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The New York Times celebrates all the best things to do in Tampa

Hillsborough river with a tall cylindrical building in the background
A view of downtown Tampa from the award-winning Riverwalk | Photo by Andrew Harlan

Hidden Tampa: The Best of an Often-Overlooked Florida City is the headline for a new story in The New York Times. Journalist Dave Seminara celebrates all the best things to do in our fine city of Tampa. So, what caught the reporter’s attention in our sprawling, and growing city?

Firstly, the food. “I discovered Racquet Heads, a wonderful little tennis shop hidden underneath a highway overpass.” wrote Seminara. “Then I became addicted to the kebabs and lahmacun (Turkish pizza) at Istanbul Mediterranean Grill & Restaurant near the Busch Gardens theme park, and the irresistible tamales at Lolis Mexican Cravings, an excellent fast-food Mexican restaurant with five locations in Tampa.” The journalist also takes care to celebrate TPA, our fabulous airport.

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Also, if you’re in Tampa right now you need to ride Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens.

What to do in the city of Tampa

Zillow, the real estate website, recently forecast that Tampa will be the hottest housing market in the country this year, and Forbes named Tampa the number one emerging tech city in the nation last summer. 

The article goes on to detail the emergence of Tampa. Glazer’s Children’s Museum, The Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa Museum of Art, The Henry B Plant Museum and more cultural icons make the journalist’s list of things to see.

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They also mention  Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple’s Sunday Market. La Segunda Bakery, and West Tampa Sandwich Shop also garnered recognition in the article.

You can read the full story online.

Looking for something to do a bit outside Tampa? Try the new indoor nerf arena in Lakeland. We also recommend you explore our favorite breweries in the city of Tampa. Looking for a place to stay? Our friends at I Love the Burg put together a Beach Hotel Guide.

PS Tampa is a city of Brunch Lovers, and we have a full guide to the best brunch spots in the city.

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