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During your Tampa vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry)
A great place to take the kids, MOSI is the largest science center in the Southeast, with more than 450 interactive exhibits. Step into the Gulf Hurricane to experience 74 mph winds, explore the human body in The Amazing You and, if your heart is up to it, ride a bicycle across a 98-foot-long cable suspended 30 feet above the lobby (don't worry: you'll be harnessed to the bike). You can also watch stunning movies in Florida's first IMAX dome theater and take a 5-minute ride in a flight simulator ($3.50 additional charge). Outside, trails wind through a 47-acre nature preserve with a butterfly garden.
Tampa Museum of Art
Located on the east bank of the Hillsborough River, next to the round NationsBank building (locals facetiously call it the "Beer Can"), this fine-arts complex offers eight galleries with changing exhibits ranging from classical antiquities to contemporary Floridian art. There's also a 7-acre riverfront park and sculpture garden. Call or check the website for the schedule of temporary exhibits. However, if you have time for only one art museum on your trip, skip this one and head to St. Petersburg for the more innovative Salvador Dalí Museum.
Lowry Park Zoo
The opportunity to watch 3,000-pound manatees, Komodo dragons, Persian leopards, and rare red pandas makes this a worthwhile, albeit not entirely necessary, excursion after the kids have seen the plains of Africa at Busch Gardens. With lots of greenery, bubbling brooks, and cascading waterfalls, this 24-acre zoo displays animals in settings similar to their natural habitats. Other major exhibits include the Florida wildlife display, Asian Domain, Primate World, Aquatic Center, free-flight aviary with a birds-of-prey show, hands-on Discovery Center, and endangered-species carousel ride. The Wallaroo Station has kids' rides, a small water park, a kangaroo walk-about, and a petting zoo. Lowry Park has one of Florida's three manatee hospital and rehabilitation centers. The Eco Tour is very popular, featuring a cruise on the Hillsborough River, where you'll see turtles, herons, and manatees. The cost is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $7 for children 3 to 11. The zoo is also a sanctuary for Florida panthers and red wolves.
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
* 2-1/2 miles from Tampa International Airport* 8 miles from the Convention Center and downtown* 10 miles from Clearwater and St. Petersburg* 35 miles from Lakeland* 55 miles from Sarasota* 75 miles from ...
Marriott Tampa Waterside Hotel and Marina
A striking silhouette along the Channel Riverwalk, the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina is a bay front property in the heart of revitalized downtown Tampa. Part of the Channelside District, our hotel is adjacent to the Tampa Convention Center and one half mile from the cruiseship terminal and Port of Tampa. The St Pete Times Forum is just steps away and we are located on the Tampa Trolley Route to Ybor City. Luxury accommodations include rooms and suites with private balconies and bay ...
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