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Tampa

Tampa - Waterspouts and the Virgin Mary

Bad pic quality due to harsh environmentMore Photos
  • by Tombrew
  • A travel journal
  • Last Updated: February 18, 2001
Journal Usefulness Rating 6 out of 5
Journal Usefulness
7
Reviews
6
Photos

Visiting my former hometown is always a funky adventure. It's nice to know where to go to have unique experiences. The best thing to do here is eat!!!!!

Tampa - Waterspouts and the Virgin Mary

Overview

Bad pic quality due to harsh environment
Visit the cool beaches - Pass a Grille Beach in St. Pete, Fort DeSoto, and the north end of Clearwater Beach. To raise hell, go to Ybor City - here you can eat wonderful Spanish and Caribbean food, then drink and dance all night. There are also some nice galleries in the area. Walk, run, or blade on Bayshore Boulevard.

Quick Tips:

Always have an umbrella nearby from June through October. Also, drive along the Courtney Campbell Causeway toward Clearwater and you may see dolphins playing on the north side! Go Bulls!! See pics for waterspouts!

Best Way To Get Around:

Public transportation is terrible!!! Rent a car.The best walking area is Hyde Park near downtown - lots of bistros, galleries, and shopping.

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Holiday Inn Express Suites Rocky Point

Hotel

Holiday Inn Express

This is a fantastic place to stay! It is surrounded by the waters of the Bay, there is a tremendous walking trail right along the bay for miles along the Causeway, and it is five minutes from the airport. Not far from Ybor City or Clearwater. There are some cool drinking spots within walking distance, and water skiing on site.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on January 15, 2001

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Holiday Inn Express Suites Rocky Point
3025 N ROCKY POINT DR Tampa, Florida 33607
813-287-8585

Skipper's Smokehouse

Restaurant

Do not wear a tie

Skipper's Smokehouse

This is a wonderful spot, somewhere worth the 400 mile trip! Awesome grouper sandwiches, oysters, gator tail, etc. A very laid back and cool crowd, some college students. They have an stage out back where you listen to blues and reggae bands and dance in the sand under the stars. Pretty darn good bands play here, too.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on January 15, 2001

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Skipper's Smokehouse
910 Skipper Road Tampa, Florida 33613
+1 813 971 0666

Cephas's

Restaurant

We all love you Cephas!!!!!!!!

Cephas's

This is the best Jamaican food outside Jamaica. And meeting Cephas Gilbert is a wonderful experience. He is one of the greatest people I have ever met. I wish I could explain this place. It is the dream of one great man who built it with his hands, every bit. For years, he alone cooked all of the food, served it, washed the dishes, and filled your ears with his wonderful philosophy. Just order fish, chicken, or goat. He will do the rest. This place wasn't airconditioned last time I was there a few years back. You must see this place if you are a true soul of this earth.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on January 15, 2001

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Cephas's
17 St. Ybor City Tampa, Florida

Lincoln Spanish Restaurant

Restaurant

Lincoln Restaraunt

This is a down to earth, REAL Cuban restaurant in the real Cuban district of Tampa - not Ybor City, but West Tampa. The prices are very low, and the food quality and variety very high. You will find the usual suspects, such as Boliche, Arroz con Pollo, etc. but there are some really unique seafood dishes. I really love the Trout a la Russa (Russian Trout) which is sauteed sea trout with lots of herbs and crumbles on top, as well as crumbled egg. This is yummy. The ubiquitous frijoles negros and arroz amarillo are excellent, and of course the flan is great. This place is very close to the football stadium, on Columbus near Hines. This is about a mile north of the interstate. Go north on Hines to Columbus and turn right - the Lincoln is on a corner about two blocks east of Hines.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on February 18, 2001

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Lincoln Spanish Restaurant
3247 West Columbus Drive Tampa, Florida 33607
+1 813 354 8335

Virgin Mary on a building

Activity

It is beautiful, don't you think?

The Virgin Mary on a building

A few years back, an office building was built from reflective glass. A sprinkler system was installed. The sulfurized water hit the glass, and lo and behold, Mary appeared. Now the building is closed down, except for the Society of Mary. The pilgrims were so plentiful, no businesses could operate. I am including a pic - you make your own decision on this. To get there, take Highway 60 (Courtney Campbell) to Clearwater to Highway 19. Go right, North, a short distance and you will see Drew St. Go a little further, and hang a right into the parking lot at the 3 story building.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Tombrew on January 15, 2001

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Virgin Mary on a building
Drew and Highway 19 Tampa, Florida

Salvador Dali Museum

Activity

A Must See, right by the harbor on the Bay.

Dali Museum

This is the largest collection of Dali's art in the world. His huge religious masterpieces are all here. The collection starts in his early life and progresses on. I am speechless after I visit, and I have been here at least 7-8 times. You can stand in front of the Hallucinogenic Toreador for hours and you keep seeing new things. If you love Dali, no matter where you live in the world, you must visit. From Tampa, take 275 into St. Pete, cut into town on 375, head south towards USF and follow the signs.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Tombrew on January 15, 2001

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Salvador Dali Museum
1000 3rd St N Tampa, Florida 33701
(727) 823-3767

Florida Aquarium

Activity

A beautiful modern structure

Tampa Aquarium

This is a fairly new spot, a gorgeous facility built in the formerly seedy Banana Docks section. It is a little pricy, especially the parking. But inside is a very cool representation of the ecology of Florida - including a coral reef. The plant life, birds, reptiles, and fish sections are all fascinating. You can spend about three good hours here.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Tombrew on January 15, 2001

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Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Dr Tampa, Florida 33602
(813) 273-4000

About the Writer

Tombrew
Tombrew
Marina del Rey, United States

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