Tampa & St. Petersburg

Florida's West Coast at Tampa Bay is the more relaxed, authentic counterpart to Miami. Tampa is an up-and-coming metropolis with a lively craft beer scene and the historic Ybor City, once America's cigar capital. Just across the bay lies St. Petersburg (short: St. Pete) with one of Florida's best art scenes and supposedly the sunniest climate in the USA — 361 sunny days a year according to the Guinness Book.

Tampa

Ybor City, founded in 1885 by Cuban cigar workers, is now a National Historic Landmark District with brick factories converted into bars, restaurants, and galleries. The Columbia Restaurant (since 1905, Florida's oldest restaurant) serves legendary Cuban and Spanish cuisine — the 1905 Salad and the Cuban Sandwich are a must. On Saturday nights, 7th Avenue transforms into a lively party mile.

The Busch Gardens Tampa Bay combines a theme park with African wildlife — the roller coasters (especially SheiKra, a dive coaster with a 90° drop, and Iron Gwazi, the fastest hybrid roller coaster in the world) are among the best in Florida.

The Florida Aquarium in the harbor district is excellent — especially the outdoor "Wetlands Trail" and the swimming courses with penguins (yes, really).

St. Petersburg

The city has transformed from a sleepy retirement village into an art metropolis. The Salvador Dalí Museum houses the largest Dalí collection outside Europe in a spectacular building with a geodesic glass dome. Also, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Imagine Museum (glass art), and over 50 murals in the Murals District.

The beaches west of St. Pete — St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, and Treasure Island — are regularly voted among the best beaches in the USA. Soft, white quartz sand, warm Gulf water, and spectacular sunsets.