What to see in St. Pete / Clearwater
1
Wildlife and Wild Rides
Capturing the spirit of Africa with its unique blend of amazing wildlife and thrilling rides, Busch Gardens is the ultimate family adventure park. Visit the 65-acre "Serengeti Plain" and take a 30-minute safari tour to get up close and personal with lions, giraffes, hyenas and other African species. Busch Gardens features more than 2,700 animals, live shows, restaurants, shops, games and scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs rides like "SheiKra," the first dive coaster to incorporate an Immelmann loop, a water feature and a second 90-degree 138-foot drop through an underground tunnel. Pack your nerves of steel.
2
Smoking Still Allowed
One of only three National Historic Landmark districts in the state of Florida, Tampa's Ybor City is known as the Nightlife Capital of Florida's West Coast. While strolling down the former Cigar Capital of the World's cobblestone streets, which are lined with globe streetlights and wrought iron balconies, the smell of café con leche and Cuban bread fills the air as master tabaqueros (cigar rollers) perform the ancient art of hand-rolling stogies. While in Ybor City, stop by King Corona Cigar Bar and Café, a cigar shop, social club, coffee shop-bar and barber shop, all rolled into one. From the clubbing to the dining to the shopping and the rolling, Ybor City is as caliente as it gets.
3
Sea Something New
Experience sea life like never before at The Florida Aquarium, a 152,000 square-foot facility which features more than 4,300 salt water and fresh water animals and plants. If you dare, visit "Frights of the Forest", an exhibit which focuses on the Amazon River and includes scorpions, tarantulas, poison arrow frogs, vultures, vampire bats and a pair of pythons longer than the average car. And if that's not enough, get a hands-on experience with more than 20 species of sharks and rays that'll make your spine tingle. For those who want to dive their noses into adventure, visit Dolphin Quest and go in search of the bottlenose dolphin aboard a 64-foot catamaran.
Information subject to change without notice.