TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 30, 2015) – Newly extended, Tampa Bay's 1.8-mile (2.9 km) pedestrian space links downtown's most popular attractions like gems on a string. The mix of museums, restaurants, and parks makes the Tampa Riverwalk a must-experience part of any visit – and Tampa Bay a walking destination.

 

More than forty years in the making, the latest Riverwalk corridor fronts the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel and connects the heart of cultural life in downtown Tampa Bay with superb city landmarks and parks, shopping venues and hotels, and abundant water activities–including eBoats, water bikes, and paddleboards. When the final stretch is completed in spring 2016, the Riverwalk will offer a continuous 2.4 mile (3.8 km) path that will serve as a hub for dining, shopping, the arts and leisure activities. The Riverwalk already spans five major hotels, 18 historical monuments, four major museums and numerous attractions, including:

 

FLORIDA AQUARIUM | 20,000 sea creatures, river otters and ring-tailed lemurs call this Tampa Bay institution home. Touch stingrays, ponder the coral reef tank or splash in the water park. Take the Bay Spirit II into the bay for a dolphin-spotting expedition.

 

CHANNELSIDE BAY PLAZA | Well-known restaurants (Hooters) and local favorites (Hablo Taco) make this entertain complex a place to stop. Not hungry? Bowl a few frames at Splitsville.

 

TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER | This modern museum houses 12,000 years of Tampa Bay history, starting with the Native Americans who first found settled on the shores of the sparkling bay. Interactive exhibits tell of Spanish and American settlers, cowboys, Cuban cigar makers and the region's role in nearly two centuries U.S. military history. The in-house Columbia Café replicates the experience of dining at Ybor City's Columbia Restaurant -- Florida's oldest restaurant and a Tampa Bay landmark.

 

COTANCHOBEE FT. BROOKE PARK | On Garrison Channel, this park is named for the 1840s U.S. military encampment that became the City of Tampa. The park has a children's playground and great views of the Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat races each spring.

 

SAIL PAVILION | A 360-degree bar makes a great place to watch the sunset. It shares space with Tampa Bay Water Bikes, Urban Kai Stand-up Paddleboarding, and e-Boats Tampa for those who want to get out onto the water. A bike repair station stands at the ready to help cyclists needing air or a quick repair.

 

COAST BIKE SHARE | With stations throughout downtown – including near the Sail Pavilion and in MacDill Park – Tampa Bay's bike-share system lets anyone with a credit card and a smartphone register and ride in a matter of minutes. Rent a bike for a few minutes or a few hours. It's up to you.

 

USF PARK | In the shadow of the Tampa Convention Center, this park celebrates Tampa Bay's hometown University of South Florida, which stands as a national center of education and research.

 

MACDILL PARK | Tampa Bay's hometown military institution, MacDill Air Force Base -- home to Special Operations Forces and U.S. Central Command -- is commemorated with monuments that trace its history from World War II.

 

KENNEDY BOULEVARD PLAZA | The last major segment of the Riverwalk opened recently. The quarter-mile span skims the surface of the Hillsborough River and includes shade canopies, seating and dramatic lighting for evening adventures.

 

KILEY GARDENS | Named for its designer, architect Dan Kiley, this 4.5-acre plaza's grid is based on the mathematical Fibonacci sequence. It includes an amphitheater and is a popular place for festivals.

 

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS | Part of the iconic Rivergate Tower complex, the museum displays photographic works and offers courses in the art of photography.

 

CURTIS HIXON WATERFRONT PARK | Tampa Bay's riverfront festival grounds, the 8-acre park has splash fountains, a playground and dog park – all with city skyline as a backdrop. Stop in Sundays for yoga.

 

TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART | A work of art itself, the museum's collection runs from ancient to modern. It frequently hosts traveling shows. At night, the shimmering colors of “Sky (Tampa)” by New York artist Leo Villareal light the facade. Visit the museum's Sono Café for a quick bite before or after your visit.

 

GLAZER CHILDRENS' MUSEUM | Children up to 12 explore all facets of life in Tampa Bay at this hands-on museum. They study the working of water, engineer paper airplanes and create works of art.

 

AMERICA, AMERICA | A towering steel sculpture by Barbara Neijna stands entwined by the spiral staircase leading to John F. Germany Central Library. It's part of the City of Tampa's public art collection.

 

STRAZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | The largest theater complex in the Southeast hosts a Broadway series fall through spring, homegrown theater troupes, and the Florida Orchestra.

 

WATER WORKS PARK | The northern end of the Tampa Riverwalk, this part includes a concert shell, splash pad and waterfront views of the Hillsborough River and restored Ulele spring.

 

ULELE | Among Open Table users' Top 100 U.S. restaurants, Ulele (“You-Lay-Lee”) serves meals inspired by foods used by Florida's original natives. Housed in the city's restored former pump house, it has its own brewery. The restaurant takes its name from a local Native American princess who saved the life of a Spanish explorer nearly 500 years ago.

 

HISTORIC MARKERS | Bronze busts on granite plinths recall the men and women whose work created today's Tampa Bay. The list includes railroad baron Henry B. Plant, whose trains and steamers made Tampa Bay the commercial hub of Florida's west coast.

 

 

 

 

 

About Visit Tampa Bay

 

Visit Tampa Bay encourages adventurous travelers to unlock our destination's trove of unique treasures. We are a not-for-profit corportation that works with more than 750 partners to tell the world the story of our home – the hip, urban heart of the Gulf Coast of Florida.