What’s Great About Tampa? A lot!

Planning to come early or stay in Tampa after Dealmakers? Let us help you plan some must-see places to visit.

In the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Tampa is a city that embraces its history, celebrates culture and exudes a unique charm that captures the essence of the Sunshine State.

The city is also known as “The Big Guava.” Why? The moniker derives from a combination of New York’s “Big Apple” nickname and a reference to businessman Gavino Gutierrez, a Spanish-American civil engineer who was working for a tropical fruit packing firm in New York. He heard a rumor that wild guava trees were common near Tampa Bay and went on a fact-finding mission, but the rumor turned out to be false: infrequent freezes usually prevent cold-sensitive guava trees from growing to maturity in central Florida.

Vicente Martinez-Ybor, a major cigar manufacturer in Key West, had been looking for a place to move his operations. His old friend Gutierrez recommended Tampa as a possibility. See below for what happened next.

Things to do while you’re here:

Historic Ybor City was founded in the 1880s. Charm echoes through the brick-lined streets of this National Historic Landmark, where cigar factories have been repurposed as boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Be sure to try an authentic cubano, which was likely first served in cafes in Tampa and Key West. The Tampa Tribune first mentioned the sandwich in 1906.

Squeezing in a game? There’s the Raymond James Stadium, home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Amalie Arena, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning (hockey). Baseball lovers flock to Tropicana Field to cheer on the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Tampa Museum of Art showcases an impressive collection of modern and contemporary artworks. If photography is more your thing, consider the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. And, if you have extra time, the world-famous Dalí Museum is about 25 miles away in St. Petersburg.

If you like walking or jogging, then Bayshore Boulevard is a must-visit landmark. The boulevard is 4.5 miles long—residents believe it’s the longest sidewalk in the world. Along the way, you can marvel at remarkable mansions and eye-catching palatial homes.

The Florida Aquarium is a captivating aquatic wonderland. Its immersive exhibits showcase diverse marine ecosystems, from the Wetlands Trail to the Coral Reef Gallery. The Lowry Park Zoo showcases animals from around the world in naturalistic habitats.