Soul Rooster

Travel back in time at the Henry B. Plant Museum, at home in the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel. Walk through the spectacular tropical gardens, visit the opulent hotel rooms, and be awed and inspired by the Moorish architecture and lavish lifestyle of Old Tampa Bay Hotel's guests. The magnificent National Landmark and local attraction now belongs to the great minds at the University of Tampa.

Where's the beef? It's at the Florida State Fair, held annually at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. You'll be attending the official state fair where the Sunshine State shows off its agricultural might. For 11 days, there's a corral full of indoor and outdoor exhibits, rides, craft shows, musical acts and wild foods like chocolate-covered bacon to taste. You won't want to miss this experience.

Rent a canoe from Canoe Escape, located minutes from downtown Tampa. Take the whole family on a paddling adventure on the Hillsborough River that surrounds a 16,000 acre wildlife preserve. Pack a lunch and bring your camera to capture pictures of the alligators, snakes, turtles and birds you'll see on your adventure.

Discover family fun times three at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. You'll get entrance to lush tropical gardens, see exotic animals and experience the fun of amusement rides and other attractions. Explore walkways that resemble the African wilderness, get nose-to-nose with a giraffe on a safari across the Serengeti Plains, and test your nerves on the pulse-pounding SheiKra roller coaster.