You want Florida, you want it all, and you only want to unpack once. No problem. You want Tampa Bay. Here a single day's itinerary might include breakfast at a waterside cafe, a round of golf at Westchase, a streetcar ride to Channelside for shopping, and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Devil Rays, or Lightning game. What next? White, sugar sand beaches, sport fishing, jet skiing, parasailing, boating... and, oh yes, the most succulent seafood under the sun.

Tampa Bay is a vibrant waterfront area on Florida's beautiful West Coast and offers a unique blend of urban excitement set in a natural surrounding. Roar down roller coasters in the morning; row down the nature rich Hillsborough River in the afternoon; catch a ballgame from the bleachers; catch some rays on the nearby beaches. This central Florida location offers easy access to the rest of the state, but you're bound to stay for all the excitement Tampa Bay has to offer.

While originally the name of a body of water on the west coast of Florida, Tampa Bay has now come to represent the region made up of the many distinct communities connected by the Bay waters. The New York Times says, "Now, in fact, if not law, it's one big metropolitan area, laced together with bridges and freeways - everyone calls it Tampa Bay, and it is a prototypical example of the Sun Belt's explosive growth." Tampa Bay is not only the most populous and affluent metropolitan statistical area in Florida, but it is also the largest television market in the state.

From the distinct Latin roots of Tampa's historic Ybor (E-bore) City to the Greek history of Tarpon Springs and from the thrills of Busch Gardens to the culture of our museums, visitors have plenty of genuine, exciting attractions and communities to explore.