Continental Airlines Flights from Detroit (DTW) to Tampa (TPA)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Continental Airlines, which operates 4 regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from Detroit (DTW) to Tampa (TPA), departing between 10:28am and 9:21pm. Usually a Boeing 757 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Detroit, MI to Tampa, FL is 2 hours and 36 minutes.*
* Some flights must connect with additional service on this airline.
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During your Tampa vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Henry B. Plant Museum
Originally built in 1891 by railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant as the super-chichi 511-room Tampa Bay Hotel, this ornate building is worth a short trip across the river from downtown to the University of Tampa campus. Its 13 silver minarets and distinctive Moorish architecture, modeled after the Alhambra in Spain, make this National Historic Landmark a focal point of the Tampa skyline. Although the building is the highlight of a visit, don't skip its contents: art and furnishings from Europe and Asia, plus exhibits that explain the history of the original railroad resort, Florida's early tourist industry, and the hotel's role as a staging point for Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Although its heart-stopping thrill rides get much of the ink, this venerable theme park (it predates Disney World) ranks among the largest zoos in the country. It's a don't-miss attraction for children and adults, who can see, in person, all those wild beasts they've watched on Animal Planet -- and they'll get better views of them here than at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando. Busch Gardens has several thousand animals living in naturalistic environments that help carry out the park's overall African theme. Most authentic is the 80-acre plain, strongly reminiscent of the real Serengeti of Tanzania and Kenya, upon which zebras, giraffes, and other animals graze. Unlike the animals on the real Serengeti, however, these grazing creatures have nothing to fear from lions, hyenas, crocodiles, and other predators, which are confined to enclosures -- as are the hippos and elephants. The park's sixth and newest roller coaster, SheiKra, is the nation's first dive coaster that carries riders up 200 feet at 45 degrees and then hurtles them 70 mph back at a 45-degree angle. Yikes.The park has eight areas, each with its own theme, animals, live entertainment, thrill rides, kiddie attractions, dining, and shopping. A Skyride cable car soars over the park, offering a bird's-eye view of it all. Turn left after the main gate and head to Morocco, a walled city with exotic architecture, crafts demonstrations, a sultan's tent with snake charmers, and an exhibit featuring alligators and turtles. The Moorish-style Moroccan Palace Theater features an ice show which many families consider to be the park's best entertainment for both adults and children. You can also attend a song-and-dance show in the Marrakech Theater. Overlooking it all is the Crown Colony Restaurant, the park's largest.After watching the snake charmers, walk east past Anheuser-Busch's fabled Clydesdale horses to Egypt, where you can visit King Tut's tomb with its replicas of the real treasures and listen to comedian Martin Short narrate "Akbar's Adventure Tours," a wacky simulator that "transports" one and all across Egypt via camel, biplane, and mine car. The whole room moves on this ride, which lasts only 5 minutes -- much less time than the usual wait to get inside. Youngsters can dig for their own ancient treasures in a sand area. Adults and kids 54 inches or taller can ride Montu, the tallest and longest inverted roller coaster in the world, with seven upside-down loops. Your feet dangle loose on Montu, so make sure your shoes are tied tightly and your lunch has had time to digest.If you're going to Orlando as well, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is included in the five-park version of the FlexTicket, a 14-day pass that also admits you to Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld, Islands of Adventure, and Wet 'n' Wild, for $225 adults and $190 children 3 to 9.From Egypt, walk to the Edge of Africa, the most unique of the park's eight areas, and home of most of the large animals. Go immediately to the Expedition Africa Gift Shop and see if you can get on one of the park's zoologist-led wildlife tours.Next stop is Nairobi, the most beautiful part of the park, where you can see gorillas and chimpanzees in their lush rainforest habitat in the Myombe Reserve. Nairobi also has a baby-animal nursery, a petting zoo, turtle and reptile displays, an elephant exhibit (alas, the magnificent creatures seem to be bored to the point of madness), and Curiosity Caverns, where bats, reptiles, and small mammals that are active in the dark are kept in cages (it's the most traditional zoolike area here). The entry to Rhino Rally, the park's safari adventure, is at the western end of Nairobi.Now head to The Congo, where the highlights are the rare white Bengal tigers that live on Claw Island. The Congo is also home to two roller coasters: Kumba, the largest and fastest coaster in the southeastern United States (54-in. minimum height); and the Python (48-in. minimum), which twists and turns for 1,200 feet. You will get drenched -- and refreshed on a hot day -- by riding the Congo River Rapids, where you're turned loose in round boats that float down the swiftly flowing "river" (42-in. minimum). Bumper cars and kiddie rides can be found here, too.From The Congo, walk south into Stanleyville, a prototype African village, with a shopping bazaar, orangutans living on an island, and the Stanleyville Theater, usually featuring shows for children. Two more water rides here are the Tanganyika Tidal Wave (48-in. minimum height), where you'll come to a very damp end; and the Stanley Falls Flume (an aquatic version of a roller coaster). Also here is the picnic-style Stanleyville Smokehouse, serving ribs and chicken that are among the best chow in the park.Up next is Land of the Dragons, the most entertaining area for small children. They can spend an entire day enjoying a variety of play elements in a fairy-tale setting, plus just-for-kids rides. The area is dominated by Dumphrey, a whimsical dragon who interacts with visitors and guides children around a three-story treehouse with winding stairways, tall towers, stepping stones, illuminated water geysers, and an echo chamber.The next stop is Bird Gardens, the park's original core, offering rich foliage, lagoons, and a free-flight aviary for hundreds of exotic birds, including golden and American bald eagles. Be sure to see the Florida flamingos and Australian koalas while you're here.Then you're off to take a break at the Hospitality House, which offers piano entertainment and free samples of Anheuser-Busch's famous beers. You must be 21 to imbibe (there's a limit of two free mugs per seating), but soft drinks are also available.If your stomach can take another hair-raising ride, try Gwazi (48-in. minimum), an adrenaline-pumping attraction in which a pair of old-fashioned wooden roller coasters (named the Lion and the Tiger) start simultaneously and whiz within a few feet of each other six times as they roar along at 50 mph and rise to 90 feet. In Gwazi's "Water Wars," participants shoot water-filled balloons at each other with big slingshots. It's a soaking way to end your visit.If you want to experience the park's fifth roller coaster, head to Timbuktu and climb aboard the Scorpion, a high-speed number with a 60-foot drop and 360-degree loop (42-in. height minimum).Added attractions are a $325, 6-hour zookeeper-for-a-day program, the devotion of 26 acres of the 65-acre Serengeti Plain to free-roaming white rhinos, and a 4-D multisensory R. L. Stine film.You can exchange foreign currency in the park, and interpreters are available.Note: You can get to Busch Gardens from Orlando via shuttle buses, which pick up at area hotels between 8 and 10:15am for the 1 1/2- to 2-hour ride, with return trips starting at 5pm and continuing until the park closes. Round-trip fares are $5 per person. Call tel. 800/511-2450 for schedules, pickup locations, and reservations.Note: Admission and hours vary so call ahead, check website, or get brochure at visitor centers. If You Need Another Day--Once you're inside Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and decide you really need more time to see it all, check to see if the park has (frequently offered) Next-Day Tickets, which let you back in the next day for about $16 per person.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Originally built in 1891 by railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant as the super-chichi 511-room Tampa Bay Hotel, this ornate building is worth a short trip across the river from downtown to the University of Tampa campus. Its 13 silver minarets and distinctive Moorish architecture, modeled after the Alhambra in Spain, make this National Historic Landmark a focal point of the Tampa skyline. Although the building is the highlight of a visit, don't skip its contents: art and furnishings from Europe and Asia, plus exhibits that explain the history of the original railroad resort, Florida's early tourist industry, and the hotel's role as a staging point for Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.
Baymont Inn & Suites
Fake banana trees and a parrot cage welcome guests to the terra-cotta-floored lobby of this comfortable and convenient member of the small chain of cost-conscious but amenity-rich motels. All rooms are spacious and have ceiling fans and desks. Rooms with king-size beds also have recliners; business rooms sport dataport phones; and suites have refrigerators and microwaves. Outside, a courtyard with an unheated pool has plenty of space for sunning. There's no restaurant on the premises, but many are within walking distance.
Best Western All Suites Hotel
This three-story all-suite hotel is the most beachlike vacation venue you'll find close to the park. Whimsical signs lead you around a lush tropical courtyard with a heated pool, hot tub, and lively, sports-oriented Tiki bar. The place prides itself on being "so close" to Busch Gardens that "the parrots escape to our trees," hence the hotel's nickname: "that parrot place." The bar can get noisy before closing at 9pm, and ground-level units are musty, so ask for an upstairs suite away from the action. Suite living rooms are well equipped; the separate bedrooms have narrow screened patios or balconies. The 11 "family suites" with bunk beds are great for those with kids.
Hilton Garden Inn
This modern, four-story hotel stands just 2 blocks north of the heart of Ybor City's dining and entertainment district. A one-story brick structure in front houses the bright lobby, a comfy relaxation area with fireplace, a dining area providing cooked and continental breakfasts, and a small 24-hour pantry selling beer, wine, soft drinks, and frozen dinners. You can heat up the dinners in your comfortable guest room's microwave or store them in your fridge. Since Hilton's Garden hotels are aimed primarily at business travelers (they compete with Marriott's Courtyards), your room will also have a large desk and two phones. If you opt for a suite, you'll get a separate living room and a larger bathroom.
