Tampa

Located on the Florida's Gulf Coast, Tampa is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan region, common referred to as the "Tampa Bay Area." The area is a popular tourism destination for "snowbirds," retirees from the Northeastern United States who maintain winter homes in the region, and families attracted to the Busch Gardens Africa amusement park and the city's closeness to Walt Disney World.

Tampa had no permanent settlers until the US Army started a fort there, named Fort Brooke, in 1824. Fort Brooke is now the site of today's Tampa Convention Center. The fort was built to protect the bay there in Tampa. http://www.tampagov.net/information_resources/tampa_history/ The area became part of the United States in 1845. Tampa's population exploded in the late 1880's once phosphates were discovered and mining and shipping industries moved to the area. The port in Tampa is now the 7th largest port in the United States, and in addition to shipping phosphates, shrimp fishing has boosted the economy here as well. http://www.tampagov.net/information_resources/tampa_history/ During the Spanish-American War, Tampa was the launch spot for soldiers on their way to Cuba. The military still plays a large part of Tampa's structure, as it is now home to MacDill Air Force Base.

A certain monkey in Tampa Bay has caused quite a storm in the media and on the internet. A new Facebook fan page, dubbed Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay, has shot this monkey (and the city of Tampa) to international stardom. A rhesus macaque has eluded the troopers of Tampa for over a year, and remains on the lose in the city. There have been sightings of the monkey all over the city/area of Tampa Bay. He (or she) has become something of a cult figure, with people following the monkey and trying to track it down for photos. http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2010/reports/mystery-monkey/

• Tampa Theatre
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Fun-Lan Drive-In
• Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
• Busch Gardens Africa
• Adventure Island
• Lowry Park Zoo
• Florida Aquarium
• Hillsborough River State Park
• Tampa Bay Downs

• Ybor City
• Gasparilla Pirate Festival
• Florida State Fair

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Tampa Bay Storm
• University of South Florida Bulls Football
• University of South Florida Bulls Basketball
• Bay Area Pelicans

If planning a trip, please see Tampa Vacation, Tampa Hotels and Tampa Restaurants.