Surprising Culture & Pristine Beaches: Discover Florida’s Most Underrated City This Spring
“Spring Break” means loads of various things to loads of completely different individuals, but when there’s one widespread denominator, it is actually Florida.
The Sunshine State provides guests a number of the nation’s most famed cities and coastlines, casting a big shadow over what many vacationers miss out on.
One of these cities is Tampa, a metropolis falling within the “underrated” class together with such locations as Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale.
As most Florida vacationers set their sights for that one amusement park in Orlando and reside the highfalutin way of life in Miami, one might argue that Tampa deserves a seat on the desk too.
Offering an surprising array of cultural delights, easy accessibility to a number of the most pristine seashores in America, and low-cost airfare to get right here, it is time to give Tampa its due as one among Florida’s prime cities to go to.
Tampa: A Vibrant City With Surprising Cultural
Tampa is a kind of cities the place, if you have not been right here, it is easy to mislabel. Having been, sure, I can attest to the, for example, patriotic shows, hanging excessive and unashamed on at the least 1 out of each 4 boats whizzing by alongside Tampa’s seemingly unending waterways.
But the outdated adage of “never judge a book by its cover” applies completely right here. If you had been to evaluate Tampa solely on tacky Bald Eagle-emblazoned hats and cut-off sleeve apparel, then you are going to miss out on every little thing this underrated metropolis has to supply, beginning with the surprising tradition, arts, and flavors of Ybor City.
You would possibly assume Miami’s Little Havana is the only real vacation spot for an enchanting glimpse into Cuban tradition, however Tampa’s Ybor City has one thing to say about that.
You’ll discover ample Cuban cafes to gasoline up for the day with sensational espresso choices. Conversely, after sunset, you will discover energetic nightlife with quite a few bars and golf equipment to select from, however make certain to seize a well-known Cubano sandwich someday in between.
Of course, it would not be a correct Cuban neighborhood with out cigar bars to mild up a stogie or two.
While not as cultural per se, downtown Tampa is a must-visit for a pleasant strolls and bike rides, particularly alongside the scenic Riverwalk District, which homes a number of the metropolis’s top-rated sights comparable to:
- Tampa Museum of Art
- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
- Tampa Bay History Center
Speaking of historical past, you gotta try West Tampa too — the oldest district within the metropolis, courting again to 1800’s and nonetheless sustaining robust Latin affect. Needless to say, it is best to reach hungry!
Sugary Sand & Clear Water: A Gateway To America’s Best Beaches
If you sit idly on the flip of the calendar ready to see which seaside is topped the very best to go to, you are losing your time.
I can inform you with certainty which seashores are finest as a result of yearly it appears to come back all the way down to a pair of Southwest Florida cities duking it out for the title of “America’s Best Beach”.
Those could be Clearwater and Siesta Key, every claiming to be the very best year-to-year. The trophy went to the ladder this time, at the least in line with TripAdvisor.
So meaning in 2026 it is certain to be Clearwater. Any manner you slice it, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with both.
Both provide pristine white sand, brilliant turquoise waters, and grand accommodations. However, Clearwater is way nearer to Tampa, as Siesta Key is round an hour away with out visitors.
As Spring Break attracts all kinds of crowds all through Florida, there’s one hidden gem that simply grew to become my favourite within the area that is a certain guess to keep away from rowdy faculty crowds and ugly retiree ensembles.
Don’t skip Nokomis, one other white-sand seaside city, however one which flies nicely underneath the radar.
5 extra hidden gem seashores to take a look at:
- Indian Rocks Beach
- Redington Beach
- Madeira Beach
- Fort De Soto
- Coquina Beach
Score Cheap Flights To One Of America’s Top-Rate Airports
Oftentimes it appears it’s important to fork over your entire paycheck to succeed in paradise, however not right here.
According to a brand new report, common airfare to Tampa is barely $217 round-trip, making it nearly not possible to disregard as a prime spring getaway.
Better but, Tampa International Airport (TPA) has been named one of many prime 10 airports within the nation by USA Today.
That’s not your solely choice, both. You can fly into neighboring St. Pete or a couple of different coastal cities close by,y comparable to Sarasota, Punta Gorda, and Fort Myers.
If you do fly into St. Pete, do not make the error of overpaying for an Uber or taxi. The airport’s new shuttle will take you straight to Clearwater for simply $8!
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.