Tampa Convention Center – Area Bucket List

The Tampa Bay Area is the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Florida. Tampa’s art scene, nightlife, phenomenal cuisine, and sports teams make it a desirable travel destination for a wide range of people. With all there is to do there, it’s no wonder that Tampa welcomes over 22 million visitors annually. Before you plan out a trip to Tampa, you’ll want to curate a bucket list to make your trip memorable.

Many visitors head to Tampa to attend an event at the Tampa Convention Center. Situated along the Hillsborough River, this place guests in a great location to explore the city. There’s a lot to do in the immediate area, but some bucket list items will require a little travel. Heading to these sights is easy with the TECO Line Streetcar and ridesharing services. Visitors looking for a relaxing beachside retreat can visit some of the best resorts in Florida, such as The Don Cesar Beach Resort or TradeWinds Island Grand. You’ll be able to take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico and pamper yourself with spa treatments at these luxurious spots.

Busch Gardens

For this first recommendation, you’ll want to drive or use a ridesharing service to reach Busch Gardens in about 20 minutes from the Tampa Convention Center. Busch Gardens is a theme park with various rides and roller coasters and live entertainment. There are also areas to view African animals. This isn’t just an amusement park for younger kids. There really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Rides at Busch Gardens range from fun family-friendly rides to ones for thrill seekers. Family-friendly rides include Cobra’s Curse, Stanley Falls Flume, and Wild Surge. If you want a daring ride, check out Sandserpent, Falcon’s Fury, Cheetah Hunt, Sheikra, Montu, Kumba, Congo River Rapids, and Scorpion. New roller coasters to the park are the Tigris and the Hybrid Coaster.

Busch Gardens is also somewhere you can go to admire amazing African animals. In fact, it’s the largest zoo in Tampa. A few of the animals that guests will see are tigers, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, elephants, zebras, kangaroos, meerkats, and various birds, reptiles, and primates.

Two rides guests can go on to view the animals are the Skyride and the Serengeti Express. If you’d prefer to get more up close and personal with the animals, there are some feeding opportunities, observation areas, and tours available.

Adventure Island

Next to Busch Garden is the water park Adventure Island, so it will take about the same amount of time to reach from the Tampa Convention Center. Whether you’re looking to lounge about in a lazy river or get drenched on a thrill ride, Adventure Island is an awesome place to beat the Florida heat.

One of the newest rides here is Vanish Point where guests will plunge down a 70-foot free fall. Other rides for adrenaline seekers are the Caribbean Corkscrew, Key West Rapids, Aruba Tuba, Runaway Rapids, and Water Moccasin. If you come to this park with friends, try rides like Wahoo Run, Riptide, Colossal Curl, and Calypso Coaster.

If you want to take a break from exciting rides, there are three areas you can go to relax. First is the Endless Surf, which is a 17,000-square-foot wave pool. Or you can laze about through the Rambling Bayou. This calming tube ride will take you through lush landscapes and waterfalls, keeping you cool and letting you chill out. For a mix of relaxation and action, stop by Paradise Lagoon. You can hang out in the 9,000-square-foot pool, jump off platforms into the cool waters, rush down slides, and bask in waterfalls.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

A bit closer to the Tampa Convention Center is ZooTampa at Lowry Park. It is a 13-minute drive from the facility. This zoo aims to create unforgettable connections that will motivate those who visit to help in preserving wildlife. They place an emphasis on the rescue, rehabilitation, and care of endangered or threatened animals for this reason.

The animals that guests will be able to view come from Asia, Africa, and Australia. However, there are also animals that are Native to Florida featured in this zoo, such as the Florida panther and Florida manatee. A few other animals from around the globe that are featured in ZooTampa are koalas, rhinos, African painted dogs, African penguins, pygmy hippos, elephants, tigers, and orangutans.

There are also rides at ZooTampa. Many of the rides are for younger children. However, they did recently build the Roaring Springs water ride, which is an excellent way to cool off after walking around the zoo.

Florida Aquarium

After seeing so many adorable animals at the zoo, why not learn about some aquatic life too? Come spend a few hours at the Florida Aquarium. It is only a 15-minute walk from the Tampa Convention Center.

At the Florida Aquarium, you’ll be able to see animals and marine life that live in both freshwater and saltwater. In the Wetlands Trail exhibit, you will be able to visit otters, alligators, pythons, pelicans, and more. Journey to Madagascar includes lemurs, geckos, reef fish, and a few insects. Jellyfish, stingrays, lobsters, turtles, and more can be found in Bays & Beaches.

Want to touch some sea creatures that have no backbone? Sea cucumbers, sea stars, and sea urchins are in the No Bones Zone. Continue exploring saltwater sea creatures by heading to the Coral Reef exhibit. You’ll find various sharks, stingrays, and turtles. If you guessed Dragons Down Under is where you would find seahorses, you’re correct! Watch them happily drift around in the water. Finally, in Waves of Wonder, you will see shrimp, clownfish, octopi, and jellies.

Check the aquarium’s website to see what movies they are showing in their 4D movie theater. Seeing a film in 4D is a completely immersive experience. Not only will the film be in 3D, but you’ll feel like you’re there thanks to the built-in sensory mechanics of the theater seats.

Tampa Riverwalk

After visiting the Florida Aquarium, you could actually hop right onto the Tampa Riverwalk, which is a 2.6-mile walk along the Hillsborough River with various viewpoints and attractions. The Tampa Convention Center is also located along the Tampa Riverwalk, so you won’t have to go out of your way to visit this bucket list item.

There’s a lot to see on the Riverwalk. If you start near the aquarium, you will see Riverwall by Bruce Marsh at the entrance. This collection of images of Hillsborough County is one of the most photographed pieces on the Riverwalk.

As you make your way down the walk you’ll pass through the Historical Monument Trail, which educates guests about Tampa’s history. Continue on to see some beautifully kept docks and bridges. There’s also the Native American Cenotaph, which is a ceremonial space commemorating the Native Americans that once lived in this area.

Along with an abundance of public artwork and venues lining the walk, you’ll also find Heroes Plaza, which honors veterans and police, as well as Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, Gasparilla Pirate Ship, Kennedy Boulevard Plaza, and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

Have a camera at the ready because there are so many gorgeous views to capture as you walk along the path. Additionally, don’t worry if you build up an appetite while on the Riverwalk because there are plenty of places to grab food and refreshments, such as the Sparkman Wharf, Columbia Café, and Sail Pavilion.

Henry B. Plant Museum

The Henry B. Plant Museum is a National Historic Landmark. Along with learning about the life of Henry Bradley Plant and his contributions to Tampa and Florida as a whole, this museum is meant to help guests understand more about America’s Gilded Age. The Gilded Age, a term coined by Mark Twain, refers to 1870 to 1900.

Henry B. Plant grew up in Connecticut with humble beginnings, living and working on a farm. He lost his father at a young age and was raised by his mother and grandmother. Having to help provide for his family at a young age, hard work shaped his character. At the age of 18, Plant worked for a steamboat company.

After the Civil War, Plant began purchasing bankrupt railroads, eventually making his way down to Florida. During the Gilded Age, Plant was building railroads, steamboats, and hotels and became the founder of the Plant System of railroads and steamboats.

The museum building that guests can visit was actually built in 1904, a few years after Henry B. Plant’s death. It was once a hotel. All the original decor and furniture have been left in the building. As you walk through the museum, you can listen to the audio guide to become immersed in the history.

The Henry B. Plant Museum is a must-see for history buffs or those simply interested in knowing more about how Tampa became what it is today. To take a trip back in time, walk 15 minutes across the Hillsborough River from the Tampa Convention Center.

Tampa Theatre

Just over a half mile from the Tampa Convention Center is the historic and well-loved Tampa Theatre. This ornate theater was originally built in 1926 and is now a place of world-class entertainment. It is hard to believe that a theater so beautiful once faced the threat of being demolished in the 1970s. Thanks to members and committees in the Tampa community, the theater was saved.

The theater hosts roughly 600 events annually in its one-room auditorium. Shows include live performances and concerts, classic and new films, speakers, tours, corporate events, and educational programs. If you’re in the area, check their website for current show offerings. Whether you’re seeing a show or just walking by, bring your camera to get pictures of the elaborate architecture as well.

Amalie Arena and Raymond James Stadium

If you like hockey or football, Tampa is the place to be to watch a major league game. Both arenas for hockey and football are near the Tampa Convention Center, so check on the websites of the Tampa Bay Lightning or Tampa Bay Buccaneers to see if they have a home game scheduled for when you are in Tampa.

The Amalie Arena takes six minutes to reach by foot from the Tampa Convention Center. The arena is an impressive 670,000 square feet and home to the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning. Over the years, it has undergone $62 million worth of improvements, allowing it to continue being a premier entertainment venue in Florida. Along with professional hockey games, collegiate games and concerts are also hosted at this venue.

The National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at Raymond James Stadium, which is about a 15-minute drive from the Tampa Convention Center. This stadium can seat up to 75,000 guests and is consistently rated as one of the top fields by NFL insiders. The University of South Florida’s football team also plays at this stadium. In addition to sporting events, guests can also come for the Monster Jam, wrestling, and various concerts.