"Ybor City can boast that it is home to the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Florida. The Columbia Restaurant opened in 1905 as a café serving coffee and Cuban sandwiches to local cigar workers. Today, the originalfamilycontinues to run the eatery, and while it now has a much larger menu, the Cuban sandwiches remain a favorite."

"The Riverwalk: Fun for Everyone Stretching 2.4 miles along the Garrison Channel and Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa, the Riverwalk is a paved path perfect for walking, jogging, or biking along the beautiful waterfront of Tampa. Landscaped parks and sculpture gardens provide spots to sit and enjoy the view. Children's playgrounds give the little ones a place to play. Interpretive signage and artwork explain the history and culture of Tampa. The Riverwalk connects many downtown attractions, including the Florida Aquarium at one end and the Straz Performing Arts Center on the other."

"Ybor City History: Two Ways Founded in 1885, Tampa's Ybor City became the center of cigar making in North America. At one time there were 230 cigar factories employing 12,000 cigar makers and producing 700 million cigars a year. One of only three Historic Landmark Districts in Florida, Ybor City's history is also rich with stories of immigration, organized crime, revolution, Teddy Roosevelt, and Jose Marti, the leader of Cuban Independence. Two companies provide interesting walking tours of Ybor City. Ybor Walking Tours (www.yborwalkingtours.com) gives 90-minute tours on the brick streets of La Setima Avenida (Seventh Avenue), the Broadway of Ybor. The tour explores the many layers of history that make up the fabric of Ybor City. For a slightly different take, enjoy the Ybor Ghost Tour (www.yborghosttour.com). Expert storytellers convey personal tales of the people who lived, worked, gambled, fought, and died in Ybor City. Experienced in the paranormal, the guides are always on the lookout for other "storytellers" emerging from the past."

"Read a Book, Have a Cuppa, Enjoy a Meal The Oxford Exchange is my new favorite place in Tampa. First, there are books. Not just any books, but a well curated selection of books on interesting subjects, well displayed with helpful hints from bookstore staff. The room is light-filled and comfy chairs give you a spot to peruse your selection. I can never leave without at least a couple new books to add to the pile on my bedside table. A walk down a richly decorated, wood-paneled hallway leads to a coffee and tea bar featuring local favorites Buddy Brew Coffee and Tebella Tea. There are large sofas, comfy chairs, high-top tables, and bar seating. There is always a nice vibe in the air as friends and associates chat over a cup of brew. Then there is the restaurant. Chef Erin Guggino creates fresh, simple, flavorful meals served in a high-ceilinged, high-windowed room or the adjacent atrium. The menu emphasizes seasonal, local, and organic ingredients. Currently, it is open for breakfast and lunch (regulars secretly hope they start opening for dinner). And last, but not least, are the treasures waiting to be found at the Shop at Oxford Exchange. The shop has a delightful collection of home décor pieces, vintage finds, and gifts."

"From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday morning throughout the year, a wonderful market takes over a parking lot right in downtown St. Petersburg's pretty marina district. Locals and visitors descend in droves to listen to live bands while browsing upwards of 40 stalls selling everything from artisan popsicles and made-in-Tampa cigars to farm-fresh produce, Cuban coffee, and authentic French crepes. Bring your appetite—don’t forget the hat and sunscreen, as there’s not a lot of shade here—and settle in for some fun."

"Circus magnate John Ringling and his wife, Mable, built their ostentatious winter home just south of Tampa, and today the lavish estate houses a series of galleries and gardens. Ca' d'Zan was the Ringlings' Prohibition-era, Venetian-style mansion, with ceiling frescoes and no shortage of marble; the Museum of Art includes classic Asian and European works as well as more contemporary pieces, many purchased by the Ringlings themselves. Not surprisingly, the Ringling is also home to an impressive collection of memorabilia related to American circuses, which can be viewed in the Circus Museum."

"Simply put, Bern’s is a Tampa institution and probably the one place you should plan to eat if you only have one night in town. The stark, rather dull facade of the building in the heart of South Tampa doesn’t prepare you for the warren of lavishly decorated (and mostly windowless) rooms inside, where tables are full every night from early until late. People come for the delicious steaks (all cut to order), incredible wine list (the cellar has over half a million bottles), and indescribable ambiance of a place that really has to be experienced to be understood. Make sure you request a table in the dessert room for after your meal, and you’ll be whisked off to a moody upstairs lounge where decadent ice creams and other treats are served inside capsule-like rooms meant to resemble wine barrels."

"The Dalí Museum Fans of the surrealist artist Salvador Dalí need not travel to Spain 's Costa Brava to explore an exceptional display of his work. St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum houses the private collection of Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, the largest assembly of pieces by the artist outside Europe. Among the museum’s 2,100 items by Dalí are paintings, drawings, sculptures, photos and much more, including many of the artist's most important works."

"Meet Me at Mazzarro Mazzarro Italian Market is, hands down, one of THE BEST things about living in St. Pete, FL. First, there are the smells: freshly roasted coffee, bread baking in the ovens, wheels and wheels of parmesan cheese, meatballs cooking in the kitchen, and marinating olives. Then, there are the tastes: breads of all kinds, cannoli, biscotti, cookies, cakes, and pies—all freshly made daily on the premises. There are all kinds of pasta, freshly made right there behind the glass window, plus homemade pasta sauces, a vast array of cheeses and fresh cut meats, wine, and the coffee—oh, the coffee—freshly roasted, again, right here. Then there is the spirit of the place. A rambling, colorful, busy spot, it is where we all go to rub elbows with other lovers of all things Mazzarro. We cram around the coffee bar, eating a cannoli and having a cappuccino, or we sit at one of many tables in the covered patio and eat a meatball sandwich served on a freshly made roll. Oh gosh, and how can I forget the gelato?!"

"Naples brims with beautiful beaches where dolphins frolic and the sun melts like molasses into the Gulf of Mexico. But the best one is this local, lesser-known park accessed by a long boardwalk winding through wetlands and mangroves. Pay to park your car in the on-site lot and use the park’s free golf cart shuttle service if you don’t feel like making the half-mile walk along the boardwalk from the parking lot to the beach. There’s a cute Greek restaurant at the the end of the boardwalk, overlooking the Gulf, and you can also rent kayaks and paddleboards here or toss out a fishing line in the pass itself."

"For all the beautiful beaches in Fort Myers, one of the coolest things you can do here is take the ferry to Key West. In just three-and-a-half hours (much quicker and more relaxing than driving), the double-decker catamaran carries you down the coast, delivering you almost directly to Duval Street. There’s even same-day return service in case you can’t stay overnight. On board, you’ll find a full-service bar and covered sun decks to make your ride even more enjoyable. For an additional fee, you can even bring pets and bikes along. One of the highlights of the trip comes early, when you’re pulling away from the pass in Fort Myers. As the boat picks up speed, be sure to look off the stern at the wake, where dolphins frolic and jump like something you’ve likely only seen in a marine park."