Tampa, Florida: 30 Jan 2009 to 3 Feb 2009

Tampa’s early days, which began roughly 320 years after Ponce de León first arrived here in 1513, can be retraced in Ybor City, one of only three National Historic Landmark District’s in Florida and once home to a bustling cigar industry. Galleries, shops, restaurants and clubs now enliven this legendary town. Then visit the former playground of the rich and famous – H.B. Plant Hall on the Tampa University campus. Replete with Moorish revival turrets, it is only rivalled by the elaborate Victorian gingerbread work adorning the Henry B. Plant Museum.

While the homes on man-made Davis Island evoke “The Great Gatsby,” nearby Busch Gardens offers naturalistic animal habitats and entertainment for all ages. Modern additions to the cityscape include the glass-domed Florida Aquarium, the sleek Tampa Museum of Art, the boldly shaped Museum of Science and Industry, and world-class Tampa Bay Performing Arts Centre. Round out your visit with a stop at Tampa Theatre, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and a local landmark.