My Life in Tampa Minus the School Part

I’m originally from the Boston area which means that besides going on vacations with family, for the most part, I wasn’t used to the Florida lifestyle. Now 4 years into living in Tampa, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got the hang of it. Of course, school is the first priority, but there’s nothing wrong with kicking back and relaxing on the beach on the weekends. I want to share my favorite spots and activities I’ve done over the years while living in Tampa.

For all those who have yet to have gotten the chance to explore the Tampa area outside of the school, this is your insider’s guide! Below I have created a list of, debatably, my top 8 favorite activities and places to go in Tampa. I give to you, the complete insider’s guide to doing Tampa, minus the school part!

Renting boats or jet skis - One of the best days I’ve had in Tampa thus far was when my friends and I rented a boat for the day. A few of us had boating licenses which were given to us when we rented jet skis a few months before, therefore, we were eligible to rent the boat and were given instructions as to how to operate it before floating away into the ocean. Somehow, some way, we were able to rent the boat despite the minimum rental age being 25. Don’t ask. You can take the boats out wherever you want as long as you have them back by the required time which is usually 8 hours or so after you pick it up.

Busch Gardens - Every year around Halloween my friends and I go to Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream event. Busch Gardens is an amusement park located on N McKinley Dr in Tampa, about 20 minutes from the University of Tampa. If you like roller coasters Busch Gardens is the perfect place to spend your day. Around halloween they set up haunted houses around the amusement park and have people walking through the park scaring you. It’s super fun and on top of that you can ride all of the rides. Prices for Howl-O-Scream and the rides are around $60 and on a normal day including the Howl-O-Scream event, it is around $30.

Whiskey Joes is a classic spot to hit when you’re living in Tampa and I’m sure most have heard of it. It’s a tiki restaurant and bar on the water about 15 minutes from the University of Tampa. On weekends they have live music and it’s typically packed with people who park their boats on the water.

Clearwater Beach is one of my favorite beaches in the area. It’s about a 30 minute drive from the University of Tampa and has sandy white beaches and beautiful blue waters. On certain parts of the beach they offer water activities available for rent, however, I typically just go there to soak up the sun. Clearwater is very fun and has a lot of cute shops along the beach too so it’s also nice to just go there to hangout and get lunch for a day.

Davis Islands is one of my favorite places to go and relax. When I go for runs I tend to run around Davis Islands. For starters I like running along the water because it is just beautiful. However, when I’m at Davis Islands I tend to find myself jogging through the streets simply admiring the beautiful homes that surround me. Davis also has a smaller beach that a lot of students go to and hang out at or tan at throughout the week. It’s super close to the school and is only about 10 minutes away by driving.

Ybor is one crazy area. Known for their nightlife, Ybor is always popping with the best bars, music, and activities throughout the week. I typically go to Ybor once a week because on Thursdays, they have “college night” which means great deals on drinks. Even if you’re not 21 yet, Ybor is a great spot to just hang out at. You’ll be sure to find a lot of cool restaurants and places to go to just by walking through their famous 7th Avenue. Ybor is known as a historical district and is quite pretty and entertaining.

Topgolf is another hotspot in Tampa. It is a game that anyone can play whether you are good at golfing or not. You score points by hitting microchipped golf balls at giant dartboard-like targets on an outfield. The closer you get your ball to the centre or 'bullseye' and the further the distance, the more points earned. Topgolf is a super fun place to go to with your friends to hang out, order food and drinks, and place a few games of golf. The music is always bumping and the place is always packed so it makes for a super fun evening! Prices vary depending on which game you and your friends decide to play and it’s priced off of time. For instance, if you only want to golf for 30 minutes prices would be around $40 for the group.

Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park - If you’re unaware, every year at Curtis Hixon Park, located across the University of Tampa alongside the riverwalk, an outdoor ice rink is built around Christmas time. As I said earlier, I come from Boston so my Christmas’ are usually filled with cold weather and snow. I love going to Tampa’s ice rink around the holidays because it reminds me of Christmas back home. This year the rink is open from November 20, 2020 – January 3, 2021. Each individual is given 75 minutes to skate and ticket prices are only $15. With holiday music and lights, this winter village will be sure to put you in the holiday spirit!

Tampa is filled with events and cool places to visit throughout the year. I highly suggest going to or doing any of the activities I listed above as they made my life in Tampa so much fun and a great stress-reliever from school.