06 June . 2016
Cool Things to Do in Tampa Bay
One of the best parts of living in Waterset is the community’s proximity to Tampa. The city offers an outstanding assortment of museums, theater performances and festivals all year long. Here are some of our favorites. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Lowry Park Zoo – Recognized as one of the country’s most family friendly zoos, Lowry Park Zoo boasts more than 1,200 animals that roam in a lush, tropical garden backdrop among 56 acres. Since the zoo emphasizes endangered, threatened and vulnerable species from climates similar to Tampa Bay, you’ll find animals such as the Florida Panther, Queensland Koala, Bornean Orangutan, and Malayan Tiger. There are also park areas devoted to Asia, Africa, Australia and Florida.
Teaching about conservation is also a priority at Lowry Park Zoo. Be sure to visit the Manatee Hospital, the only nonprofit critical care unit of its kind in Florida, and the Manatee & Aquatics Center, where you see the manatees that zoo staff are caring for before turning to their natural habitat when fully recovered.
For more information visit ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Straz Center for the Performing Arts – Theater lovers won’t want to miss a night out at the Straz! Each year, the center brings its Broadway series with top musicals such as Once, Book of Mormon, Into the Woods and Wicked, along with a host of other plays, concerts and events. Opera fans will enjoy the yearly Florida Opera Festival featuring some of the best and brightest young talent, or a performance by Opera Tampa, which highlights several operas each season.
Located in on the banks of the Hillsborough River, The Straz is also home to the Patel Conservatory, which offers a full time curriculum of classes for students studying dance, theater or music, as well as summer arts camps.
For more information visit www.StrazCenter.org
Tampa Museum of Art – Another downtown Tampa can’t-miss location, the Tampa Museum of Art anchors Curtis Hixon Park, along with the Glazer Children’s Museum. The museum offers exhibits of modern and contemporary art, with a permanent collection of more than 500 ancient artworks and artifacts, as well as rotating and traveling exhibitions as well.
Enjoy an al fresco meal at the museum’s Sono Café, as you as you take in the river view and the iconic minarets at the University of Tampa, then head inside to take in the galleries. The Tampa Museum of Art also features several lectures and classes throughout the year.
For more information visit www.TampaMuseum.org
Riverwalk – The Riverwalk is the centerpiece of downtown Tampa, accentuating one of the city’s greatest assets – the Hillsborough River. A key element in the city’s revitalization efforts of the downtown area, The Riverwalk is a continuous pathway that extends from the Channelside area to Tampa Heights along the river. It links five museums (including the Tampa Museum of Art), seven parks, hotels, restaurants and other outdoor spaces.
The Riverwalk is popular location with walkers, bikers and joggers of all ages, and is also the backdrop to many events and festivals throughout the year.
For more information visit www.TheTampaRiverwalk.com
Tampa Theatre – One of the city’s greatest jewels, Tampa Theatre is a one of the most opulent movie houses that still remain in America. Once they enter the theatre, visitors feel like they’ve visited a Mediterranean courtyard, with a realistic night sky filled with twinkling stars.
Tampa Theatre offers a wide range of independent movies, concerts and programs throughout the year. Don’t miss the Holiday Classics series, which shows movies such as It’s a Wonderful Life, The Bells of Saint Mary and Home Alone. To start off the celebrations, join in the sing-along of holiday carols played on the restored Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, which is also played before each movie.
For more information visit www.TampaTheatre.org