Florida’S #1 Visitors Guide Destinatioln FLORIDA
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPRING 2018 Florida’s #1 Visitors Guide DESTINATIOlN FLORIDA HAVANA PORT OF CALL Cruising to Cuba! WHAT’S ON THE MENU? Sample menus from the region’s top BEST OF restaurants. TAMPA BAY +65 Other Fun Happenings TAMPA BAY ST. PETERSBURG CLEARWATER SARASOTA GAINESVILLE CEDAR KEY DestinationFlorida.com The Journey is the Destination THISTO AMAZING CLOSE DESTINATIOlNTM FLORIDA Greater Tampa Bay & Gulf Coast Get face-to-face with thousands of captivating creatures, ranging from huge sand tiger We’ll point you in the right direction sharks to playful otters and adorable ring-tailed lemurs. Kids will love The Splash Pad, our expanded rainforest themed wet and dry play area, while parents enjoy our Fins Cantina. DestinationFlorida.com Take fun to a new dimension at our 4-D theater and even go on a Wild Dolphin Cruise* where we search for dolphins in Tampa Bay. fl aquarium.org | 813.273.4000 Tampa Bay & Gulf Coast | Florida Keys & Key West | Grater Daytona | Southwest Florida *Reservations and additional fees required. Weather permitting. p 8-16 What’s Up p 17-28 Xplore p 29-41 Good Eats DESTINATIOlN what’s inside... FLORIDA TAMPA • ST. PETE • CLEARWATER 6 - 7 Concierge’s Top Picks 34 Surprising St. Pete SARASOTA • GAINESVILLE • CEDAR KEY The best of Tampa Bay, St Petersburg, One of the world’s 52 must see places Clearwater, Gainesville, Cedar Key and Sarasota 37 Clearwater Publishers For everything under the sun Hunter Jonathan Jenna Carina 8 - 16 What’s Up Fun happenings, special events & 38 Bite CEO theater Wild Boar Bolognaise recipe from M. Louis St Pete’s acclaimed Castille 17 - 28 Xplore Restaurant Director Of Marketing Unique attractions for all ages M. “Bridget” Stone 39 Let’s Eat! 18 Golf Tampa Bascom’s Chop House Art Director A Little Slice of Paradise Marsha Michaels 40 Cedar Key 20 Port Of Call A taste of “Old Florida” Contributors Elizabeth McFarlane Cruising to Cuba C. Stone 41 Gainesville J. Christ 23 Connect With The Sea Where nature and culture meet The Florida Aquarium Published Tri-Annually 43 Sarasota 301 W. Platt Street Suite 353 28 Tampa At A Glance America’s happiest seaside town Tampa, Fl 33606 So much to see and do! Online Edition @ 44 - 45 What’s On The Menu? DestinationFloridaGulfCoast.com 29 - 41 Good Eats Sample menus from some of our Cool spots to eat, drink and party favorite restaurants To become a Marketing Partner or to order complimentary copies for your lodging property, please 30 Hyde Park 46 - 49 Getting Around contact us at A charming village with local flavor Local area maps [email protected] The official in-room visitors guide for the top lodging properties in Greater Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Maps Produced by: Creative Force Maps, creativeforce.com Clearwater, Gainesville, Cedar Key and Sarasota. ABOUT THE COVER Also distributed at local Chambers, Tampa is a leading US Homeport for cruise lines offering itineraries to Cuba. The restaurants, attractions and other popular locations. city’s long rich history and natural connection to the Caribbean’s island gem make it the perfect place to start a cruise vacation experience exploring the natural beauty of Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. old world Cuba. Read more about it on page 20. 4 DESTINATION FLORIDA BEST OF BROADWAY Concierge STRAZ Center If you love Broadway musicals, the STRAZ Center is just the ticket. This extraordinary 335,000 square foot performance center stages TOP PICKS some of Broadway’s greatest hits Including Cabaret, Wicked, An American In Paris, and other Tony Award-winners, as well as grand BEST ATTRACTIONS DEAL opera and a variety of concerts, performances and events. With five Tampa Bay City Pass halls, three restaurants, a coffee shop and the Patel Conservatory, it’s the second largest performing arts center in the U.S. Find it With the Tampa Bay City Pass, you can at 1010 N.W. C. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Info 813-229-7827; save a whopping 53% off combined strazcenter.org. admission to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay along with four additional attractions in the Tampa Bay area including The Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, BEST SUSHI WITH A VIEW BEST CIGAR EMPORIUM Clearwater Marina Aquarium (home Jackson’s Bistro Bar & Sushi Davidoff Of Geneva to Winter, star of the popular Dolphin Amazing sushi, fantastic water views With 5,000 square feet of humidified Tale movies) and your choice of either and a large outdoor dining patio/ tiki space, this smoking-hot cigar emporium the Museum Of Science and Industry bar make this happening harbor front showcases a unique collection of premium (MOSI) or the Chihuly Collection. spot the perfect place to click your cigars, must-have accessories and curated City Pass Booklets are valid for nine chopsticks and revel in an extensive pieces. But what really puts it over the top consecutive days beginning with the lineup of fresh sashimi, sushi appetizers are the added amenities which include first day of use. Such a deal! Find it at and all kinds of signature specialty multiple indoor-and-out smoking lounges, citypass.com/tampa. rolls. Some of our favorites: the Maine private lockers and an elegant full service Lobster Tempura Roll with eel sauce bar with top shelf libations. Yowza! Find BEST TASTE OF CUBA and spicy mayo along with the Happy it at the Metwest International Shopping Ybor City BEST RESORT FOR AGES 2 -12 Sumo Roll (blue crab, spicy tuna, cream Center, 4142 Boy Scout Blvd. near cheese & cucumber topped with eel and Tampa’s International Mall and Airport. Legoland Tampa’s historic Latin quarter and former center of cigar manufacturing wears two tempura chips - yum!). There are plenty Info: 813-513-7560; davidofftampa.com. If there’s anything that makes you hats today: a creamy Panama for daytime of American options, as well, including long to be a kid again, it’s this totally BEST SHARK ENCOUNTER lunching, shopping, cigar smoking and succulent Point Judith Calamari Rings awesome 150-acre interactive theme The Florida Aquarium coffee sipping; and a black fedora for with sweet chili spicy mayo and park specifically designed for kids the high-spirited playground it becomes some of the biggest and tastiest Ok, Ok, so maybe going nose-to-nose 2 -12 years old. With more than 50 at night. Cuban food is an Ybor City must coconut shrimp on the planet. with a 600 lb Great White is not your unique rides, 10 theme zones and all and you’ll find several great restaurants Find it at 601 S Harbour idea of a great day at the beach, kinds of really cool attractions, it is the serving cheesy Cuban toast, authentic Island Blvd., Tampa. Awesome especiallyAw whena iti flashests those! pearly absolute bomb! Lots of special events Cuban sandwiches and exceptional Cu- Info: 813-277-0112; whites at you. But fear not. At Tampa’s here, too. FYI: The water ride, “Quest ban-Spanish dishes throughout the area. JacksonBistro.com. Florida Aquarium you can actually For Chi” is an absolute blast! Find it There are also tons of Cuban cafes where BEST RIB EYE swim or dive with sharks as well as with at 1 Legoland Way in Winter Haven. you can enjoy a jolting cup of Cuban cof- Bascom’s Chop House 1600 other colorful fish including sting 877-350-5346;Fo legoland.com.r discount tickets, fee or a local hand-rolled cigar. Located rays, barracudas, sea turtles and more It’s hard not to love everything on just northeast of downtown Tampa, Ybor’s — all without being a certified SCUBA Bascom’s menu. The seafood which is please visit your 7th Ave, the main commercial thorough- diver! It’s all part of the Aquarium’s delivered daily and beautifully prepared, BEST TASTE OF KEY WEST fare, was recognized as one of the “10 BEST CLASSIC special “Shark Swim”program — an is always top drawer and the center Gulfport, StG Petersburguest Services Desk. Great Streets in America.” Info: BURGER in-water reef experience that is truly an cut prime chops are as good as they 813-241-8838 Before you travel all the way down to the adventure of a lifetime (must be age 9 get. But it’s the glorious, 16 oz bone-in Shula’s Steak House Florida Keys for a taste of Key West, first or older to participate). The Aquarium’s Ribeye that has us hooked. Hand cut If you love Don Shula’s famous steaks, you’ll really flip over his fresh, juicy check out the tiny hamlet of Gulfport which LEGOLAND.coCoralm/ FReeflo Galleryrida simulates an actual from Certified Angus midwestern grain- char grilled burgers. The legendary NFL Coach raises the bar with a big beefy is tucked in the northwest corner of St. 1 LEGOLAND Way, Wintereefr H ainv ethen, Dry FL 33884 fed steer, this rich, well marbled steak is patty that is always made fresh from his own signature blend of Premium Black Petersburg. Known for its artsy, Bohemian Tortugas just served charred outside with an intense, Angus Chuck, Short Rib and brisket, perfectly seasoned and served with lettuce, vibe, Friday night Art Walks and kitschy off of Key West. rich steak flavor that’s hard to find. If tomatoe, pickle and your choice of cheese on a brioche style bun. Once you’ve galleries, Gulfport is also home to some While you get up close you like great steak, put this one on your tackled one of these bad boys, you’ll never suffer another “Mac-Attack” again. really terrific restaurants where you can and personal with the fishes, bucket list! Find it at 3665 Ulmerton Two locations: Westshore Grand Hotel, 4860 West Kennedy Blvd, Tampa (813- find all kinds of tasty dishes like the famous friends and family can watch Rd., Clearwater.