The beaches at Fort DeSoto are some of the best in North America. The park contains five Keys and the main island, Mullet key is where you find the East beach and the North beach.
The North beach has been named America's # 1 beach several times.
Sunset at the North beach
The park also offers picnic tables and shade in addition to camping facilities, two fishing piers, a seven mile
trail, concession stands, a canoe trail and a nature trail.
The shallow water around the park is a great place for kayaking and wade fishing.
Great fishing at the two piers
The old fort still stands. The area was first surveyed and recommended for fortification in 1849 by Col Robert E. Lee
You can also take a ferry across to Egmont Key where the old lighthouse, built in 1858 still lights the opening to Tampa Bay.
Ybor City is located just east of downtown Tampa. It was established around 1886 when Cuban exiles Vicente Martinez Ybor and Don Ignacio Haya decided to move their cigar factories from Key West to Tampa. Tampa was a small town with a population of 1000. The combination of H B Plant's railroad, a port and a humid climate that was good for the leaves attracted the cigar makers
This is Ybor City in 1919
7th avenue as it was in 1927
The sign above the men reads...V Martinez Ybor & Co. Cigar Factory. Cigar production peaked in 1929. The Great Depression was the beginning of the end of the cigar factories as demand fell and mechanized rolling was introduced.
Ybor City deteriorated in the 50's and 60's and by the early 70's few businesses remained. The Columbia Restaurant stayed in business and remains there today
In the early 80's Ybor City began a slow recovery and by the 90's many of the empty buildings became nightclubs, restaurants, bars and shops. The City thrives today with nightlife and shopping.
I leave you today with one of my favorite restaurants, Carmines on 7th avenue and a Tampa tradition...a cuban sandwich and a glass of Ybor Gold
The original Sunshine Skyway bridge opened to traffic as a two lane road in September 1954. An identical span opened in 1971 making it two lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides. The bridge connects St Petersburg on the north side to Bradenton on the south side.
All was well with the bridge until May 9, 1980 when a 600 foot phosphate freighter, the Summit Venture struck the southbound span during a blinding thunderstorm
More than 1000 feet of the bridge fell into Tampa Bay. Seven cars and a Greyhound bus fell 165 feet into the water killing 35 people
Two days later the northbound span reopened to north and southbound traffic
On April 30, 1987 a new cable stayed Skyway Bridge opened to traffic
When the new bridge opened the old bridge became the Skyway Fishing Pier State Park. The park consists of two piers, north and south open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. They are the longest fishing piers in the world.
A drive over the Sunshine Skyway spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay is a visually stunning sight and one you should take
I love horse racing. We are fortunate in Tampa to have one of the few horse racing tracks in the south. Tampa Bay Downs is a thoroughbred racing facility built in 1926. The track operates from early December until Kentucky Derby weekend.
Covered seating provides a comfortable way to watch the races as it is usually quite warm here even in the winter time.
And...they're off !!
Simulcasting shows the races going on all over the country. You can wager on any race at any track that is running in the country. I can come here on Derby day and wager on the Kentucky Derby.
I close with a picture of the great Verrazano..winner of the 2013 Tampa Bay Derby and the Wood Memorial
The beautiful Tampa Theatre, one of Tampa's most recognizable buildings. Chances are if you live in Tampa you have been to this wonderful theatre.
The Tampa Theatre opened on October 15, 1926. As you can see the outside of the building today looks much like it did 87 years ago.
The box office is largely unchanged.
As you enter the lobby you see the stunning Mediterranean architecture that continues throughout the theatre.
The theatre is special to my family. Every Christmas season for as long as I can remember we go to see one of the classic Christmas movies. We have seen It's a Wonderful Life too many times to count and every year it is as wonderful as it was the first time.
There are a few spots in Tampa that if you have lived here for even a short while you will recognize immediately. Some are nothing special, others are spectacular.
A walk down Bayshore Boulevard is nothing short of spectacular with dazzling views of Tampa Bay and downtown Tampa and some of the most beautiful homes in town. The sidewalk runs 4.5 miles and is said to be the longest uninterrupted sidewalk in the world.
Not spectacular but a landmark still is the old Sulphur Springs water tower. Built in 1927 to supply water to the Sulphur Springs Hotel. Many people my age remember going to movies at the Tower Drive In right next to the tower.
The beautiful minarets at the University of Tampa
BO's may not look like much but it has been serving up Tampa's best ice cream for over 50 years. If you order the large banana split you will need help finishing it. Ask my cousin Alan...
Voted more than once the best restaurant in America, Bern's Steak House is a Tampa icon. The best steak you will ever eat is here and the restaurant also has the longest wine list in the world. If you go a tour of the wine cellar is a must.
Last but not least is the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. It is the oldest restaurant in Florida and has been serving the best Spanish and Cuban food in town since 1905. The menu is incredible and the 1905 salad is a Tampa tradition.
I will be adding a couple of other Tampa landmarks to the next blog...
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
