Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you take a trip to Tampa. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to see in Tampa, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do during your Tampa vacation!
Don’t Call it Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is the body of water around Tampa, and sometimes the region is called Tampa Bay, but the city itself is just Tampa. Tampa Bay includes St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and other nearby cities.
Don’t Miss Some of the Best Day Trips from Tampa
Chances are, your Tampa vacation will take you out of the city of Tampa. There are a lot of great day trips from Tampa, like Tarpon Springs, or Clearwater. Even Orlando is only about an hour away from Tampa. Staying in Tampa is a good option if you want to visit Disney but want to see more of Florida beyond the craziness that is Orlando.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Orlando
Don’t Think Tampa Beaches are the Best
Florida has some great beaches, and that’s probably part of the reason you’ve planned a trip to Tampa. Tampa does have some beaches, but the best beaches of Tampa Bay are found in Clearwater and St. Pete.
Don’t Plan on Public Transportation
Public transportation in Florida is not easy or convenient. If you fly to your Tampa vacation, plan on renting a car, as it’s really the only way to get around. You can use taxis or rideshares, but Tampa is really spread out, so you’ll end up spending a lot of money to get around if you don’t have a car.
Don’t Let Your Guard Down While Driving
Florida drivers are notoriously crazy. You’ve got the snowbirds who plod along at a slow pace, tourists who change lanes suddenly because they don’t know where they’re going, and then the locals who are pissed off and just trying to get to work. Use caution when driving, and never assume you know what the other drivers are going to do. Expect to see a lot of random, sudden U-turns, too.
Don’t Forget Your Traffic Apps
Along with crazy driving comes crazy traffic. Because Tampa is so spread out, you’ll be spending a lot of time driving, and Tampa traffic can be frustrating. We always use Waze or Google Maps to determine the best way to get from Point A to Point B and if you’re driving in Tampa, this can really save you a lot of time.
Don’t Miss the Things to See in Tampa
While there are many great day trips from Tampa, there are also a lot of cool things to see in Tampa. They have Busch Gardens, Dino World, and The Florida Aquarium. If you’re looking for nightlife in Tampa, Ybor City is a great place to hang out. (It’s ee-bor, not why-bor!) If you should happen to visit when it’s too rainy or too hot to be outside, Tampa has some great museums, including the Children’s Museum, The Museum of Science & Industry, and the Tampa Museum of Art.
Don’t Miss the Food and Nightlife in Ybor City
Ybor City is the place to go for nightlife in Tampa. But there are also some really great restaurants in that area. There’s even a streetcar that will take you from downtown to Ybor City. They have some of the best Cuban sandwiches you can get in Florida. Don’t know what a Cuban sandwich is? Ham, pulled pork, pickle, mustard, swiss cheese, and salami! Every local will tell you their favorite place for a Cuban sandwich, but I think they’re all pretty good.
Don’t Skip the Cigar Shops
You’ll see a lot of cigar shops, especially around Ybor City. Cigar production played a pretty big role in Tampa’s history, so it’s interesting to stop in and learn a little bit about how cigars are made.
Don’t Just Jump in the Water
There’s a lot of water around Tampa, and the heat will make you want to go for a swim. But don’t just jump in the water, make sure you check first. A lot of the ponds and lakes around Tampa are home to alligators, so jumping into murky water is a big DON’T when you’re in Tampa.
Don’t Forget to Check the Beach Flags
Most beaches in the Tampa Bay area have a flag system that will tell you if it’s safe to go in the water. If the flags say don’t go in, then don’t ignore those warnings. They are there for a reason, and the beaches are closely monitored to ensure that everyone is safe.
Don’t Forget the Bug Spray
With the hot and humid weather, there are a lot of bugs in Tampa. There’s mosquitos, sand gnats, no-see-ums, and those infamous Palmetto bugs. Mosquitos and gnats will drive you crazy and bite you. Palmetto bugs are basically flying cockroaches. This is why a lot of Florida homes have a huge screen around their patio or the pool. Without bug protection, it can be hard to enjoy the outdoors in Tampa.
Don’t Forget the Sunblock
No matter when you visit Tampa, you will need sunscreen. Warm weather and sunny days are a big reason that Tampa is such a popular travel destination, but a bad sunburn can ruin your Tampa vacation really quickly! Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach; make sure you put some on no matter what you’re doing in Tampa.
Don’t Forget to Bring Good Walking Shoes
You will likely spend a lot of time walking in Tampa. Whether you visit Busch Gardens, Ybor City, or any of the Tampa museums, you want to have some good walking shoes. Bring flip flops for the beach, but those aren’t going to cut it if you’re doing a lot of walking.
Don’t Forget Hurricane Season
Hurricane season in Florida is from June until November. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit Tampa in the summer or fall, just be aware of what’s going on, and have a backup plan if a hurricane should start to head towards Tampa Bay.
Don’t Worry About Dressing Up
The beauty of a Tampa vacation is that everywhere you go is pretty casual. Flip flops go with everything in this beach town. You can pretty much go straight from beach to dinner and not worry about getting dressed up.
Tampa is a great city to visit in Florida. When you do visit Tampa, don’t forget to explore some of the Tampa Bay region! I hope this helps you know some of the things to avoid doing on your Tampa vacation. Looking for more tips on visiting the USA? Check out these blog posts!