Your Guide to Tampa Attractions, Fun
& Eats! In Tampa on business, but
looking for things to do to unwind? On a short
weekend family trip or your annual vacation?
Visitors to Tampa, Florida have a full range
of choices, including art and science museums,
amusement & theme parks, major-league sporting
events (Buccaneer Football, Devil Ray Baseball,
etc.), nature preserves and, of course, nearby
golf courses. Holiday Inn Express Hotel &
Suites is conveniently located a few miles north
of the city in a new area known as New Tampa.
With easy access to I-75, I-275 and I-4, you
can easily get to anywhere you want to be.
Major Tampa and Central Florida Attractions,
Parks, Museums, Shopping
A few miles south of the hotel is Busch Gardens
Tampa, one of the area's main attractions. The
amusement - safari park has activities for children
of all ages and offers an opportunity to view
many critters rarely found outside of their
native Africa. Roller coasters and other rides
add to the appeal, while nearby Adventure Island
offers aquatic activities to help visitors cool
off. Also near the parks is Tampa's first-rate
Museum of Science and Industry. Head to the
waterfront, where you'll find the fascinating
Florida Aquarium and a promenade where the cargo
and cruise ships dock. Ybor City is not to be
missed -- its shops and cafes still carry the
Latin flavors brought there by the Spanish and
Cubans who first made the district home.
We Got Golf!
Enjoy a great Tampa golf vacation at Holiday
Inn Express Hotel & Suites. Three golf courses
are less than five minutes away; eight less
than ten miles distant, and over two dozen are
within a 20-mile radius, many designed by the
best known golf course architects.
Florida Baseball Spring Training.. Play
Ball!
Whether you're coming to Tampa for business
or your family vacation, let us be your home
base for Florida Spring Training and Grapefruit
League Games. We're an easy drive from eight
baseball park locations used for games and practice.
Keeping It Simple
For those who want to see it all, avoid changing
hotels and the central Florida crush of tourists,
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites is only
90 minutes from Disney World and other major
west Orlando area attractions as well.
Let Us Help
For help planning your trip, take a few minutes
to browse our web site. We provide real information
about Tampa attractions, north Tampa area restaurants
and other things-to-do while staying with us.
We also provide links to all locations that
have a website, as well as a driving map link.
Your stay with us starts here!
Baseball fans are traveling to Florida Spring
Training Grapefruit League games in greater
numbers than ever before. Nowhere else can Major
League Baseball be enjoyed in small parks relatively
unspoiled by commercialism. In spring, you've
got all of the great regular reasons to visit
Florida, PLUS spring baseball! Each year in
March, baseball teams migrate to warmer areas
to prepare for the Baseball Season that begins
in April. One of baseball's most popular spring
training areas is Florida's "Grapefruit
League". The Grapefruit League includes
the Astros, Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers, Marlins,
Mets, Nationals, Phillies, Pirates, Reds, Blue
Jays, Devil Rays, Indians, Orioles, Red Sox,
Tigers, Twins, and Yankees. Generally, tickets
are available at the various stadiums.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites- Tampa
is your family fun center with some of the most
popular amusement parks and theme parks in the
world within a short drive of your Florida Vacation
hotel home. From Tampa's Busch Gardens and Adventure
Island that are a few minute's drive from the
hotel, to Cypress Gardens and all the Disney
parks from 60-90 minutes away, there's non-stop
fun everywhere.
Busch Gardens Tampa • 8.7 miles
3000 East Busch Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, (813)
987-5082
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay® is 335-acres of
family adventures. Includes an unparalleled
combination of world class animal habitats,
thrilling rides and live entertainment with
an exotic African theme. This one of a kind
park mixes the adventure and education of a
zoo with the fun and excitement of a amusement
park. Come look at the wide variety of animals
including both Florida inhabitants and animals
from all over the world and ride some of the
biggest and fastest roller coasters around.
Don't miss the NEW Sheikra dive machine!
Canoe
Escape • 10.0 miles
9335 E. Fowler Ave; Tampa, FL 33687, (813) 986-2067
Spend some quiet time enjoying the Hillsborough
River on this one of a kind canoeing adventure.
Explore the river through a 16,000-acre wilderness
park and discover the natural Florida - birds,
turtles, gators and more on a 2-hour to full-day,
down stream paddling adventure with family,
friends or business associates.
Adventure Island • 10.9 miles
10001 McKinely Drive., Tampa, FL 33612, (813)
987-5660
Adventure Islands, a Busch Gardens Water park
is 25 acres of tropical paradise featuring 18
water attractions, a championship volleyball
complex and Splash Attack, a tree house maze
overflowing with fun.The water park splashes
into the millennium with a brand new adventure
sending riders on a splashing journey filled
with drops, curves, waterfalls - and an unforeseen
visit. Adventure Island is located just across
the street form Busch Gardens. Ask about special
Bounce tickets including Busch Gardens and Adventure
Island...your best value!
Cypress Gardens • 53.7 miles
6000 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, FL.
33884, 863-324-2111
Over 200 acres of more than 8,000 varieties
of plants and flowers, including water-ski performances,
seasonal floral festivals, scenic boat rides,
birds shows, fascinating museums, and even children's
rides and games. Hours: Daily 9:30a-10p.
Disney's MGM Studios • 69.7 miles
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Spend a day in the excitement of the lights
and action of Hollywood with the comforts of
Florida. This park combines the glitz and glamour
of the movies and music with the fun and adventure
of roller coasters and rides the Disney way.
Disney's Epcot Center • 69.7 miles
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Epcot is dedicated to the ageless delight of
discovery. An exciting, fun and friendly place
for the whole family, filled with high-tech
playthings and countless delights from around
the world..Spend the day having fun and learning.
Enjoy all the hands on exhibits and ride, including
the World Showcase, a one of the kind trip around
the world by foot.
Disney's Animal Kingdom • 72.1
miles
10870 Seidel Rd, Winter Garden, FL
Magical adventures and exciting expeditions
await you at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme
Park, where storytelling magic has been unleashed
and the imagination roams free. Experience the
whimsy of the Festival of the Lion King show,
the excitement of the new Mickey's Jammin' Jungle
Parade and much, much, more! ADA accessible.
Sea World Orlando • 73.4 miles
7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando, FL 32821, (800)
327-2424
There's no place in the world like SeaWorld.
Where else can you touch dolphins, count the
teeth on a shark and go face-to-face with amazing
animals. But, if you think SeaWorld is only
fish…come ride Kraken, Orlando's only
floorless coaster. And just try to stay dry
when Shamu comes a splashing because it doesn't
get any closer than this.
Universal Studios • 77.8 miles
1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819,
(407) 363-8000
From heart-pounding excitement of Terminator
2:3D™, to Back to the Future The Ride®,
and Men in Black™ Alien Attack™,
ride the movies at the number one movie and
television-based theme park in the world! ADA
accessible. Prices: $50.88 adult, $40.28 child
(3-9)Spend a day of thrill of chills with rides
like Twister, Terminator 2 3-D, and Men in Black
Alien Attack. The kids will also enjoy A Day
In The Park With Barney and Woody Woodpeckers
Kid Zone.
Universal's
Islands of Adventure • 77.8 miles
1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819,
(407) 363-8000
Experience innovative thrills and unexpected
adventure through five distinct islands, featuring
the REAL Jurassic Park®, Marvel Super Hero
Island®, Seuss Landing™ and much moreCome
and enjoy all the fun and excitement of rides
and entertainment like you've never seen. Including,
Toon Lagoon, Marvel Superhero Island, Jurassic
Park, The Lost Continent and Seuss Landing.
This is truly Orlando's "Next Generation
of Theme Parks."
Disney's Magic Kingdom • 79.9
miles
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Come spend the day with all of Disney Characters
for a day of rides, attractions, and parades
in the 8 different parts of the park. Including,
Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland,
Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Mickey's Toontown
Fair, Tomorrowland, and the Parade Route. Popular
park attractions include: Big Thunder Mountain
Railroad, Space Mountain®, Splash Mountain®,
Haunted Mansion, Cinderella's Castle, Country
Bear Jamboree, The Hall of Presidents, Jungle
Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Swiss Family
Treehouse, & so much more.
The Tampa area boasts record numbers of sunny
days, offering ample opportunity to take advantage
of the city, county and state parks that dot
the area. From small parks with jogging trails,
to parks with lakes and rivers, boating and
canoeing, you'll find it nearby (along with
a sunny day).
Instead of exercising in our fitness center,
hop in your car and take a quick drive to one
of many parks in the area and take a brisk walk
or jog. Or, take a break with your family from
the fast food and sometimes faster vacation
pace and have a picnic under a pine tree next
to a river or lake.
Flatwoods
Park • 6.6 miles
16400 Morris Bridge Rd, Tampa, FL 33637, (813)
987-6211
Trails are a mix of paved, single track, and
double track trails near the Hillsborough River.
Avoid area if it has rained in the past 24 hours
for off road adventures. Water and restrooms
are available periodically on the 10+ miles
of paved sections and off-road trails are marked.
Head East on paved sections to reach Morris
Bridge. Head South to a wide, unshaded double
track trail along a dike, leading to Trout Creek.
Just North of the dam on the West there is access
to the Tampa Palms paved and unpaved trail network.
Bike down the hill next to the river and pass
under I-75. Tampa Palms trails meander around
neighborhoods and are mostly paved. These unpaved
trails are very short, and are for residents
and their guests only.
Lettuce
Lake Park • 7.2 miles
6920 Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33637, (813)
987-6204
Activities center around the nature center and
boardwalk leading to an observation tower on
the Hillsborough River. Bicycle and exercise
trails meander through the 240-acre park. Hours:
Daily (Sunrise - Sunset)
Wilderness
Park • 7.6 miles
12550 Morris Bridge Rd, Thonotosassa, FL 33592,
(813) 987-6200
Consists of six areas in northeast Hillsborough
County offering fishing, canoeing, hiking, bicycling,
boardwalks and picnicking. Hours: Daily - Sunrise
- Sunset
Hillsborough
River State Park • 12.7 miles
15402 N US Highway 301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592,
(813) 987-6771
This 3,950-acre park offers camping, picnicking,
canoe rentals This man-made pool has accesibility
for the handicapped. and seasonal swimming in
an ADA accessible man-made swimming pool. Nature
trails allow visitors to wander through hammocks
of live oaks, sabal palms and hickories which
border the scenic Hillsborough River. The trails
are wide, however, caution should be taken when
walking the trails due to the erosion and exposed
roots which make the surface rough.
Lake
Park • 13.0 miles
17302 Dale Mabry Hwy N, Lutz, FL 33548, (813)
264-3806
This 600-acre park consists of five lakes and
numerous pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks.
Activities include fishing, picnicking, BMX
track, radio-controlled car track, and archery
range. It is the site of the Bakas Equestrian
Center for handicapped riders. Hours: Daily
(Sunrise - Sunset)
Hit the links at any of over two dozen beautiful
Tampa golf courses within 20 miles of the new
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites. Eight
golf courses are under ten miles away, with
three less than five miles and just a few minutes
from the hotel. Hunter's Green Country Club,
Pebble Creek Golf Course and Tampa Palms Golf
& Country Club are the closest, at less
than five miles. Whether visiting for leisure
or business, you'll enjoy time you spend at
these fine Tampa golf courses and country clubs.
Hunter's
Green Country Club • 1.7 miles
18101 Longwater Run Drive, Tampa, FL 33647,
(866) 833-2663
The crown jewel of Hunter's Green Country Club
is its championship golf course designed by
Tom Fazio, one of the legendary golf course
architects of our time. Sculpted from existing
pine flatwoods and wetlands, he has applied
his remarkable imagination in creating a truly
unique picturesque and challenging course. Designed
for the pleasure and enjoyment of golfers at
any skill level, the choice of teeing areas
allows the course to be challenged from varying
distances, ranging from a length of 6,979 yards
from the tournament tees to a comfortable 5,096
yards from the front tees.
