Florida’s third largest city is not only close to several state parks, but the city has unique festivals and special events, including a two-day chocolate festival, a Parade of Pirates, and some of the highest rated zoo and aquarium attractions in North America.
Imagine a city whose attractions include annual blues and barbecue festivals, a two-day chocolate festival and a massive “Parade of Pirates” that’s been taking place every year for 120 years!
Snowbirds who spend the winter at RV parks and resorts around Tampa Bay know all about these events as well as the many cultural attractions, art museums, state parks and beaches in the Tampa area. Tampa’s zoo is also considered to be one of the top attractions in the world, according to TripAdvisor.com, while the Tampa Aquarium is frequently listed among the top aquariums in North America in USA TODAY’S 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
“With so many unique and highly rated attractions, it’s easy to see why RV parks and resorts in Tampa and surrounding communities continue to be highly sought after by Snowbirds each winter,” said Bobby Cornwell, president and CEO of the Florida RV Park and Campground Association, which hosts CampFlorida.com, the travel planning website.
For travelers who have yet to experience Tampa and the tremendous variety of enticements the city has to offer, CampFlorida.com has compiled the following sampling of interesting attractions, festivals and state parks, along with listings of RV parks and resorts in Tampa and surrounding communities that can be used as base camps by winter visitors:
Tampa Area Attractions
— Columbia Restaurant: Established in 1905, Florida’s oldest restaurant features Spanish and Cuban food. Columbia Restaurant has since with several locations across Florida, but the original restaurant is in Tampa.
— Florida Aquarium: Frequently listed among the top aquariums in North America in USA TODAY’S 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, the aquarium features over 8,000 aquatic and terrestrial animals.
— Museum of Science and Industry: This museum features educational programs and hundreds of hands-on exhibits involving space, engineering, robotics, paleontology and other topics.
— Salvador Dali Museum: This museum features the largest collection of Dali paintings outside Spain.
— Tampa Museum of Art: Located in downtown Tampa, this museum not only features exhibitions that emphasize ancient, modern, and contemporary art, but offers a variety of workshops and lectures throughout the winter season.
— ZooTampa: Florida’s leading zoo attraction is a 12-time winner of Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Award, ranking it amount the top 10% of attractions worldwide. The zoo features over 1,000 animals from around the world, from African elephants and Indian rhinos to Australian koalas and native Floridian manatees. The zoo also recently opened an area called Florida Wilds, which features expanded habitats for endangered and threatened native species.
Festivals and Special Events
— Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Jan. 5-14: This 10-day cultural event features speakers, musicians, artists, poets and craftspeople. Events include a music festival, 5K run and other events that increase awareness of African and African American culture and history.
— Florida RV Supershow, Jan. 17-21: Representation from every major RV manufacturer as well as hundreds of accessory booths exhibitors. Some of the country’s finest campgrounds and resorts will have booth exhibits to show attendees the best camping opportunities found anywhere. A huge display of camping accessories and supplies will be found in the General RV Store.
— Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Jan. 27: One of Tampa Bay’s most unique events, celebrated annually since 1904, the Pirate Fest includes an invasion of pirates led by the legendary mythical pirate Jose Gaspar, who sails into Tampa to demand that the Mayor of Tampa surrender the key to the city. The event is named for mythical Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, who is supposed to have tormented the west coast of Florida from the 1780s to the 1820s. The annual invasion of pirates is followed by a Parade of Pirates who march down Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard in what has become the third largest parade in the U.S. The event includes food and music.
— Gasparilla Music Festival, Feb. 16-18: This festival features a wide variety of musical genres on several stages as well as cuisine from the Tampa area’s top restaurants.
— Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival, Feb. 17-18: This two-day chocolate-themed festival features savory, sweet and spicy chocolate with vendors from all over the country selling everything from chocolate truffles and bars to chocolate-covered pretzels and popcorn, and even dessert pancake tacos. There will also be live entertainment, demonstrations, and chocolate-themed activities for all ages.
— Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival, March 9: This festival provides opportunities to taste a variety of beers, bourbons and barbecued sensations, including pulled pork, brisket, ribs, chicken and sausage. Live rock and blues music will also be provided.
— Tampa Bay Blues Festival, April 12-14: This event, considered which some consider to be America’s finest waterfront blues festival, features fine musicians, great food vendors, full liquor bars, craft beers and wines.
Best RV Parks and Campgrounds in Florida Reviews
State Parks
— Caladesi Island State Park: A ferry provides access to this state park, which is only accessible by boat. Island activities include hiking and kayaking.
— Honeymood Island State Park: This park, which is accessible by motor vehicles, has more than four miles of beach to explore along with a three-mile trail through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests. The island is home to eagles, osprey and great horned owls, while ground animals include gopher tortoises, raccoons and armadillos. This park is also a place where you can catch a ferry or rent a kayak to visit Caladesi Island State Park.
— Robinson Preserve: This 600-acre preserve is located just south of Tampa Bay in Bradenton. Jumping mullet and hundreds of other species of fish and other marine life can be found here. The interior of the preserve features hiking paths, kayak and canoe waterways, bridges, picnic spots, mangrove forests and a 53-foot-tall tower with a view of the Tampa Bay area.
— Terra Ceia Preserve State Park: Alligators inhabit this 2,000-acre park, which includes mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and uplands communities. Kayaking, fishing and hiking are the primary activities within the preserve.
— Upper Tampa Bay Trail: Widely regarded as Tampa Bay’s best urban trail, the Upper Tampa Bay Trail provides a scenic escape. The original section winds through suburban Citrus Park on an unused railroad corridor and extends along the west bank of the Channel A waterway, which is lined with native vegetation and beautiful cypress trees.
— Weedon Island Preserve: Located on Tampa Bay, this preserve has nearly 3,200 acres of beautiful wetlands filled with wildlife along with elevated boardwalks and padding routes for canoe and kayak enthusiasts. Guided nature walks are available.
Following is a listing of RV parks and resorts in communities surrounding Tampa Bay:
Clearwater
Dover
Tampa East RV Community in Dover
Dunedin
— Sun Retreats Dunedin RV Resort
Largo
— Rainbow Village Largo RV Community
Palm Harbor
— Clearwater / Lake Tarpon KOA Holiday
Seffner
St. Petersburg
— St. Petersburg / Madeira Beach KOA Holiday
Tampa
Tarpon Springs
— Bayshore Cove Mobilehome and RV Park
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About the Florida RV Park & Campground Association
Based in Tallahassee, the Florida RV Park & Campground Association is the trade association for Florida’s privately owned RV parks and campgrounds. The association provides business services, advocacy, and promotion for the industry and their members. The association also publishes free printed camping guides for Florida. For more information, visit the association’s website at CampFlorida.com.
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