Tampa in United States of America
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History
History
The Tampa Bay area was visited by many Spanish explorers, beginning with Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528. However, no long term permanent settlements were created until 1824 when the US federal government created a reservation for north Florida Seminole Indians. At the same time, the US created Fort Brooke to oversee the reservation as well as protect the strategic harbor.
The 1880s saw the town's first population boom. In 1883, phosphate was discovered in the area, spurring the development of the mining and shipping industries in the area. Shortly after, Henry B. Plant completed work on his railroad linking Tampa to Jacksonville. He began promoting Tampa as a holiday spot and built the grand Plant Hotel as a luxury resort destination. In 1886, Jose Martinez Ybor opened Tampa's first cigar factory in Ybor City which encouraged the immigration of many Italian and Cuban factory workers.
During the Spanish American War at the turn of the century, Tampa was the main port of departure for troops heading for Cuba. During this time, the Plant Hotel was converted into officer's accommodations, housing the Rough Riders and Teddy Roosevelt.
In more recent times, MacDill Air Force Base was created in 1939 and the University of South Florida in 1956. Over the course of the Twentieth Century, Tampa has grown into the center of a large metropolitan area; it now hosts the regional headquarters of many international companies, has acquired numerous professional sports teams, and has even bid for the summer Olympics.
Warnings
Avoid Downtown after dark, when most of the office workers who populate it during the day are gone. Also be aware while in Suitcase City, the part of town surrounding Busch Gardens, USF and University Square Mall.
Getting there
By plane
Tampa International Airport () (), http://tampaairport.com, located near the waters of Tampa Bay along I-275. Saint Petersburg Airport ()http://fly2pie.com is an alternative only fifteen miles away, generally serving smaller routes and discount airlines. A bit further away is Sarasota International http://www.srq-airport.com, offering proximity to beautiful Gulf beaches to the south of Tampa.By train
Tampa's Amtrak station is located at 601 Nebraska Avenue in downtown Tampa. The Silver Service and Palmetto trains run daily from New York City or Miami to Tampa. The train journey through Florida offers great views, but be aware that the schedules are often more of a suggestion than a reality.
By car
Tampa is easily accessible via the major interstate highways, I-75 from north and south, and I-4 from the east. From either highway, exit onto I-275 to reach Tampa. However, be prepared for frequent traffic jams particularly when it rains; nearly all of Downtown and the airport area are under constant and complete construction. Also be ready to deal with terrible drivers, as this is the retirement state.
By bus
Tampa's Greyhound station is at 610 Polk Street in downtown Tampa.
By boat
Cruise ships from five cruise lines operate from Tampa, mostly to Caribbean islands and Mexico. The Tampa cruise terminal is on the Ybor channel downtown.
Getting around
HART is Tampa's local bus service http://www.hartline.org/ which runs various routes around the region. Tampa is, however, primarily a driving city and you will find that transportation will be much easier if you have access to a car.
By Car
Car rentals are the most convenient for of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.Car Rental Companies include: * Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-462-5266, http://www.alamo.com/. * Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-331-1212, http://www.avis.com/. * Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-527-0700, http://www.budget.com. * Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-800-3665, http://www.dollar.com/. * E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-277-5171, http://www.e-zrentacar.com. * Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-261-7331, http://www.enterprise.com. * Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: 1-800-654-3131, [http://www.hertz.com. * Thrifty, Toll free: 1-800-847-4389, http://www.thrifty.com.
The main freeways in Tampa are Interstate 275, Interstate 4, the Veterans Expressway (toll FL 589), and the Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (toll FL 618). Some of the main east-west roads through town are Kennedy Boulevard (SR 60), Gandy Boulevard (SR 694), Hillsborough Avenue (US 92) and Fowler Avenue (SR 582), while some of the north-south roads are Dale Mabry Highway (US 92) and Florida/Nebraska Avenue (US 41). Traffic is especially bad during the rush hours: from about 7:30 to 9:30 AM and 3:30PM to 7:30PM. During these times, try especially to avoid the notorious Malfunction Junction, the junction in downtown of I-275 and I-4. Driving in Tampa can be a bit daunting for those unfamiliar with the area, but with some city driving experience and a good navigator in the passenger seat, driving is probably the easiest way to get around Tampa.
===Streetcar/ Trolley=== Tampa also has the TECO Line Streetcar http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/ that runs from downtown to Ybor City. The line is useful for tourists and convention goers. Currently, the line runs from the convention center/ Embassy Suites, past the St. Pete TIMes Forum (concerts, NHL Lightening hockey, and other events), by Channelside and the Florida Aquarium, and to Ybor City. There is an expansion which will go to Whiting Street in the heart of Downtown, which will make the trolley useful for the Tampa Museum of Art and other Downtown sites.
