Downtown Tampa has not always been a tourist destination, with stunning nature and beaches such close alternatives, but revitalization in the last 10 years has changed the area. Spend a week shuffling between museums, theaters and outdoor spaces that have turned Downtown into an exciting place. Stroll along the Riverwalk to investigate Tampa’s Downtown attractions.

Appreciate culture and air conditioning in Tampa’s thriving museum scene. Explore historical and contemporary art at the Tampa Museum of Art or look at focused exhibits at the Florida Museum of the Photographic Arts. Learn about the history of the area, one of the oldest European-settled cities in North America, at the Tampa Bay History Center. See a real decommissioned Navy ship at the American Victory, which fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Let the kids loose to have fun in the Glazer Children’s Museum.

Visit some of Florida’s underwater residents at the Florida Aquarium. See an opera or a Broadway show at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. End a weekend with a sports game or a huge rock show at the Amalie Arena.

Downtown Tampa is extremely accessible from the greater region and within Tampa itself. Drive to Downtown Tampa in 15 minutes from Tampa International Airport, with connections around the world. Tampa is also home to Tampa Union Station, a historic train station in the heart of Downtown Tampa, with regional connections to other Florida cities. A bus and streetcar system operates in the Downtown area, perfect for a hot day when walking seems too strenuous. Water taxis also provide connections on the waterfront and to other parts of the city.

Leaving the excitement on land may be difficult, but head to the Port of Tampa one evening, get on a boat and watch the sun set while Downtown Tampa’s skyline glitters in the dusk.