Tampa Bay Area Guide

Delta Reinstating Interstate Flights

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 08:41:22 -0400

Delta Airlines has announced that beginning on April 1, they will reinstate flights from the capital city of Tallahassee to airports in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale, backed up by a consortium of the city of Tallahassee, Leon County and the state of Florida with a $1.5 million stop-loss guarantee. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the money will only be paid if Delta fails to garner $11.5 million per year on the newly reinstated flights.

Lowry Park Zoo

Tue, 3 Mar 2009 05:06:35 -0500

Voted the #1 Family Friendly Zoo in America by Child Magazine, Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is indeed a treat for all ages. Set on 56 lush, tropical acres, the zoo has long been a favorite attraction of both locals and visitors.

Tampa to Host Valentines for Veterans Concert

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:26:37 -0500

Later this week, Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV), a non-profit organization that works "to physically and psychologically rehabilitate veterans through programs and events that foster active hands and minds, and increase self worth and confidence," will co-sponsor four "Valentines for Veterans Concerts" with local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospitals, including one that will take place at the Florida Fairgrounds in Tampa.

Tampa to Host Equestrian Event

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 08:52:01 -0500

The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa will be the site of the majority of the events that make up the 2009 Tampa Equestrian Festival, beginning on March 18 and continuing through April 4.

Tampa Attractions

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 06:41:02 -0500

Attractions in and around the Tampa Bay area, ranging from Sarasota to the south, St. Petersburg, through Tampa and to Orlando. There are an amazing number of attractions and things to do on the west coast of Florida centered around Tampa.

Tampa Outdoor Activities

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 06:39:51 -0500

Water and land-based outdoor activities abound in Tampa Bay, including fishing, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and canoeing, wave running, biking, hiking, picnicking, roller blading - you get the idea, . . .

Tampa Golf

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 06:38:49 -0500

Florida has is rich in golf courses and the Tampa Bay area is no exception. Public and private golf course are numerous throughout the area.

Water Lovers Readying for Central Florida Boat Show

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 07:03:21 -0500

Despite the tough economic times and the worst recreational marine industry downturn in 30 years, organizers of the annual Central Florida Boat Show plan to go ahead with the event, which is scheduled to take place from February 19 - 22 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Tampa Mall Gets $10 Million Facelift

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:41:43 -0500

The 35-year-old University Mall in Tampa has just finished undergoing major renovations, a process which took much of last year, saving the mall from closing or converting to office space, a fate which has befallen a number of other malls in the area.

Gasparilla! Tampa Florida

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:02:45 -0500

There aren't too many towns that celebrate pirate legends. Tampa, however, annually recognizes the antics of the legendary buccaneer José Gaspar (Gasparilla) and turns the legend into a festival extravaganza that is one of the year's most anticipated events.

Super Bowl Gospel Celebration to Proceed Big Game

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:57:58 -0500

The 10th Anniversary Super Bowl Gospel Celebration will be held at the SunDome on the University of South Florida's campus on Friday night, Jan. 30th, two days before the Super Bowl is played at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium.

Lights On Tampa Exhibit to Begin January 10 through February 1

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:56:26 -0500

As part of a celebration that will coincide with both the Gasparilla Festival and the arriving of Super Bowl fans to the Tampa Bay area, the city will begin its gala Lights On Tampa exhibit on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:16:05 -0500

Situated on the banks of the Hillsborough River, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (TBPAC) has been thrilling culture-seekers since its opening in 1987. The largest performing arts center south of Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, TBPAC hosts a huge variety of events on its nine-acre campus and has welcomed more than 10 million audience members during its 20+-year history.

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:14:56 -0500

One of Florida's premiere science museums, designed for all ages to enjoy, Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry - better known as MOSI - has been entertaining crowds since its opening in 1982.

New Tampa Bay History Center Nears Completion

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:14:21 -0500

Finishing touches are being put on Tampa's newest waterfront attraction, the new Tampa Bay History Center, a 3-story, 60,000-square-foot building that will replace the much smaller history center on Franklin Street that has been open since 1989.

MOSI to Host Acclaimed Body Worlds Exhibit

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:13:37 -0500

Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry will be playing host early next year to Gunther von Hagen's fascinating and controversial Body Worlds exhibit. The exhibit, which has drawn criticism from protestors around the world because of questions about where the bodies originated, will open on January 22 and continue until the end of June.

Tampa Rays Headed to World Series!

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:07:21 -0400

The Tampa Rays eliminated the 2007 World Series-winning Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Championships on Sunday and - for the first time in the team's history - are headed to the World Series. They'll be playing the National League Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies in a series that begins on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.

Three Busch Gardens Coasters Receive Golden Ticket Awards

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:35:42 -0400

Each year, Amusement Today, a major theme-park trade publication, announces what amounts to the Oscars of the amusement park industry, citing various rides, attractions, and parks for such characteristics as "best", "cleanest", or "friendliest". This year, the winners of the "Golden Ticket Awards" were announced in September and three of Busch Garden Tampa’s many coasters made it onto the list of the Top 50 Steel Roller Coasters.

Rays Win American League Division Series!

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:48:13 -0400

After spending ten years being what the New York Times refers to as "the designated doormat for the American League", the Tampa Bay Rays trounced the Chicago White Sox on Monday to win their third game of the American League Division series. The victory advances the team to a match-up against the other Sox - the Boston Red Sox. The winner of that series will determine who wears the American League championship crown and goes on to play the World Series.

New Scanners Coming to Tampa International

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 10:58:46 -0400

New Scanners Coming to Tampa International Joining ten airports nationwide that already own the state-of-the-art machines, Tampa International Airport (TIA) will be receiving a shipment of four full-body scanners within the next few weeks. Airport officials estimate the machines will be in use at the airport in the next two to three months after employees receive the necessary training to operate them. The devices, which have caused some controversy at other airports, use radio waves to produce a white-on-black picture of what's below a person's top layers of clothing, including weapons. The technique used, which is called "millimeter wave," makes metal and non-metal objects clearly stand out during the scanning process. At TIA, the scanners will be used to randomly screen passengers before they reach the regular metal detector, known as “primary” screening. In some airports, the full-body scanners are used for “secondary” screening after someone sets off the metal detector. The image of the person being scanned appears on a screen in a private room and the individual’s face is obscured during the scanning process, officials explain. “TSA has taken several steps to protect passengers' privacy,” says Shari Koshetz, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Koshetz adds that the scans are safe and do not present a potential health hazard as the waves emitted are weaker than those from a cellular phone.

Lowry Park Zoo Releases Manatee into Wild

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:57:01 -0400

Last week, two members of the Manatee Conservation Trust of Trinidad helped release Snitch the Manatee back into the waters at Safety Harbor in Tampa. The two individuals have been interning at the Lowry Park Zoo and were excited to be part of the release.

Lisa Ramkissoon, Secretary of the Trust, and volunteer member Keisha Pakeera, along with other zoo staff, considered the opportunity to set the manatee free a “once in a lifetime experience”, notes an article in Trinidad’s Newsday newspaper.

Awesome Tampa!

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 12:27:51 -0400

Awesome Tampa releases new pages rich in content about the Tampa Bay area. The site serves as an area guide and covers activities, events, the city, sports, nearby beaches, history, weather and more.