Top Rated Attractions in Tampa/St. Petersburg

Cigar City Brewing is one of Tampa's favorite breweries. This craft brewery regularly concocts different varieties of its regular beers, ranging from IPA's to Espresso Brown Ale. The brewery also always features a good amount of special and seasonal brews. Cigar City offers tours of its 15 barrel brewery. The tasting room features all of the brewery's own beers as well as other local craft favorites. Special events also occur here, including weekly food truck nights.

Being developed by the non-profit organization, Friends of the Riverwalk, and the City of Tampa, the Tampa Riverwalk is a multi-faceted, pedestrian friendly space. From strollers and joggers, to boaters and walkers, all come together at the Tampa Riverwalk. There are special events held periodically at the Riverwalk, such as a "Riverwalk Trick or Treat" for Halloween. Also, popping up from time to time is the waterfront pop-up bar where you can enjoy a drink. You can also buy a paver to commemorate a memory or a loved one.

A hub for outdoor activities, this Tampa park offers visitors the opportunity to hike, fish, kayak, and more. The little ones can let loose on the playground structure and the picnic tables and barbecue's are perfect for a summer gathering. A nature center informs visitors on the local flora and fauna along with the extensive hiking trail information.

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park provides for a calm and serene space in a busy town. This recreation park is equipped with modern equipments like LED lighting, adjustable seating arrangement, NEOS 360 Ring featuring challenging games for kids and so forth. Also, the lighting and water supply for the park is done through reclaimed water, thereby conserving water and electricity. It also has playground, picnic area, a separate dog park and walking trail, thereby catering to the entire family. All in all, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is an ideal space to spend a lazy afternoon.

Fort DeSoto Park is comprised of over 1,100 acres (445.15 hectares) and five interconnecting islands. The park was used as a military post until 1922 and you will see the original gunnery, plus the reconstructed buildings of the era, including historical photographs and memorabilia when touring the fort. Enjoy miles of white sandy beach, fishing piers, hiking trails, canoeing, picnic areas and camping facilities. There are restaurants, snack bars and public restrooms for your convenience.

Nestled along the shores of Tampa Bay is a popular fishing and boating area over the tangled roots of mangroves. This nature lover's paradise is called the Weedon Island Preserve. Here, from the top of an observation tower, visitors can relish a great view of Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg's gorgeous skyline. Here, herons and egrets amble through lush, wooded expanses, while black crabs dart along mangrove branches that form marvelous arcs over streams. Sheltering a fishing pier, picnic tables with charcoal grills and a canoe/kayak trail, this preserve is also home to a picturesque boardwalk, ruins of an erstwhile airport and historical markers pointing out a Native American mound. Displaying a brilliant convergence of nature, culture and archaeology, the Weedon Island Preserve is a sprawling canvas of magnificence and unabashed, natural grandeur.