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North America United States Tampa Bay, Florida Do & See Tampa Bay Downs

Overview

Tampa Bay Downs

The guide was updated: 2024-09-26

Tampa Bay Downs is the only thoroughbred racetrack on the west coast of Florida with a rich history dating back to 1926. The track is known as one of the most popular turf tracks in the U.S. In addition to the racing, Tampa Bay Downs is also home to the Silks Poker Room, as well as a full golf practice facility. While simulcast racing is offered year-round, the season for live racing spans December through early May.

Useful Information

Address: 11225 Race Track Road, Tampa
Website: www.tampabaydowns.com
Phone: +1 813 855 4401
Email: info@tampabaydowns.com

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Sparkman Wharf

Sparkman Wharf

Formerly known as Channelside Bay Plaza, this new park in east Downtown Tampa features a biergarten, eateries and an events lawn. If you want to make a day of this area, the Florida Aquarium, the American Victory Museum, and the Spiltsville bowling alley are close by. Cargo and cruise ship watching at the Tampa Port Authority can be a great pastime too.

Ybor City

Ybor City

Founded in the 1880s by cigar manufacturers and immigrants from Spain, Cuba and Italy, Ybor City is a historic neighborhood originally known for producing cigars. Today, Ybor is an infamous nightclub and entertainment district, attracting nearby college students, visitors and Tampa locals alike. Expect the unexpected in Ybor. The main street, 7th Avenue, houses all the bars and restaurants.

MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre

MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre

Originally known as the Ford Amphitheatre, the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre is the first outdoor concert facility and the largest concert-only venue in the Tampa Bay Area accommodates around 20,000 people. Very popular groups have played here, including the Dave Matthews Band, Rush and Gwen Stefani.

Straz Center for the Performing Arts

Straz Center for the Performing Arts

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors more than 35 years ago and it is the most distinguished performing arts space south of the Kennedy Center. It hosts the nation’s leading Broadway series and it is known for producing operas along with concerts, performances and events.

Ruth Eckerd Hall

Ruth Eckerd Hall

Nominated as one of the top five concert halls in the United States by a nationwide industry poll of artists and their management, Ruth Eckerd Hall is a long-standing tradition in the Pinellas County. Highlights include performances by the Florida Orchestra and The Chocolate Nutcracker during the holidays.

American Stage Theatre Company

American Stage Theatre Company

Starting as a small community theater in the late 1970s, American Stage has evolved and for over a decade has been voted “Best of the Bay” by local residents. If in the area during March — April, a treat is one of the performances in a nearby park, often a play by Shakespeare. Bring your blankets and wine to enjoy theater outside among the trees.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

For an entertainment experience that will go into the wee hours, check out the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This is the only place in the Tampa Bay area that offers table games such as blackjack and baccarat. For the non-gamblers, there is a spa, large pool with surrounding cabanas, various bars and Floyd’s Nightclub.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Voted by Parents Magazine as the best zoo in the nation for families, the Lowry Park Zoo is home to over a thousand animals that live in lush natural habitats. There are eight habitat areas and plenty of interactive experiences for the little ones.

Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens

The largest theme park in the area, Busch Gardens’ hallmarks are its roller coasters and nearly 3,000 live animals, incorporated into various exhibits and shows. SheiKra will give you all the thrills you can handle with a 200-foot drop, 90 degrees straight down, or for the traditionalists there is Gwazi, a wooden roller coaster with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. Jungala is an attraction where guests can get face-to-face with orangutans or play tug-of-war with tigers.

Adventure Island

Adventure Island

Adventure Island is a water park that borders Busch Gardens in Tampa. With over 30 acres of water-related activities including water slides, corkscrew slides, a rambling river, and a giant wave pool, Adventure Island has something for everyone, including cabanas to just lounge around in the sun.

Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs is the only thoroughbred racetrack on the west coast of Florida with a rich history dating back to 1926. The track is known as one of the most popular turf tracks in the U.S. In addition to the racing, Tampa Bay Downs is also home to the Silks Poker Room, as well as a full golf practice facility. While simulcast racing is offered year-round, the season for live racing spans December through early May.

Florida Aquarium

Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium is a large scale 250,000 square-foot facility. Visitors not only get to see the many varieties of fish, but for certified Scuba divers, there is also the opportunity to swim with sharks and other animals. The Florida Aquarium has many unique touches, such as the “Penguin Promenade,” where penguins meet and greet all guests daily.

St. Pete Pier

St. Pete Pier

Originally opened in the land boom of the 1920s as the Million Dollar Pier, today’s version offers more than just fishing. In addition to smaller gift shops, the Pier has a two-story vertical aquarium, as well as a food court and four different waterfront restaurants.

Salvador Dalí Museum

Salvador Dalí Museum

More than 200,000 visitors from all over the world frequent the Dalí Museum each year. The collection of one of the world’s most eccentric and unique artists opened in Cleveland in 1942, 40 years later it was moved to St. Petersburg. Dali’s career spans several themes, from the Impressionist and Cubist styles of his early years to his transition to Surrealism, and it is represented here not only by almost 100 oil paintings, but photographs, sculptures, and watercolors as well.

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

The Sponge Docks are a nod to the once-thriving sponge industry that helped make Tarpon Springs famous. Today, this area is home to many family-owned Greek restaurants, bakeries and markets, but also offers visitors live entertainment, sightseeing cruises, shops, an aquarium, as well as lots of local Greek touches, such as hand-rolled cigars.

Museum of Fine Arts

Museum of Fine Arts

The Museum of Fine Arts, located in St. Petersburg, has the only comprehensive art collection on the west coast of Florida. The museum has both an extensive permanent collection, as well as exhibitions from notables such as Dale Chihuly and Andy Warhol. After taking in a collection, browse the shops of Beach Drive or enjoy the waterfront at the nearby Straub Park.

Museum of Science & Industry

Museum of Science & Industry

The Museum of Science & Industry has something for visitors of all ages. The museum offers an array of hands-on activities, including lying on a bed of nails, exploring optical illusions, solving brain puzzles, and diving into a NASA-funded lunar colony simulation. You can also observe butterflies, enjoy a round of mini-golf, and gaze at the stars in the planetarium. Come with time to spare because you will probably want to spend the entire afternoon here.

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