Tampa GCers- I need your help!

[kddani]

So myself and 3 of my friends will be in Tampa the day before our cruise leaves. Cruise leaves on the 6th, so we'll be there on the 5th (A Friday). We're going to get there probably about mid afternoon or so.

We're staying at the Econo Lodge Midtown (on S. Dale Mabry)... can anyone tell me about the area and what there is to do there? We obviously don't have time to treck to Busch Gardens or anything that cool, but if anyone can recommend a restaurant in the area or something to do that night, that would be awesome. The listing for the hotel said it was within walking distance of a lot. We're not going to have a rental car, because we're only there for the evening.

Thanks for any help! None of us have ever even been to Tampa before.

[ZTAngel]

Ybor. Lots of fun. It's a strip in Tampa with a bunch of bars and clubs. The only problem is that it's not in the best part of town so you have to be really careful. From my understanding, crime has gone down a lot in recent years ever since the city installed security cameras on the Ybor streets. Someone from Tampa might be able to give you a better of idea of what Ybor is like now (ztabchbum?). I haven't been there since my Sophomore year. But, it really is tons of fun.

[WCUgirl]

YBOR YBOR YBOR!!!

You haven't experienced anything like it...I promise!!! I love going home and going out in Ybor. Bar Tampa is where it's at!!!!

There are tons of restaurants in the area...the obligatory chain restaurants (like Carrabba's, etc.), and of course there are tiny little "Mom & Pop" Cuban restaurants. There is this one place (and of course I can't remember the name of it at the moment because I haven't been there in like 10 years...hell, they may not even be there anymore) that had THE BEST Cuban sandwiches in the world. If you haven't had a Cuban, you have to try one while you're there. These are authentic Cubans.

Of course, you could always go to Orlando for the night...there's a lot more stuff to do over there on weekend nights than there is in Tampa...you have Disney's nighttime stuff (what's it called...not Baywalk, but Citywalk?), Hard Rock usually has something going on, and Orlando is really only a little over an hour from Tampa...I would almost recommend you stay there the night before the cruise!

But you HAVE to go to Ybor!!!!!!

ETA: Since you'll have Friday afternoon to hang out, you should head over to Clearwater beach - Sand Key beach is there and it's consistently ranked one of the top 10 beaches in America. It's only about a 20 minute drive from Tampa.

[ztabchbum]

Ybor is safe if you ask me - I was just there on Saturday for Gasparilla! If you're going on a cruise you're going to be down at Channelside and there are some really cool place down there to go to. Here's the list: (21 & over)
1. Stumps Supper Club and Howl @ The Moon - pay 1 price to get into both. Stumps has great food and drinks and Howl @ The Moon id the dueling piano bar and TONS of fun.
2. Margaritta Momma's and Bannana Joes - again you pay 1 price to get into both. Bananna Joes is the club part and has great music and a great crowd.
3. Splitsville - it's an upscale bowling alley. TONS OF FUN!
You can then take the trolly from Channelside down to Ybor and here are my picks in Ybor:
1.Coyote Ugly - yep, just like the movie and a whole lotta fun .
2. Amplitheatre - upscale and expensive but GOOD drinks and a rotating dance floor!
3. Twilight - same as Amp but no rotating dance floor.
If you have any other questions, just ask. From where you hotel is to Channelside and Ybor is like a 10/15 min drive just because of all the traffic lights! Have fun!

[ztabchbum]

Originally posted by AXiD670
Of course, you could always go to Orlando for the night...there's a lot more stuff to do over there on weekend nights than there is in Tampa...you have Disney's nighttime stuff (what's it called...not Baywalk, but Citywalk?), Hard Rock usually has something going on, and Orlando is really only a little over an hour from Tampa...I would almost recommend you stay there the night before the cruise!

Eh - Tampa has JUST as much as Orlando and it's cheaper! Besides, that drive from O-town to Tampa late at night isn't safe.

[WCUgirl]

Originally posted by ztabchbum
Eh - Tampa has JUST as much as Orlando and it's cheaper! Besides, that drive from O-town to Tampa late at night isn't safe.

I guess I always thought Orlando had more because I lived in Tampa...so we were always looking for something new.

I always forget about Channelside - I LOVE Howl at the Moon. In Ybor I'm not too into Coyote Joe's. If you're into getting on the bar and having your bra thrown on the ceiling...then that place is for you!

You should definitely AVOID the Pleasuredome (are they even still open?)...we went in there on the WRONG night and had a terrible experience....would not recommend it to anyone.

I like the Amphitheater as well...but I LOVE Bar. That's where we always end up...and have the best time. Although the crowd was kind of ghetto the last time we were there.

[ztabchbum]

Originally posted by AXiD670

You should definitely AVOID the Pleasuredome (are they even still open?)...we went in there on the WRONG night and had a terrible experience....would not recommend it to anyone.

I like the Amphitheater as well...but I LOVE Bar. That's where we always end up...and have the best time. Although the crowd was kind of ghetto the last time we were there. [/B]

Pleasuredome closed and I forget what it's called now but it's not any good either way.

Amp is not ghetto - you must have gone on a Thursday night when they let the children from Hedo go to Amp too. The BIG night for Amp is definetly Saturday but Fri nights are good too.

[WCUgirl]

Oh no, I meant the last time we were in Bar it was kind of ghetto. I haven't been at the Amp. and it's been ghetto. No, that's definitely more upscale.

Bar is more for the college crowd...espcially since it's spring break time I'm sure it will be PACKED! But probably all the clubs will be packed anyways.

Kddani...there is so much to do and a cab ride would only take about 10-15 minutes ANYWHERE you went.

Are you staying in Tampa Thursday night (after the cruise) as well?

[ztabchbum]

Originally posted by AXiD670
Oh no, I meant the last time we were in Bar it was kind of ghetto. I haven't been at the Amp. and it's been ghetto. No, that's definitely more upscale.

Bar is more for the college crowd...espcially since it's spring break time I'm sure it will be PACKED! But probably all the clubs will be packed anyways.

Kddani...there is so much to do and a cab ride would only take about 10-15 minutes ANYWHERE you went.

Are you staying in Tampa Thursday night (after the cruise) as well?

Just an FYI - Bar closed a year ago.

[WCUgirl]

WHAT?!!!??

That was my favorite place!!! Oh man!

Has it been a year? I was there when I was down for my friend's wedding in April....we went for her bachelorette party.

[ztabchbum]

It's been almost a year. And Tahiti Joes - it WAS next door...closed too. A lot have places have either closed and/or changed ownership and names. But Santoro still rules Ybor that's for sure!

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by AXiD670
ETA: Since you'll have Friday afternoon to hang out, you should head over to Clearwater beach - Sand Key beach is there and it's consistently ranked one of the top 10 beaches in America. It's only about a 20 minute drive from Tampa.

Sand Key is a GREAT beach, we used to vacation there every year.

[ztabchbum]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
Sand Key is a GREAT beach, we used to vacation there every year.

It's gonna be COLD if you go to the beach. Our weather has been ok the past few days but the water is still like ICE! burrrrrr

[kddani]

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

No, we won't be in town the day we get back, we're flying out in the afternoon.

I'm glad to hear that we're pretty close to some stuff. Sounds great to me!