Day 1 You'll See:
Day 2 You’ll See:
Day 3 You’ll See:
- Ybor City Saturday Market/Tampa Bay Farmers Market
- Westshore Plaza
Are you ready to shop till you drop?? Perfect, because we are ready to send you on an amazing 3-day Tampa Bay shopping experience! This itinerary features all the best shopping areas and complexes in the city, from major mall outlets to local village boutiques. Local specialty items such as produce and Ybor city cigars will be the most essentially 'Tampa' things to get while here, but we're sure you can manage to get a few more things along the way!
1
International Plaza and Bay Street
With over 200 stores and 16 restaurants, we guarantee each and every member of your group will find something they like here! Spend a couple hours shopping around, with everything from clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry to electronics, decor, toys, and fitness apparel available. You can shop for the finest at Tiffany & Co, or perhaps just grab some new gadgets at Brookstone. You're certainly going to work up an appetite, so save plenty of time for a good dinner. Cheesecake Factory, The Capital Grille, and Frankie's Lobstah Trap all make for great group sit down dinners, but if you are in more of a hurry grab a bite from Auntie Annes, HÄAGEN-DAZS, or Starbucks!
Florida Aquarium and Cruise
The Florida Aquarium Credit Visit Tampa Bay
During a tour of this facility, your group will see over 20,000 sea creatures, including alligators, dolphins, otters, lemurs, chameleons, stingrays, sand tiger sharks, and even cockroaches! The exhibits range from Florida’s freshwater springs to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, including such habitats as wetlands, beach, and coral reef.
After the aquarium, your group will go on a 75 minute Dolphin Quest eco boat tour on the Bay Spirit II! This cruise will give you the opportunity to watch dolphins fish, feed, play, sleep, and teach their young, all from a safe respectable distance. You will find the 72-foot Catamaran right outside the outdoor Fins Bar!
Hyde Park Village
Hyde Park Village is hands-down one of the best places to shop in the Tampa Bay area, this 'outdoor lifestyle center' providing all the finest in shopping, dining, and entertainment. Located within the charming tree-lined historic district of Hyde Park, this circa 1905 village sits right on Swann and Dakota Avenues. Shopping-wise you will find all the best in apparel, home and beauty, home goods, specialty shopping, food and entertainment, and jewelry/accessories. Some stores you will see along the way include Anthropologie, Social Status, Pottery Bar, Fig & Julep, and Kendra Scott. Did we mention there is also a 24/7 cupcake ATM??
2
Channelside Bay Plaza
The plaza is an attractive, European style brick design that features several palm trees, fountains, and umbrella-shaded tables. Much as it intends to be, Channelside Bay Plaza is the utter definition of an urban oasis. During this pleasant escape, your group will be able to check out the three main eateries (though there are many more) and one major entertainment venue, the Splitsville Luxury Bowling Alley. Splitsville features a 21 and over scene designed after a nightclub, and next door you will find Hooters, the inventive fusion eatery Flambe, and the popular Thai Thani. The plaza is also right next to the Florida Aquarium, the History Center, and Amalie Arena (go Lightning!).
Ybor City
Centro Ybor Credit Visit Tampa Bay
Shopping in Ybor City is highly unique simply due to the area's historic and cultural ties to the Cuban and Latin communities. Lining the streets you will find such shops as Metro Market, Black and Denim, and Trendsetters Apparel, as well as quite a few Cuban coffee shops, cigar shops, and eateries. You can typically find a Cuban sandwich in any of the eateries around here, some of our favorites being Tony's Ybor Restaurant, La Creperia, Due Amici, Bernini, and Hamburger Mary's.
Ybor CityGhost Tour
The Official Ybor City Ghost Tour has been rated the number one haunted tour in the U.S. by the U.S. City Traveler, Best 10 Haunted Tours by USA Today, and has been featured quite a few times on the local news. Your master tour guide will take you through the most haunted stories of Cigar City, a historic city in which workers from Cuba and Europe immigrated in large quantities. Within those workers came villains, conspirators, Buccaneers, bandits, and gangsters, making the city a troublesome place at the time, and a valued paranormal place during our time. Your group will hear the stories of the illicit lovers sealed under the Orpheum Theatre, the 8-year-old who drowned in the Cuban Club pool and hasn’t left, the King Corona shop keep apparition, and the famous story of Jose Luis Abellera Jr. and his disembodied nurse who still reside in the Don Vicente Inn!
3
Tampa Bay Farmers Market OR Ybor City Saturday Market
The Ybor City Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor market in the Tampa Bay Area. Located within the Historic District, this 18-year-old market provides locals and tourists alike with great local gourmet and specialty foods, as well as local art and specialty products. You will see such popular local vendors as Leslie's Lemonade, Regal Candy Co, Joyce the Beekeeper, BEad Different, and the Gonzalez Habano Cigar Co.
The Tampa Bay Farmer's Market, located on Fletcher's Avenue, is open daily (in case the Saturday Market didn't fall on the right day) and provides the area with the freshest fruits, veggies, flowers, potted plants, gifts, and specialty items. With 'the freshest, tastiest & most nutritious produce in the Tampa Bay Area', it's hard to pass up a visit to this market!!
Westshore Plaza
End your extravagant extended weekend at Westshore Plaza, one of the two enclosed shopping malls at the Westshore Business District. this is 'a destination for exclusive dining and shopping', a popular one due to it's proximity to the Tampa Airport and several popular attractions. There are over 100 retailers within the mall, with favorites such as Macy's, Sears, Old Navy, and LOFT. There are plenty of eating options within as well, such as Maggiano's Little Italy, Grimaldi's, or the Food Court (many more).