The Tampa Riverwalk is an approximately 2.5-mile-long paved scenic trail that runs along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa. Anchored by Armature Works to the north and the Tampa Bay History Center to the south, the Riverwalk affords easy access to the Water Street Tampa and Channel districts, and Sparkman Wharf. Recent visitors were impressed by how well-maintained and clean the trail is, and noted that it's an ideal place to stretch your legs and get some exercise.

Visitors can walk, bike, rollerblade and access any number of restaurants, stores, parks and playgrounds, bike rental shops and top attractions, such as The Florida Aquarium and the Glazer Children's Museum, along the route. There is a Riverwalk attraction pass that lets you visit several riverside museums for one fee. A free, self-guided walking tour highlights the public art along the Riverwalk.

The Armature Works Heights Public Market – a 22,000-square-foot industrial market – is Tampa's go-to spot for foodies and architecture fans. The 1910 building was formerly the storage and maintenance facility for Tampa Electric's streetcars, contributing to the urban feel it embodies today

The largest park within the Pinellas County Park System, Fort De Soto park consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands (keys). These keys are home to beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods and scores of native plants. Each of these species plays a vital role in the preservation and protection of the natural environment.

Fort De Soto was named America’s Top Beach for 2009 by Tripadvisor, the world’s largest online travel community. In 2005, “Dr. Beach” named Fort De Soto the nation’s No. 1 Beach.

Pronounced ee-bore, this northeast enclave of Tampa was once a hotbed for hand-rolled cigars – at the turn of the 20th century factory workers rolled millions of cigars annually, making Tampa the "Cigar Capital of the World." Now, it's a mash of old and new; the lively bars and pubs represent the modern city; the brick streets and historic streetcar serve as a tribute to the neighborhood's past. A tour of J.C. Newman Cigar Company provides a peek into the only remaining cigar factory in Ybor City, appealing to both cigars smokers and nonsmokers.

Outdoorsy visitors and locals alike flock to Hillsborough River State Park, which sits about 20 miles northeast of downtown Tampa. Offering Class II rapids (a rarity in Florida), camping, four nature trails totaling more than 7 miles, beautiful scenery, wildlife viewing and historic sites, the park has a recreation opportunity for everyone.