminal, located at 610 Polk St, Tampa 33602 (813) 229-8588, is served by HART routes 2, 9, 12, plus all buses that stop at the Marion Transit Center (two blocks away).

MEGABUS (www.megabus.com, or 800/MEGABUS) stops at HART’s Marion Transit Center, located at 1211 North Marion St., Tampa, FL 33602.

MEGABUS provides direct service from Tampa to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. If you want to visit the Miami area without a car, take MEGABUS to Fort Lauderdale’s Sheridan Street Station where you can connect with Tri-Rail’s commuter trains. If you can make a reservation a few weeks in advance, MEGABUS fares can be incredibly affordable. (For example, for March 21, one-way fares ranged from $1-$20.)

Red Coach (www.redcoachusa.com, or call toll-free (877) 733-0724) stops at Tampa International Airport and the University of South Florida. Red Coach offers direct service to several Florida communities that don’t otherwise have direct service to Tampa: Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala, and Fort Pierce. HART’s Route 30 serves the airport. The following HART routes serve the University of South Florida: Metrorapid (weekdays only), and Routes 5, 6, 18. 57, and 21LX (weekday peak hours only).

Welcome to Tampa

Wikipedia has an informative article about Tampa. Here is some information from that article:

Tampa, a city in and the county seat of Hillsborough, located on the west coast of Florida on Tampa Bay, near the Gulf of Mexico. In 2011, its population was 346,037.

The current location of Tampa was once inhabited by indigenous peoples of the Safety Harbor culture, most notably the Tocobaga and the Pohov, who lived along the shores of Tampa Bay. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers introduced European diseases which wiped out the original native cultures over the next few decades.

In 1824, the United States Army established a frontier outpost called Fort Brooke at the mouth of the Hillsborough River. The small village was first incorporated as "Tampa" in 1849. The town grew slowly until the 1880s, when railroad links, the discovery of phosphate, and the arrival of the cigar industry jump-started its development, helping it to grow from a quiet village of less than 800 residents in 1880 to a bustling city of over 30,000 by the early 1900s.

Today, Tampa is part of the metropolitan area commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay Area.

For U.S. Census purposes, Tampa is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Greater Tampa Bay area has over 4 million residents and generally includes the Tampa and Sarasota metro areas.

In 2008, Tampa was ranked as the 5th best outdoor city in the United States by Forbes magazine. Tampa also ranks as the fifth most popular American city, based on where people want to live, according to a 2009 Pew Research Center study. In 2012, the city hosted the Republican National Convention. In April 2014, it hosted the 15th International Indian Film Academy Awards.

The word "Tampa" may mean "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa: a Native American tribe that once lived south of today's Tampa Bay. This might be a reference to the many lightning strikes that the area receives during the summer months. Other historians claim the name means "the place to gather sticks.” Toponymist George R Stewart writes that the name resulted from a miscommunication between the Spanish and the Indians, the Indian word being "itimpi", (“near it”).

Ybor's cigars

In 1885, the Tampa Board of Trade enticed Vicente Martinez Ybor to move his cigar manufacturing operations from Key West to Tampa... Proximity to Cuba made importation of "clear Havana tobacco" easy by sea. Henry B Plant's railroad made shipment of finished cigars to the rest of the US market easy by land.

Since Tampa was still a small town at the time (population less than 5000), Ybor built hundreds of small houses around his factory to accommodate the immediate influx of mainly Cuban and Spanish cigar workers. Ybor City factories rolled their first cigars in 1886, and many different cigar manufacturers moved their operations to town in ensuing years. Many Italian and a few eastern European Jewish immigrants arrived starting in the late 1880s, opening businesses and shops that catered to cigar workers. By 1900, over 10,000 immigrants had moved here.

Neighborhoods and surrounding municipalities

The city is divided into many neighborhoods, many of which were towns and unincorporated communities annexed by the growing city.

Well-known neighborhoods include Ybor City, Forest Hills, Ballast Point, Sulphur Springs, Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, Palma Ceia, Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Tampa Palms, College Hill, and non-residential areas of Gary and the Westshore Business District.

The Ybor City District is home to several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been declared a National Historic Landmark.

Tampa is home to the Bro Bowl: one of the last remaining skate parks built during skateboarding's "Golden Era" in the 1970s. It opened in 1979 and was constructed by Tampa Parks and Recreation. It was the first public skate park to be constructed in Florida and the third on the East Coast.

Temperatures are warm to hot from around mid-May through mid-October, which roughly coincides with the rainy season. Summertime weather is very consistent from June through September, with daytime highs near 90°F (32°C), lows in the mid-70s °F (23–24°C), and high humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms, usually generated by the interaction of the Gulf and Atlantic breezes, are such a regular occurrence during the summer that the Tampa Bay area is recognized as the "Lightning Capital of North America". Every year, Florida averages 10 deaths and 30 injuries from lightning strikes, with several of these usually occurring in or around Tampa. In the winter, average temperatures range from the low to mid 70s Fahrenheit (21-24 degrees Centigrade) during the day to the low to mid 50s F (10-13 degrees C) at night.

Tampa has a diverse culinary scene from small cafes and bakeries to bistros and farm-to-table restaurants. The food of Tampa has a history of Cuban, Spanish, Floribbean and Italian cuisines. There are also Columbian, Puerto Rican, Vietnamese cuisines and barbeque restaurants. Sea food is popular, and Greek cuisine is well represented.

On the food front, Tampa is most famous for the Cuban sandwich and Deviled crab. Tampa is considered to be where the Cuban sandwich started, although this is disputed by Miami.

Tourism and Recreation (this is just a small sample of what is available)

Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo has over 2,000 animals, interactive exhibits, rides, and educational shows.

Busch Gardens Tampa is a 335-acre (1.36km²) Africa-themed park located near the University of South Florida. It features many thrilling roller coasters, for which it is known, including Sheikra, Montu, Gwazi and Kumba. Visitors can also view and interact with a number of African wildlife.

Adventure Island is a 30-acre water park adjacent to Busch Gardens. It features many water rides, dining, and other attractions typical to a water park.

The Florida Aquarium is a 250,00 sq. ft. (23,000 m²) aquarium located in Tampa’s Channel District. It hosts over 20,000 species of aquatic plants and animals. It is known for its unique glass architecture. Adjacent to the Aquarium is the SS American Victory: a World War II Victory ship, preserved as a museum ship

The Tampa Bay History Center is a museum of Tampa Bay History, located in the Channel District. It boasts over 60,000 square feet of exhibits through 12,000 years.

Professional Sports

The NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (football) and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning (hockey) call Tampa home. The Tampa Bay Rays (major league baseball) play in nearby St. Petersburg.

Historic Streetcar Returns to Tampa

In October, 2002, the TECO Line Streetcar System brought electric streetcar service back to Tampa for the first time in over half a century. The line currently operates from eleven stations along a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) route, connecting Ybor City, the Channel District, the Tampa Convention Center, and downtown Tampa. The TECO Line fleet features varnished wood interiors and other appointments reminiscent of the streetcars that traversed Tampa between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. The nostalgic design is incorporated with modern functionality, as the cars are both wheelchair accessible and air conditioned.

Where to Stay: Some Ideas for Visitors Who Don’t Want to Drive

Visit Tampa Bay (the visitor center for Tampa and vicinity) suggests the following hotels as good choices for visitors who don’t want to drive:

Downtown Tampa, near Tampa’s Riverwalk:

Aloft Tampa Downtown: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/overview

/index.html ? propertyID =3896

Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk: http://www.sheratontampariverwalk.com/

Courtyard Tampa Downtown: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpadt-courtyard-tampa-downtown/

Residence Inn Tampa Downtown: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpatd-residence-inn-tampa-downtown/

Barrymore Tampa Riverwalk: http://barrymorehotel.com/

Ybor City, Within Walking Distance of one or more Streetcar Stations:

Hilton Garden Inn Ybor City: http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hilton-garden-inn-tampa-ybor-historic-district-TPAYCGI/in dex.html

Hampton Inn Tampa Ybor City Downtown: http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hampton-inn-and-suites-tampa-ybor-city-downtown-TPAYBHX/index.html

Don Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn: http://donvicenteinn.com/

Now that you are settled in at your hotel, let’s begin planning for the best way to enjoy your visit.

Getting Around

The Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit Authority (HART) operates public transportation throughout Tampa. For detailed schedule and fare information, visit www.gohart.org, or call the HART Information Line (813) 254-HART (254-4278): weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time).

One way cash fares are $2 on the bus, or $2.50 on the TECO Line Streetcar System. Medicare cardholders can show their Medicare card and pay $1. Half price fares are also available to seniors (age 65 and older), persons with disabilities, and young people ages 5-17. However, to get these fares (except for Medicare cardholders), riders must purchase a discount permit in advance from HART. The Marion Transit Center (1211 North Marion Street in downtown Tampa—phone number: 813/384-6301) and University Area Transit Center (13110 North 27th Street - phone number: 813/384-6316) both sell discount permits from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

The most economical way for visitors to use HART is by buying either an unlimited ride One-Day pass for $4 (or $5 if you purchase it at a Streetcar station), or a 3-day unlimited ride Visitors Pass for $11.75 (the 3-day fare can only be purchased at the Marion or University Transit Center (or at City Hall between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays and Fridays), or at select hotels. Call the HART Information Line for a list of hotels where you can purchase 3-day Visitor Passes.

You can also purchase passes online at HART’s Transit Store. Go to http://www.gohart.org/ride_guide/fares/passes.html to buy your tickets online. Be sure to order enough time in advance so HART can mail your tickets to you before you visit. (Good news: the one-day or three day period doesn’t start until the first time you use your pass. Remember that the Visitor’s Pass is for three consecutive days.)

As HART Public Information Officer Sandra Morrison explains, "Riding the bus instead of driving or renting a car is a great way to keep gas prices from pumping extra money out of your wallet. From buses to streetcars, HART offers public transit options for both new visitors and local residents."

HART has 19 Park and Ride Lots - Leave Your Car FREE and Use HART

Visitors who live nearby may be tempted to drive directly to Tampa.

Fortunately, if you are visiting Tampa during the week, you can eliminate gasoline and parking costs by parking FREE at one of HART’s 19 Park and Ride lots and taking a HART bus that stops at that lot. Add $4 for an all-day unlimited-ride pass is less expensive than even two gallons of gas. Call HART’s Info Line to find out which lot is most convenient to your hotel or other location. (Park and Ride Lot 17: 301 South appears to be only for carpools or vanpools, since no HART bus routes serve that lot.)

The following Park and Ride Lot may also be a good choice for weekend visitors:

Northwest Transfer Center: 9325 West Waters Avenue, Tampa, FL 33615 Serving routes: 16, 30, 34, 39, 61, LX, HART Flex, Townn County, North County Connector (PSTA)

Here is a list of HART’s Park and Ride lots, and what HART routes serve each lot:

1) Apollo Beach -Winn Dixie: 6188 U S. 41, Apollo beach, FL 33572 Serving routes: 31,47LX

2) Burnett Park: 11609 Clay Pit Road, Seffner, FL 33584. Serving route: 28x

3) Carrollwood Baptist church: 5395 Ehrlich Road, Tampa, FL 33625 Serving route: 61LX

4) Citrus Park: 7502 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL 33625 Serving route: 61LX

5) Crossroads Community United Methodist Church26211 County line Road Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Serving route: 51 X

6) Culbreath @ Bloomingdale: 3420 Culbreath Road, Valrico, FL 33596 Serving routes: 25 LX, 27 LX

7) Dover: 102 North Dover Road, Valrico, FL 33584 Serving routes: 46, 22 X

8) Eddie C. Moore park (Clearwater): 2780 Drew Street, Clearwater, FL 33759 (Pinellas county)Serving route: 200 LX (probably not a good choice for most visitors)

9) First Baptist Church of Lutz: 18000 US Highway 41, Lutz, FL 33547 Serving routes 24 X, 27 LX

10) Hidden River: 8790 Hidden River Parkway, Tampa, Florida 33637Serving routes: Metro Rapid

11) FishHawk Sports Complex: 16112 Fish Hawk Boulevard, Lithia, FL 33547 Serving routes 24x, 27 LX

12) J.C. Handley Park: 3007South Kings Avenue, Brandon, FL 33511 Serving routes: 25 LX, 27 LX

13) Lowe's New Tampa: 16907 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647 Serving well: 51 X

14) Mr. Zionsville Assembly of God: 3005 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City, FL 33565 Serving route: 28x

15) Riverview Oaks: 9602 S. U.S. Highway 301, Riverview, FL 33569 Serving routes: 24x, 27 LX, 31

16) Rogers Field: 212 East Sadie Street, Brandon, FL 33510 Serving routes: 22x

17) South 301: 4864 Sun Center Blvd., Wimauma, FL 33598

18) Temple Terrace: 113 00 North 56^th Street, Temple terrace, FL 33617 Serving route: 21lx

19) Northwest Transfer Center: 9325 West Waters Avenue, Tampa, FL 33615 Serving routes: 16, 30, 34, 39,61, LX, HART Flex, Town County, North County Connector (PSTA)

Another option for visitors who drive to Tampa and want to leave their cars and save money and hassle by using HART is to park at one of four garages within walking distance of a TECO Line Streetcar System station:

Centro Ybor Parking Garage
Noriega Parking Garage (8th Avenue and 13th Street, just off Nuccio Parkway)
Port Authority Garage (Channelside Station)
South Regional Parking Garage (Amalie Arena station)

For more information about the TECO Line Streetcar System, including stops and nearby attractions, visit: www.tecolinestreetcar.org.

You Don’t Need to Drive to Enjoy Shopping in Tampa

Weekend visitors who don’t want to drive don’t need to choose between sightseeing and shopping. HART serves many nearby shopping malls. Here are some malls that are served by HART:

--International Plaza: Routes 15, 30

--University Mall: Routes 12, 45

--Westfield Brandon: Routes 8, 31, 37, 46, HARTFlex Brandon

--Westfield Citrus Park: Route 39

--Westshore Plaza: Routes 15, 30 and 45, HARTFlex South Tampa

USE HART to Visit Tampa Attractions

We were surprised to learn that parking at area attractions is not always free. (At the Museum of Science and Industry, parking for non-members is $5 per day.) When you add the cost and hassle of parking to the cost of gasoline, it makes sense to use HART buses, in-town trolley (weekday peak hours only) and the TECO Line Streetcar System.. Here is a list of Tampa area attractions that are served by HART:

--Busch Gardens - Routes 5, 18, 39

--Lowry Park Zoo - Routes 41, 45

--Florida Aquarium - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar

--Channelside Bay Plaza (Dining, retail, Splitsville) - Route 8, the TECO Line Streetcar

--Ybor City Historic District (Centro Ybor) - Routes 5, 8, 9, 12, 18, 46, the TECO Line Streetcar

--International Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 15, 30

--Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) - Route 6

--Amalie Arena- Routes 4, 8, 19, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar

--David A. Straz Jr. Center - Routes 7, 10, 14, In-Town Trolley

--Tampa Convention Center - Routes 4, 19, In-Town Trolley, TECO Line Streetcar

--Tampa Museum of Art - Routes 7, 10, 14, In-Town Trolley

--Tampa Theatre - Route 4, 6LTD, 8, 19, 30, In-Town Trolley, Metro Rapid

--Glazer Children's Museum - Routes 7, 10, 14, In-Town Trolley

-- University of South Florida - Routes 5, 6, 6LTD, 18, 57, Metro Rapid

--Westshore Plaza (Shopping) - Routes 15, 30, 45, HARTFlex South Tampa

--Raymond James Stadium (Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - Routes 7, 32, 36, 41, 45

Other Ways to Get Around When You Don’t Want to Drive

Biking

Visitors have two options: City Bike and Coast Bike Share.

Coast Bike Share has hourly, monthly, yearly and student memberships and multiple kiosks around Tampa where people can rent and return the bikes. For details about rates, membership, and where you can drop off bikes, visits: http://coastbikeshare.com/.

City Bike is a full service shop offering sales, repairs and rentals. For more information, visit www.socialbicycles.com, www.citybiketampa.com.

Taxicabs and Ride Sharing Services

The two major cab companies here are: Yellow Cab (813) 253-0121, and United Cab (813) 777-7777.

Uber and Lyft are also available here.

Exploring Tampa

Tip 1: Purchase Tampa City Pass and See the Top Attractions Here.

These include: Busch Gardens, Florida Aquarium, Clearwater Aquarium (this will be covered in our upcoming column about St. Petersburg and Clearwater), Lowry Park Zoo, and a choice of either the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) or the Chihuly Collection (the Chihuly Collection will also be covered in our upcoming column about St. Petersburg and Clearwater). This is a great choice if you want to focus on the top destinations and save money.

The $99 cost ($84 for children ages 3-9) is a 49% savings over individual admissions to the individual attractions. You can visit each attraction once during a nine-day consecutive day period that begins the first time you use the pass. You can also buy the pass at any participating attraction. For more details, or to buy the Tampa City Pass, visit http://www.citypass.com/tampa.)

Here is information about the four City Pass Attractions in Tampa:

Busch Gardens: 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612

www.BuschGardens.com/Tampa, or call (888) 800-5447.

E-mail any questions to BGAGuestinformation@seaworld.com.

Busch Gardens’ many rides are well known, and sampling them can make for an enjoyable visit.

However, many visitors are not as aware of the many available animal preservation and viewing options. Here is some information about Busch Gardens’ animal programs that are open to the public:

Animal Care Center: Busch Gardens® welcomes guests to closely observe and even take part in the animal care experience in the Animal Care Center. From nutrition to treatments, X-rays to surgeries, much of Busch Gardens’ animal care is now conducted in guest view in this new state-of-the-art facility.

Serengeti Plain®: This habitat is home to hundreds of exotic African animals, including reticulated giraffes, rhinos, wildebeests, antelope and ostriches, which can be seen from the Serengeti Railway, Skyride, Serengeti Safari® and various walkways. The 65-acre environment includes expansive berms; tiered and open landscapes covered with native and African grasses, scrub trees and shrubs; rock outcroppings and bluffs replicating natural formations; and naturalistic creek beds and mud banks.

Jungala®: Jungala is four acres of fun filled with up-close animal interactions, a three story maze of rope bridges and nets for kids to climb, two signature rides and live entertainment. Guests come face-to-face with orangutans and test their strength in a tug of war with a Bengal tiger. It’s an unforgettable adventure and an extraordinary

mix of discovery and fun in the only jungle in the world that plays with you.

Edge of Africa®: This habitat offers a walking safari where guests can experience hippopotamus, lions, lemurs, meerkats and crocodiles in natural habitats themed around an abandoned African fishing village.

Jambo Junction: The former Busch Gardens’® Nairobi Field Station now creates greater interactions between guests and the park’s animal ambassadors. At Jambo Junction, a name inspired by a Swahili greeting, guests feed animals while learning about husbandry and behavior training. Featured animals include Caribbean flamingos, lemurs, cuscuses, sloths and tamanduas.

Opening Night Critters: Busch Gardens^® Tampa’s newest live stage show Opening Night Critters takes the stage in Pantopia Theater, featuring rescued dogs, cats, birds, a horse, a kangaroo and more. The stage hands in this fun family show quickly discover that working with these animals isn’t as easy as they had originally thought. Try as they might, they can’t get their costars to cooperate and when nearly all hope is lost, their kindness and compassion is rewarded when everything falls into place for a fun-filled, furry and feathered finale.

For information about additional tours (available at an additional cost), visit:

http://seaworldparks.com/en/buschgardens-tampa/attractions/exclusive-park-experiences/

Our next City Pass attraction is the Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium: 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602 www.flaquarium.org, or call (813)273-4000.

See why The Florida Aquarium, with over 20,000 sea creatures, is one of the top aquariums in the country!

Experience sharks, alligators, lemurs, penguins and much more! Rediscover adventure at the newly expanded Wetlands Trail where you will venture past alligator-infested waters to the river streams where playful otters explore.

Continue your adventure up to the Aquarium’s newest exhibit: Journey to Madagascar. Filled with ring-tailed lemurs, hissing cockroaches and colorful chameleons this exhibit captures the unique Island of Madagascar and the diverse animals that call it home!

Be sure to make a stop at Stingray Beach where you can touch stingrays and sharks. After exploring all the exhibits inside, splash away outside at Explore A Shore: the outdoor water adventure zone for children!

Visitors can even experience the Aquarium in an up-close and personal way with added interactive guest-dive programs like ‘Shark Swim’, Swim with the Fishes,’ or ‘Dive with the Sharks’ where coming face to face with a Sand Tiger Shark is common place. Here, guests can actually become a part of the exhibit! (You must be 9 or older for Shark Swim, 6 or older to swim with the fishes and 15 or older to dive with the sharks).

The Aquarium also offers a 75 -minute Wild Dolphin Cruise aboard a 72-foot catamaran that departs from the aquarium on a daily basis - as long as the weather is decent. The cruise gives visitors a chance to check out some of the 500 wild dolphins that call the Tampa Bay home. (Reservations and additional fee are required for the Wild Dolphin Cruise).

Our next stop (with the Tampa City Pass) is the Lowry Park Zoo.

Lowry Park Zoo: 1101 West Sligh Avenue, Tampa, FL 33604-5958 www.lowryparkzoo.com, or call (813) 935-8552

It’s easy to spend a morning, afternoon, or even most of a day here. There are eight different animal habitat areas, and it’s easy to get so overwhelmed that you don’t know where to start.

Our suggestion: stroll over to the “Plan Your Day” booth and pick up a map of the zoo. Look at the back of the map for shows and keeper talks. Then, plan your visit around the shows and keeper talks that interest you. It’s best to come in the morning, since most animals have more energy than later in the day.

For an extra charge, you can view feeding times with the stingrays, lorikeets, or giraffes.

If you have limited time (as we did during our visit), start your visit is with a ride on the Africa Safari Train in the Expedition Africa habitat. This train takes you on a visit around the outside of the African Habitat. During your ride, you can enjoy viewing elephants, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, gazelles and cheetahs.

Our next attraction (included with your Tampa City Pass) is the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) 4801 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617 www.mosi.org, or call (813) 987-6000

One benefit that sets MOSI apart from most Science Museums is that the admission (included as part of your Tampa City Pass) included one IMAX shows, and you can purchase a second show for less than $5.

My wife and I enjoyed an IMAX show about whales, and left with a renewed love and appreciation for whales and how important it is to preserve them. Seeing this program made us feel that each of us can make a difference in preserving our environment for our children and grandchildren.

Do you enjoy roller coasters? Then, you may want to take a ride on the Flight Simulator ($5 per person).

My wife and I enjoyed the experience—at least most of the ride, until it got too exciting for us. I’m embarrassed to say that we had to pull the safety button a few seconds before the ride ended. However,

if you are an experienced roller coaster rider, you will probably love this ride—the entire experience.

In addition to visiting the IMAX DOME Theatre on the 2^nd floor (the only one in Florida), MOSI staff offer these additional tips to help you enjoy your visit to MOSI:

Visit 3D Printing the Future-the Exhibition¸ on the 2^nd floor. 3D has the potential to re-shape how we live, work and play.
Idea Zone©: MOSI’s inventor’s studio and makerspace, on the first floor, features engineer projects that spark your imagination and creativity. Here, you can use a variety of technologies, tools, and materials to design, build and play with ideas made real in this collaborative space.
Conquer your fears! For an extra charge, you can navigate through 35 treacherous elements in the Sky Trail Ropes ($7) , and then defy gravity on the 700-foot-long Sky Trail Zip Line ($10)
KIDS IN CHARGE: located in the adjacent building (next to the main MOSI building), this is (according to MOSI staff) the largest children’s science center in the United States.
MISSION MOONBASE: Here, you can view NASA’s vision for sustaining life on the moon.
Saunders Planetarium: The Go To Space Simulator Chronos projection system is capable of recreating the night sky from any time in the past, present, and future from anywhere in the planet in less than 20 seconds.
Imagination Playground, MOSI’s newest interactive experience, enables kids to engineer everything from robots to cities, using cubes, bricks, cogs, curves, and cylinders.
High-Wire Bike, located on the 3^rd floor. Don’t look down. Take a ride 30 feet in the air and conquer the longest high-wire bike in a U.S. museum.
MOSI OUTSIDE: The BioWorks Butterfly Garden (across from MOSI’s main entrance) can show you how wetlands naturally clean our water. Then glide with the free-flying butterflies, and see how many native species you can name. Then, visit the Richard T. Bowers Historic Tree Grove for a unique look at 16 trees that watched history happen.

A few other ideas for outings:

Take a stroll along Tampa’s Riverwalk. It’s a 2.5 mile stretch which extends from Ulele (u-Lay-Lee) to the Tampa Bay History Center in the Channelside district. It was recently designated as a wet zone, meaning you can buy beer or wine at one of the 8 restaurants along the Riverwalk and stroll along the water, going past the Straz Performing Arts Center, The
Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Convention Center, Sail Pavilion, Amalie Arena and winding up next to the history center. There’s a good chance you’ll see some dolphins, paddleboarders, bikers and boaters along the way.
No trip to Tampa is complete without visiting Ybor City Known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter for over a century, Ybor City is an exotic blend of aromas, flavors, sights and sounds with an outstanding nightlife scene. Choose from a variety of cuisine – Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Greek and French – just by strolling down La Setima, the main street of the Historic District. Share authentic tapas and a pitcher of Spanish sangria in a café atmosphere reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. There’s history and authenticity virtually dripping from every street corner. Founded by Vincent Martinez-Ybor as a cigar-manufacturing center, Ybor City today is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies and narrow brick streets give it an old-world charm that is unlike anywhere else in Florida.
Take a ride on the TECO System Streetcar Line. The map, inside the streetcar, lists each station and what attractions and other points of interests are within walking distance of that station. For more information, visit http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/
Visit the Pinellas County Gulf Beaches, using public transportation. If you are here during the week, you can take a commuter express PSAT (Pinellas Suncoast Area Transit) bus from Tampa. On weekends and holidays, Greyhound operates two buses from Tampa to St. Petersburg. The round trip cost is $17. From Tampa, the bus leaves at 7:50 a.m. The return buses from St. Petersburg leave at 3:10 and 6:15 p.m.

Here are PSAT’s suggestions to enjoy a visit to the beach from Tampa:
Take HART’s 200x from HART’s Marion Transit Center to the Clearwater Mall, walk a short distance, maybe 120 yards, to the PSTA transfer stop (just north of Target) and take PSTA route 60 west – to downtown Clearwater. Most runs on the 60 end at the mall anyway, so that’s a pretty easy transfer. However, every other hour the 60 makes a short loop to the east before heading back downtown. At the end of the line, the 60 will enter Park Street Terminal. Here, you can transfer to either the Suncoast Beach Trolley SMor the Clearwater Jolley Trolley for the short and scenic trip out to Clearwater Beach. Full fare is $2.00 one way or $4.50 for an all-day pass, which is recommended since they will be taking four buses (round trip) on PSTA. Clearwater Beach is full of shops, restaurants, activities and, of course, award winning white sands.

More information is available from the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce as well as Visit St. Pete/Clearwater: Pinellas County’s visitors and convention bureau.

For a more laid back experience, one can take PSTA’s 300X from downtown Tampa and transfer to the PSTA Route 59 at the Checker’s Drive In at the corner of Ulmerton Road (that’s the road upon which both the 300X and 59 travel) and 49^th Street. This is an on-street transfer, not at a terminal or transfer station. The 59 west will then take them to beautiful Indian Rocks Beach where travelers will find beautiful white sand beaches, shops, restaurants and activities. It’s more “low-key” than Clearwater Beach, but still a fun, friendly beach town.
For Weekend Visitors: If you take Greyhound into St. Petersburg, you need to walk about two blocks south to Central Avenue and catch PSTA’s Central Avenue Trolley, This Trolley will take you out to and along the spectacular St Pete Beach coast line all the way to famous Pass-A-Grille Beach. Along the way are Pinellas County beaches that perennially top Dr. Beach’s list of “Best Beaches” in the U.S. as well as world-famous resorts such as the Don Cesar, Trade Winds, Sirata, Postcard Inn, and many more.. For more information contact the wonderful and amazing Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, which has its offices right along the Central Avenue Trolley route in St Pete Beach?

Biking Trails and Suggestions for Visiting Bicyclists

Eric Trull, Program Director of Coast Bike Share (http://coastbikeshare.com), offers these tips:

“When visiting Tampa there are two routes that everyone should visit, The Tampa Riverwalk and The Bayshore Trail.

“The Riverwalk is a badge of honor for our city, wrapping continuously around the southern and western edge of downtown. This path brings you through a number of our waterfront parks capped by two of the best restaurants in town. Ulele to the north and the Columbia to the south.

“The Bayshore Trail, known as the 'world’s longest sidewalk' runs uninterrupted from Downtown Tampa south along Tampa Bay with unobstructed views and some of the most beautiful historic homes in the city. Both trails are not to be missed."

Additional Trails:

“The Selmon Greenway meanders through the middle of downtown Tampa below and around the Selmon Expressway. It connects the Tampa Riverwalk on the West to Ybor City to the North by way of the downtown business district.

”The Platt and Cleveland Street Cycle Tracks, scheduled to open in spring of 2015, will connect bikers from west Hyde Park, the SoHo District, to downtown via protected bike lanes.”

For me information about local bike trails, visit either: http://coastbikes.tumblr.com/post/110545306908/have-you-explored-tampa-use-one-of-our-suggested or http://www.planhillsborough.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Trail-map.pdf (from Tony LaColla)

Suggestions from Local Residents

Because Tampa is considered a car-oriented city, visiting without a car can be challenging. We asked two residents for their tips and other suggestions for visitors who don’t want to drive.

Vance Arnett is a dedicated walker who frequently leaves his car in a garage for months at a time.

Tony LaColla is a City Planner and President of the Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association.

Vance Arnett offers these suggestions for visitors who want to walk and use public transportation:

“My favorite places to take my weekend guests. Since we rarely drive we would meet our friends at their hotel downtown. We would then have breakfast either at the hotel or at Samaria on Tampa Street. There are four museums available within walking distance. There is the Children’s Museum right next to the Tampa Museum of Art. At the other end of Curtis Hixon Park on the River is the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and across the river via the Kennedy Street Bridge is the Plant Museum at the University of Tampa. Further east on the River Walk is the Tampa History Museum where you can have lunch at the Columbia Café right on the River or you can walk over the Channelside Plaza and have lunch.

“After an afternoon nap to recover from all the walking we will meet downtown and either take in a hockey game (October through April) see a concert at the Amalie Arena if the team is traveling or head over to Ybor for an evening of dinner and drinks and maybe a cigar afterwards. If you didn’t eat at the Columbia Café you can eat at the original Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City on the corner of 23 and 7th. All are easily reachable from the streetcar. We end with Sunday brunch downtown or in Ybor at La Creperie.”

Tony LaColla adds these suggestions for visiting walkers:

“Stroll along Bayshore Boulevard, take a tour of Ybor City (historic tour, food tour), walk along the Riverwalk from Channelside to Tampa Heights (Ulele/Waterworks Park)

“Downtown Tampa Walking Routes Combining Fitness with Culture & Community: These are free twice monthly guided walking tours to various areas in downtown featuring public art, architecture, history and legends. Guest Tour Guides help bring the theme alive and local businesses are highlighted along the way. During the Walk Season (October – May) these walks are given on the the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month from 12-1pm. For more information, visit http://www.tampasdowntown.com/play/dtlm.aspx

Here are Tony’s suggestions for visitors with special interests who don’t want to drive:

Parks, zoos, and other natural attractions: Lowry Park Zoo, Busch Gardens, Florida Aquarium, Waterworks Park (small water park for kids)

Museums, and other cultural attractions: Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa Museum of Art, Ybor City State Museum, The University of Tampa

Families: Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, Curtis Hixon Park Downtown, Florida Aquarium Self-guided walking tours: (neighborhoods, parks etc.) - http://www.tampasdowntown.com/play/touringtampa/tours.aspx.

http://www.yborcityonline.com/merchant-directory/tours

http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/take-a-walk-on-ybors-historic-side/1085797

Vance offers these additional suggestions for visiting walkers: “The best walks in town are definitely the entire length of the River Walk from the Channel District all the way 2.5 miles to the Waterworks Park and back with a cold drink at Ulele restaurant at the Waterworks. Also you can stroll the Riverwalk to the Platt Street Bridge and head south on the Bayshore Blvd. along the eastern edge of Tampa Bay. Finally, I love just walking to Ybor and exploring all the historic places, stopping in the Ybor museum and walking along the streetcar line past the Port back to downtown”

Vance Arnett’s Suggestions for an Adults Only Weekend

Vance offers these ideas for a High End (kind of expensive) weekend without your children:

A Downtown Weekend Adventure without the Kids:

“Stay at the Le Meridian : This is the renovated old Federal Courthouse for Tampa. It is pricey but worth the funds if you want the romance and luxury. Located in the Downtown District within easy walking distance of the Street Car that connects you to Ybor City, Amalie Arena, and the Channel District and the Riverwalk.

“Friday night, I suggest Spain on Tampa Street for Dinner with drinks at Anise Gastro Bar afterwards or just walk back to the hotel for night caps at the bar in Le Meridian.

“Saturday Morning: Breakfast at Samaria in downtown and then hit the River walk to Kennedy Blvd for a stroll over to the Henry Plant Museum at the University of Tampa just across the River. This museum is the former Tampa Bay Hotel that originally was built at the end of the Railroad and has served Tampa for years. The museum is open from 10:00 – 5:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday and opens at 12:00 on Sundays. Take your time.The design and architecture of the building is part of the charm, and it is this building that give the University of Tampa and the Tampa Skyline its characteristic Moorish Spires.

“After the Tour walk back across the Kennedy Street Bridge and turn right on Franklin and head down to the Street Car Stop at Franklin and Whiting St. An all-day pass is $5.00. Ride the Streetcar to the last stop in Ybor City by the Park.

“Head south to Seventh Avenue and walk two blocks to Carmines for the best Cuban sandwich or other Cuban and Italian specialties. Don’t miss the Cuban Crab Cake if you like crab. A walk back through Ybor along 7th and 8th will give you the feel for the place. Catch the streetcar again at the Cardrecha Plaza Station near the west end of 8th by the Spaghetti Factory and ride it until Dick Greco Plaza.

“Jump off the Streetcar and have a drink at the Sail Pavilion next to the Convention Center and then walk back north on the River Walk to Curtis Hixon Park. From here, you can return to the hotel for a short nap. You had a Cuban sandwich remember.

“For the Saturday night fun, I would get Uber or a cab to Bern’s Steak House on South Howard. Be sure to make a reservation just to be safe and you will enjoy one of the best Tampa has to offer at a reasonable price. Bern’s is not a super expensive place to have a great steak and is great value because the rest of your meal is included. Don’t forget a visit to the Dessert Room and you can take a tour of the kitchen and the wine room (one of the largest and most extensive in the country) before you head up to finish off the evening. You will be full of great food and wine but it is too far to walk back to downtown so I recommend Uber back to the downtown area and your hotel.

“On Sunday morning, I recommend a walk to the Marriott Waterside along the River Walk and have brunch. Then it is a nice walk to either the Tampa History Center or to the Florida Aquarium. “

Vance Arnett’s Suggestions for a Weekend with Children

“I would still recommend staying in downtown at the Hilton this time. On Friday evening I would recommend Pizza Barvarro (make a reservation the place is small) on Franklin Street. It is a short walk from the hotel. Be sure to check and see if there is something family oriented going on at Curtis Hixon Park that evening

”Saturday morning it is breakfast at First Watch or one of the other great places for families along Tampa or Franklin. After breakfast head over to the Glazer Children’s Museum (next to Curtis Hixon Park. Warning: it can be lame if the kids are nearing 12 years old.

“Here is an alternative with older children. Head over to City Bike (www.citybiketampa .com/) and rent bikes for everyone to tour the city and head over to the Florida Aquarium, in the Channel District. Get there by riding on the River walk, or just walk it. There are plenty of dolphin, fish, and sometimes manatee to see along the way. You will pass the Florida History Center which has great interactive displays about the history of Tampa. II would head back up to Franklin on the bikes or it is an easy walk for lunch to the Taco Bus. You can’t miss it on Franklin for the best tacos around. If you want to stay near the Channel District you can stop in the Channelside Mall and have lunch at Flambe.

“Once you are back downtown, take a break. I would get reservations at the original Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Take the streetcar or Uber as it is on the far end of Ybor City but is a great place for families to dine. Make a reservation so you get a table where you can see the Spanish Dancers. Or if Ybor is not to your liking, you can head to Tampa Bay Brewing Company in the Centro Ybor right on the Streetcar line for great family food and don’t worry about the name. For dinner it is definitely one of the family favorites.

“On Sunday on the way out of town stop at either the Lowry Park zoo, or you can do the theme park thing and hit Busch Gardens about 15 minutes north of downtown on Busch Blvd.” (HART serves both places.)

Vance Arnett’s Recommended Excursion for a Day Visitor who Drives

“Drive in on the Selmon Expressway to the Ybor City Exit at 22nd Street. I would park in one of the parking lots north of 7^th. Stop number 1 for the streetcar is at Centennial Park. On Saturday the streetcar will start running around 11:00.

“I would take the streetcar toward the city. You will see most of Ybor and the Channel District to get your bearing ride it all the way to the end at the Whiting and Franklin Station. I would then walk straight up Franklin. The Streetcar will have Visitor Maps. That will give you a flavor for what I have suggested here. You will see that the Tampa Museum of Art and the Children’s Museum are to the right of Curtis Hixon Park. Walk toward the water and you will see the Riverwalk. Head toward the Channel District. Across the river you will see the University of Tampa and the Plant Museum. “Keep walking past the convention center and you will find the Sail Pavilion, the Marriott Waterside and then Amalie Arena across from Cotachoobe Park. At the end of the park is the Tampa History Center. Walk to the corner of Channelside Drive and Beneficial and you will see the Towers of the Channel District and Channelside Plaza. It is located adjacent to Cruise Ship Terminal 2. If you are there on Saturday or Sunday there will likely be a boat.

“Further up you will see the Victory Ship and the Aquarium. I would get back on the Street Car and head toward Ybor. Get off at the Street Car Society Station (Station 3) and walk back to 7th and stroll east back to where you parked. You will find lots of interesting places to eat, drink, and explore.”

For More Information

For Information about Tampa Attractions and Where to Stay:

The best single resource for visitors is www.visittampabay.com . When you are here, visit the Tampa Bay Visitor Center & Gift Shop, 615 Channelside Dr., Suite 101A, Tampa, FL 33602. Or call them at: (813) 226-0293. You can also contact Visit Tampa Bay by mail: Write to:

Visit Tampa Bay, 401 East Jackson Street, Suite 2100, Tampa, FL 33602 Phone: (813) 223-1111 or (800) 44-TAMPA, Fax: (813) 229-6616 For General Questions, send an e-mail to: Info@VisitTampaBay.com

For Information about Local Bus and Streetcar Fares and Schedules
The Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit Authority (HART) operates public transportation throughout Tampa. For detailed schedule and fare information, visit www.gohart.org, or call the HART Information Line (813) 254-HART (254-4278): weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time). For information about the TECO System Streetcar Line, visit http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/.

Steve Atlas welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns. E-mail Steve at steveatlas45@yahoo.com.

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