Tampa, the third largest city in Florida, is such a dynamic city with so many activities that it's hard to imagine the sleepy little fishing town is once was. Cuban immigrants founded Ybor City in the 1880s, and by the early 1900s, this historic city was considered the cigar capital of the world. The old cigar factories and beautiful cobblestone streets remain, but today it's home to the bay area's hottest nightlife. On the many sun-drenched days, visitors have a choice of bustling waterfront activities, world-class golf, renowned museums and aquariums, riveting sports at several family-oriented arenas, and exhilarating theme parks. The most famous of these is Busch Gardens-Tampa Bay, where you can practically feel the breath of wild animals on the monorail safari through the "African Plains."

Nearby St Pete (as the locals call it) is an island connected to the mainland by two bridges and a causeway, and though it's several miles long, it's only four city blocks wide - so you're always near the beach. Clearwater, in turn, is a sprawling extension to St Petersburg and has some of the best beaches on the Suncoast. So whether you want the tranquillity of a Gulf beach or nonstop city fun, you'll find it in Tampa/St Pete!