Tampa
Located on the west coast and halfway down the long Florida peninsula, Tampa is the third largest city in Florida after Miami and Jacksonville. It is part of a larger metropolitan area commonly referred to as Tampa Bay. This region includes many cities and municipalities, but Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg are the largest cities in the area.
Tampa's central Florida location is ideally situated for access to many other Florida cities and regions for business and recreation. Orlando, Daytona Beach, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and the upper keys are within easy traveling distances.
Recreation
The area offers an wide array of activities including attractions, nearby beaches, professional sports venues and teams, cultural interests, museums and performing arts, many parks, and excellent shopping, dining and nightlife.
The west coast of Florida is called the Gulf Coast, but is also known as the Sun Coast. The warm, calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are ideal for sports and recreation. Beaches along the Gulf Coast are among the best in the country with some listed on the top ten best beaches list compiled by world-renowned "Dr. Beaches".
Attractions
Busch Gardens is the premier theme park with a mix of thrill rides, adventures, live entertainment, up-close exotic animal habitats and six awesome roller coasters!
Nearby is the wet and wild water based theme park Adventure Island with many water flumes, slides, lagoons and children's water playgrounds.
The Museum of Science and Industry also known as MOSI offers a fascinating display of interesting exhibits, hands-on activities, an IMAX dome theater and a hurricane tunnel/room which permits one to experience hurricane force winds.
The 200,000 square-foot Florida Aquarium has over 10,000 fresh and saltwater aquatic plans and animals from Florida and beyond. See sharks, sting rays, alligators, coral reefs and much more.
Lowry Park Zoo is a 56-acre park with over 2,000 animals in lush habitats. In addition to the first-rate zoo, the park has a number of interesting rides.
Sports
The bay area is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football team, the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL hockey team, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (actually located in St. Petersburg) MLB baseball team.
Across the bay in Clearwater are the Clearwater Threshers Minor League Baseball team and the spring training home to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cultural
The Tampa Museum of Art displays a fine collection of 20th century and contemporary art and a renowned collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.
The 335,000 square foot Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center located on the picturesque Hillsborough River is a great venue for concerts, dance, ballets and Broadway style performances. The performing arts complex consists of five distinct theaters.
The restored Tampa Theater, built in 1926, offers musical performances and films.
Business
The area's business climate is very favorable with an economy based on a good mix of tourism, agriculture, financial services and technology. The Port of Tampa is the seventh largest in the nation, and in addition to commercial traffic, it hosts several cruise lines.
