Tampa!

Desperately in need of some sun and warm weather, we decided to take a weekend in Tampa to see some sights and a Yankees Spring Training Game. The weather was perfect- warm and sunny!

We stayed at the Westin Harbour Island . Great hotel that was recently remodeled. We had no complaints. They have a really nice pool, and a daily happy hour. Don't miss Mojito Night on Fridays- the best I've had!


Our first day, we went to the Lowry Park Zoo . This definitely may have been one of my favorite zoos- the animals were all in huge enclosures, and it seemed like we could get really close. Not to mention the fact that it had 2/3 of my Favorite Animal Trifecta (meerkats, penguins, but no pandas). And I got to feed a giraffe graham crackers which was really funny!

That night, we had dinner at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. "Wow" is all I can say. Try the chicken and crab croquettes for an appetizer and the bread is soooo yummy. And of course the Sangria. Sangria can never be wrong. After that, we were off to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino . Really great atmosphere, but we were a little disappointed with the gambling. This might make us sound old, but we were hoping for more penny and nickel slots. And no Jackpot Party?!? What kind of place doesn't have Jackpot Party?!? But we enjoyed meeting up with family and seeing the place. And Stuart liked the waitresses who all apparently forgot to wear their pants that day.

The next morning, we were up early for a tour of the Big Cat Rescue , an amazing sanctuary for all kinds of lions and tigers and....bobcats. We left there with such an appreciation for the beauty of these animals and a sad realization that there are so many people out there who just don't get it. Many of the cats came from people who tried to keep them as pets, and failed miserably. But the rescue does a fabulous job of keeping them healthy, safe, and apparently happy. We couldn't believe how close we were able to get to the cats!




Our lunch break was a trip to Sonic. Which deserves a mention here as the Greatest Fast Food Ever.


Then we hit the Florida Aquarium . It was great, but the highlight was the Penguin Promenade. They bring 2 African Penguins out to walk on the red carpet. And one of the aquarium staff carried a penguin through the crowd for some close up pictures. We also attended a fun session on Otterology, where the staff showed off the learning skills of the adorable river otter.





That night, we had dinner at Jackson's Bistro . We weren't all that impressed with the menu, which seemed a bit sparse (they did have an extensive sushi menu, however. But we weren't really feeling the sushi). Turned out that our meals were excellent. We both ate chicken dishes and cleared our plates. Stuart especially loved the bread.


The next day was a trip to Clearwater Beach, where we got some much needed time in the sun. It was perfect beach weather. As the day passed, the beach got kind of crowded with quite a few spring breakers.





Dinner was a trip to the Channelside area . This is a newish entertainment complex, and we really liked walking around, checking the place out. Try a sangria at the outdoor bar at Tinatapas . Or a few sangrias- they were THAT yummy. Stuart discovered Land Shark beer! After drinks we had dinner at a hilarious restaurant, Stump's Supper Club. It was a southern-style restaurant with a trailer trash vibe! (*This is not meant to offend anyone who lives in a trailer*) On the drink menu, they have Mad Dog and canned beer served in paper bags!! Stuart ate the ribs and I had the shrimp, which were both excellent. And the service was...well....NASCAR quick.


Our final day in Tampa was spent at Legends Field for the Yankees home opener against the Phillies. The whole spring training atmosphere was so much fun, especially in such a small stadium. Stuart got some autographs, but none of the big name players were around. Here is a tip for the seats: if you want to sit in the sun for an afternoon game, make sure to get seats in the lower deck of left field or the far right field. We were in the shade. That ended up being OK, because we sat right in front of George Steinbrenner's box. He is really old.









So, that was our much needed winter trip. Thanks for reading! In case you are interested in looking at the rest of our pictures, check out this link.







PS- We must add one final tip. When traveling in Tampa, make sure to have a pocketful of quarters. No, not to throw at the old people. There are toll booths, some of which were unmanned, and there are no signs to tell you that. That's all we will say so as not to incriminate ourselves, but trust us.