Tampa Convention Center – Photo Ops
Tampa is a city packed with stunning architecture, art, landmarks, and history. Being the fourth largest city in the southeastern United States, the Tampa Bay Area has many quirky places to explore and exciting events happening all over the city.
With so much to see, it’s easy to have an amazing time experiencing all that Tampa has to offer, and you’ll want to have some pictures to remember your trip. While you’re out sightseeing, why not stop by some of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Tampa?
When you visit the Tampa Convention Center, you’ll be alongside the waterfront and near the city, which means you have easy access to some remarkable places for a perfect snapshot. Below are some suggestions for where you can go to capture perfectly Instagrammable images.
Oxford Exchange
The Oxford Exchange was originally established in 1891, and over the years it has been renovated multiple times. Today, the entire establishment is a feast for the eyes. Decor has been carefully chosen throughout the restoration process. From architecture to artwork, every corner presents itself as a possible eye-catching photo opportunity.
While you’re at the Oxford Exchange, visit the restaurant area. The Oxford Exchange’s restaurant has a dining room filled with artwork hanging from the exposed century-old brickwork walls. There is also a sunlit conservatory. This area has a retractable glass roof, fountain, and plant life. Vines lining the walls giving it a unique contrast against white brick. Even the food is presented in such an extraordinary manner that you’ll want to get some snapshots before taking a bite.
The other area worth visiting is the bookstore. Displays are set up in deliberate ways that showcase the beauty of the book, which makes for an enjoyable and engaging browsing experience. From the spiraling design on the floor to the paintings, photographs, and carefully crafted book displays, it’s hard to not want to get lost looking around. Come in and get some artistic shots of the decor. Or you could get a selfie of you finding that perfect novel to read.
Whether you want to have some quality food and premium drinks or shop for a new book, it is easy to reach the Oxford Exchange from the Tampa Convention Center. From the convention center, you will only need to walk 14 minutes to get some chic photos.
Sparkman Wharf
Take an 11-minute walk over the Sparkman Wharf to enjoy the day at this outdoor waterfront. Sparkman Wharf offers various dining and drinking options, live events, shopping, games, and artwork. This destination has a little bit of everything.
With all the bright colors and fun activities taking place, this is a wonderful destination not only to relax and enjoy the Florida weather but also to take some creative pictures. Grab your camera and snap away at the murals, Instagrammable food and drinks, and landscape.
Tampa Riverwalk
The Tampa Riverwalk spans 2.6 miles along the Hillsborough River and has a bit of everything. The Tampa Convention Center is actually located along the Riverwalk. This makes it easy to stop by before or after your event at the convention center.
Other than an abundance of venues, dining options, docks, and live entertainment that happens at the Riverwalk, you’ll find quite a few pieces of public art that make for some cool photos. Murals even cover the parking garages along the Riverwalk!
Underneath the Interstate 275 overpass, visitors will find 200 linear feet of tempered glass, which is an art piece titled Andante by Heidi Lippman. Near Lippman’s artwork, Woven Waves is the next piece visitors will see walking down the Riverwalk. It is made of folded ceramic steel panels, and as you walk by, the artwork will change with your movement. So you’ll take pictures of this piece from various angles.
As you progress further along the Riverwalk, you’ll see a few other pieces of public art. This includes Cotanchobee Park, which features Ceremonial Space by Bob Haozous. The commemorative cenotaph is a tribute to the Seminole Indians. This place used to be an outpost during three Seminole Indian Wars as well as the Civil War. It is now an area of and reflection.
Continuing along the pathway, visitors can learn about more of Tampa’s history at Dick Greco Plaza. A statue of Tampa’s former mayor, Dick Greco, can be found seated on a bench. Greco played a major role in establishing the streetcar system and revitalizing the Channel District.
Depending on which side you started on, the walk will either end or begin with one of the most iconic and photographed areas of the Riverwalk, which is Riverwall by Bruce Marsh. This wall of photography is described as a quilt of images as Marsh collected photographs of Hillsborough County to use for this piece.
Make sure that as are walking along the Riverwalk you have a camera handy because there are countless photograph-worthy spots. If you are visiting at night, definitely stop at Kennedy Boulevard Plaza because the colorful lights against the Kimley-Horn create a magical view. Since the Tampa Convention Center is part of the Riverwalk, there’s no reason to pass this one up.
South Howard Avenue
Often referred to as “SoHo,” South Howard Avenue is the main nightlife area in Tampa. There are a ton of bars and eateries to check out. While the streets have some murals to photograph, many of the bars and restaurants have their own Instagrammable features.
Take, for instance, restaurants and bars like SoHo Juice Co., Sweet Soul, and Green Lemon. The SoHo Juice Co. has a wall with colorfully painted wings on it. Whether you’re getting a healthy drink, soft serve, or acai bowl, you can place your item in front of the wings for a cute Instagram-ready picture.
Like the SoHo Juice Co. wings, Sweet Soul has a banana wall painted in their store that is perfect for taking pictures in front of. Green Lemon, a Mexican restaurant and bar, has bright, colorful murals covering some of their walls and glistening star-shaped light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. There’s even a tequila payphone to take photos in front of as you drink one of their specialty cocktails.
When you finish up at the Tampa Convention Center, head over to SoHo for a great night of excellent food, drinks, and photo ops. It is about two miles from the convention center.
Murals
There is a multitude of murals around the city of Tampa. With so many to see, here are some recommendations for the most Instagram-worthy murals to visit on your excursions.
Perhaps the most iconic mural is City of Tampa by Carl Cowden III. This postcard mural was restored in 2012, so the colors look vibrant once again and are perfect for no-filter pictures. Let everyone know you wish they were there with you by getting a picture in front of this mural.
Across the street from the abovementioned mural is All for Love by Michelle Sawyer and Tony Krol. To call this collaboration “eccentric” would definitely be an understatement. The mural features two alligators, a rooster, a cheering crowd, sea grape shrub leaves, and orange blossoms. The colors of blue, coral, pink, and gray draw the eye in.
Even though this may sound like an overwhelming and odd piece, the mural actually symbolizes Florida’s history, wildlife, and communities. You can see both murals by taking an 18-minute walk from the Tampa Convention Center.
If you’re already near the City of Tampa and All for Love murals, head a few more blocks up toward Cafe Hey to find even more public artwork. On the side of Cafe Hey, visitors will find the Tampa Heights mural by the previously mentioned Michelle Sawyer. She repeats some imagery from the All for Love piece by incorporating the orange blossom. Sawyer also nods at history again by including the year 1889 as part of the backdrop in this mural.
Just around the corner from Sawyer’s Tampa Heights, you’ll find another of her murals called Birds, Birds, Birds. This area actually features a row of murals that includes Rad Cats by Cory Robinson and Bad Romance by Charles Gallagher. The location for these various murals is just over a mile from the Tampa Convention Center.
Bayshore Boulevard
If you’re willing to take an 11-minute drive from the Tampa Convention Center, you can stop at Bayshore Boulevard for some incredible views to capture. Bayshore Boulevard is right up against the Hillsborough Bay.
The sidewalk there spans 4.5 miles. You’ll find many people using this area for exercise, riding bikes, jogging, or walking their dogs. There are benches lining the length Bayshore Boulevard, so you could walk for a bit, take pictures of the bay and cityscape, and then relax while soaking up some sun.