Tampa Bay: The City Side
by Gremotraveler
 

For some reason Florida’s cosmopolitan Gulf Coast does not get the same level of press as Miami or Orlando. It is a shame, really. While Miami is where the models party and Orlando where the kids scream for Mickey, the Tampa/St-Petersburg area is probably one of the most relaxing yet exciting areas in the state. Whether it is fresh seafood on the bay, Cuban cigar rolling, or the world’s largest festival devoted to the strawberry, Tampa Bay has it all.

Tampa is the city of pirates, cigars, and Cuban heritage. The word "Tampa" is believed to mean "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa, a Native American tribe. The name first appears in the memoirs of Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda (1575), who had spent 17 years as a Calusa captive in the area. He referred to the region as "Tanpa" and described it as an important Calusa town. Today, it is a bustling financial centre with high-end shopping, historic neighbourhoods, and the world’s largest Spanish restaurant.

Founded in 1905 by Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr., the Columbia Restaurant is Florida’s oldest and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. It began in Tampa’s Ybor City neighbourhood as a small corner café known for its Cuban coffee and authentic Cuban sandwiches. Casimiro Senior took over the restaurant next door in 1919 and converted it into an additional dining room. Over the next 100 years, the restaurant continued to expand with new dining rooms as each new generation of the Hernandez family brought new ideas to the business. By 2004, the total number of dining rooms was fifteen, with seating for up to 1,700 people. The restaurant has a grand total of 52,000 square feet, and encompasses an entire city block. They have won numerous awards for their cuisine and wine list, however, it is the overall experience that is the reason people flock to the restaurant. If you have to choose just one dining room, the Patio Dining room is a must. Designed to resemble the outdoor patios you find in Andalucia, the South of Spain and built in 1937, the space truly transforms you to another time and place and is the perfect setting for tapas, paellas, arroz con pollo and other famous Spanish dishes.

After dinner, a stroll along Ybor City is a must. Cigar factories were the major employers of this neighbourhood during the first half century until a decline during the Great Depression, when the Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrant population began a slow migration away from the area, which accelerated after World War II. After having suffered decades of decay the area around the old Ybor City business district was redeveloped in the late 80s into a popular night club and entertainment district. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark District, and several buildings in the area are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

To the West of Tampa, along Interstate 4 to Orlando, is Plant City, the winter strawberry capital of the world. Each February, the city is home to the Florida Strawberry Festival, the largest in the world. It was started in 1930 by the local Lions Club, after several attempts by locals to promote the local strawberry crop. The festival lasts about two weeks, and attracts numerous strawberry vendors to the surrounding area. The locals love their region’s famous crop and the festival is famous for its Strawberry Shortcake, a staple dessert of the South.

Filled with Strawberry Shortcake, a great end to the day or perhaps your entire visit, is a leisurely stroll around Old Hyde Park Village, an historic residential and shopping neighbourhood in Tampa. The center is situated in several buildings located between Swann and Rome Avenues. Every April, the main square becomes one of the venues for the Taste of South Tampa. Local restaurants and caterers line the central square offering a diverse array of ethnic dishes. For $40, you can mingle your way through some of the city’s best food creations. It is a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the Florida sun while mingling with the locals, especially local foodies.

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The Gremotraveller is a Toronto-based businessman who frequently flies and has lots of time in between meetings.