A trip to Tampa is like no other place in the world, primarily because it is one of the southern cities that provides down home charm with the sophistication of city living. A family day spent in Tampa is nothing less than spectacular. There is so much to see and do, it is a city that caters to families and children of all ages.

Upon arriving in Tampa, the teenagers and I were a bit worn out from the flight, however the efficiency and promptness of the employees at Tampa International Airport assisted in getting us out of the Airport in record time. Since it was an early morning flight, Tarah and Brandon were excited to begin their vacation immediately. Therefore, after renting a vehicle at the Airport, we proceeded to drop our luggage off at the Embassy Suites Hotel, located  near East Fowler Road in the suburb of Tampa. While on the plane, we had mapped out the places that the teens were interested in visiting on their first day, so once the luggage had been situated and we had freshened-up, we proceeded to begin our day.

Our first stop,  Busch Gardens, was a stone's throw away from the Hotel. Busch Gardens is located off East Fowler Road, in Tampa,  near the Wingate Hotel, Embassy Suites, Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida. We wanted to get there before the park became too crowded and the weather turned sweltering hot. 

After we paid our fares to enter the Theme Park, we decided to have a healthy Breakfast at the Zagora Cafe', a beautifully decorated eatery that offers a view to the Gardens. We especially enjoyed the menu because they were able to cater to our varying dietary needs, such as food allergies and vegan meals. The prices were also quite reasonable.

We took a moment to digest our Breakfast, and then we ventured to some of the roller coaster rides on the grounds. We experienced  close up adventures with the animals that roamed freely within the confines of the Park. The Teens were enamored by the varying species of animals and the rides that offered maximum dare devil potential. I ventured on one or two of the rides, and decided that my sightseeing skills were best served on solid ground. Tarah and Brandon had a blast collecting souvenirs and tee-shirts bearing the Theme Park's logo. They felt certain that all the cool items they had attained would  serve as ice-breakers when they started school in the Fall.

By mid-afternoon we had experienced our fill of the Park, while managing to beat the mad rush and frenzy of other vacationing tourists. I was suddenly reminded by my chiming cell phone that I had to meet a Real Estate Broker in St. Petersburg within an hour. I was interested in finding out the cost of an average home in the St. Petersburg area. So, we hopped into the car and began driving towards the St. Petersburgh/Clearwater area. We crossed over the Clearwater Bridge where we marvelled at the emerald, and pristine beaches. We also viewed the Boaters sailing back and forth on the ocean. It made us long for a nice, beach day.

My time with the Real Estate Broker was very brief because the property he showed us did not have enough yard space. We thanked him and decided to make a stop at the Pier in St. Petersburg.  At the St. Petersburg Pier, there is so much to see and do, for the teenagers it was enough for them to marvel at the shops and galleries there. My purpose for going to the Pier was to purchase mountain bikes, since we were planning on visiting for the entire Summer Season. 

Once we had obtained the bikes, it was time to test them out on the bike path, where we could view the ships that were docked at the pier and have cool refreshments at the Waterford Bar & Grill. Tarah and Brandon were too excited about their bike purchases to enjoy the variety of non-alcoholic, tropical beverages. After a couple of drinks and a few fruit cups, we began our journey back to Tampa so that the teenagers could exlplore with their bikes.

They insisted I take them to Lettuce Park, which is an oasis hidden in the middle of Tampa. There are several bike trails there, playgrounds and jogging paths. There were other teenagers  playing frisbee, listening to music , or just riding their bikes to become familiar with the trails. The park  has a Nature Center that offers a wealth of information about the various species of fauna that could be found on the property. Although,  I was not able to keep up with my energetic teens, I enjoyed the tranquility and youthful energy of the Park. Tagging along  slowly allowed me to maintain a good distance while ensuring their safety.

At the end of the evening, everyone had experienced a good day and looked forward to unwinding with dinner in a ta trendy restaurant in Ybor City and a good movie. The Dare Devils were up until the wee hours of the morning plotting the next day's adventure at the Florida Aquarium.  In the Channel District, they would no longer be surrounded by suburbanites, therefore, they were looking forward to experiencing life in the Big City of Tampa. I'd say, our time in Tampa was best described as "La Vida Loca".

Tags: The Other Side of Florida: Exploring Tampa with Teenagers