Tampa, Florida, May 2026

Tampa is a sunny city on Florida’s Gulf Coast. We chose it for our trip because just outside Tampa you can swim with manatees — the famous “sea cows.” And beyond meeting these amazing animals, we also visited one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida and, of course, spent some time exploring Tampa itself

We only had four days for this trip, but we managed to fit in a lot.

Day 1

We left Toronto early in the morning and, just a few hours later, arrived in Tampa. Since we were traveling with friends, we decided to rent a car together and stay in an Airbnb not far from downtown.

Right away, we headed into the city center. Looking ahead, I can say that Tampa is actually quite a small city — like many places in Florida — and there isn’t a huge amount to do downtown itself.

The most popular hangout spot is Armature Works — a former industrial building turned modern loft-style food hall right on the river. Outside, there’s a nice waterfront area to relax and walk around

Inside, there are cafés and restaurants 

In the evening, there was an exhibition of sports and luxury cars taking place near Armature Works  

The sunsets here are simply breathtaking 

Day 2

The next day, we headed to one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida — Siesta Beach. The drive took us about an hour and a half. This beach is famous not only for its stunning turquoise water, but also for its incredible sand. It is completely white and feels almost like cornstarch or powdered sugar under your feet

It turns out this sand is made up of about 99% quartz, which is why it barely heats up and stays pleasant even in the strongest summer heat. And the sea did not disappoint either.

Day 3

The next morning brought the adventure we had actually flown to Tampa for. We set off for Crystal River — the only place in Florida where it is legal to swim with manatees. We had booked a tour in advance with a company called Manatees in Paradise. The boat fit six guests plus two staff members, so it turned into a pretty private experience.

A few words about manatees, because these marine animals truly deserve special attention. They are huge, yet extremely gentle. They weigh around 500 kg and can reach up to 3 meters in length. They also have a funny, almost cartoon-like appearance. Manatees have very poor eyesight. Their bodies are covered with sensitive hairs that help them perceive the world around them. They feel everything very subtly. For example, they are believed to detect a person’s heartbeat and may choose not to come close if someone is nervous and their heart rate increases.

We put on wetsuits and jumped into the river

Manatees prefer cold water, so in May it is much harder to spot them. But we were lucky enough to see three manatees. To find them, our instructor guided us to spots where she noticed movement in the water. We would quietly drift closer and simply float on the surface while a manatee swam right beneath us. Every now and then, it would lift its nose above the water to take a breath. It was an unforgettable experience!

After that, we went shopping. Since our trip was timed around the girls’ upcoming graduation from school, we ended up spending quite a bit of time in the shops. They basically led the way wherever they wanted, and we didn’t really resist…

Then we stopped by another scenic riverside walking area 

And then we headed back to Armature Works and spent the rest of the evening there 

Day 4

We were flying home in the evening, but we still had a full day ahead of us. We decided to visit the Tampa aquarium, which is considered one of the best aquariums in Florida. It is simply called The Florida Aquarium.

Looking ahead, I can say that we personally enjoyed the aquarium in Toronto more — probably because it is newer and more modern. But we still happily spent a few hours exploring the aquarium in Tampa and enjoyed the experience

And then we got in the car and drove to the nearest town to Tampa — St. Petersburg. It is known for its beautiful beaches, as well as the Salvador Dalí Museum, but we went there to visit Sunken Gardens. It is a historic tropical botanical garden, over 100 years old — a true green oasis in the middle of the city

And just like that, our short but very eventful vacation came to an end