Channelside Bay Plaza | Tampa, FL

Channelside Retail, Entertainment, Dining, Events, and Movie Theater


Channelside is a great location to enjoy with a date or a group looking for many things to do in one location. I personally enjoy going to the wine store and paying by the ounce to enjoy various types of wine. I then like to have dinner at one of the many restaurants in the channelside plaza. Each restaurant is a little different, you will find anything from bar food to fine dining and there is even sushi.

On the weekend it’s not uncommon to have live entertainment in the center of the plaza and artist painting in the same area. If shopping is your thing you will find shops offering many types of goods around the channelside district. Some additional things to do include: bowling at Splitsville, having a cigar at Lit cigar lounge, and/or partying inside Howl at the Moon piano bar.

A visitor’s guide is next to the Tampa Chamber of Commerce that is located on Channelside Drive. I prefer parking inside the parking garage located across the street and then having an establishment scan the parking coin for a reduced rate. Also, valet parking and outdoor parking is available if you would prefer to be closer in. The ambiance at Channelside is lively and enjoyable.

By Blake Van Weelde
http://www.TampaBayHub.com

Tampa Bay Travel and Tourism

Get ready to warm up to Tampa Bay! There’s a sunny side to this West Coast community that makes this a true hot spot among the world’s destinations.

Naturally there’s lots of water, sand and sunshine. But you’ll also discover an area that’s alive with the arts, seriously sports-minded, always planning a party or parade, and filled with only-in-Tampa Bay places to go, things to do and sights to see. Whatever your pleasure, you'll find it in Tampa Bay!

Tampa’s semi-tropical climate invites you to enjoy the great outdoors year-round. And the people are every bit as warm as the temperatures. An inherent Southern charm makes anyone who visits Tampa Bay feel welcome and right at home. And the choices of where to stay, dine, unwind or find fun are limitless, and can comfortably accommodate all tastes, timelines and travel needs.

Source:http://www.visittampabay.com

Beaches in Tampa Bay, FL | St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, Fort De Soto Beach/Park

Pinellas County Beaches

Pinellas County maintains three major parks along the Gulf Coast. Fort De Soto Park, located in the south end of the county, is one of the largest county parks in the State of Florida, with over seven miles of shoreline. Sand Key Park, located in central Pinellas County, has almost a half mile of beachfront. Howard Park, is a gem located on the Gulf of Mexico in the northern reaches of the county in Tarpon Springs. These three parks offer a list amenities that include picnicking facilities, fishing opportunities and other items of interest to residents and tourists alike. In addition to these major beach park facilities, Pinellas County has six beach access parks (Indian Rocks , Tiki Gardens/ Indian Shores, Redington Shores, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach). These beach access parks expand public access, and include restroom and shower facilities. Pinellas County beach access parks are used by almost eight million visitors each year. Two major state parks in Pinellas County, Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island, provide almost five miles of direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Honeymoon Island State Park is accessible by car, while pristine Caladesi Island State Park is easily reached by modestly priced public ferry that departs several times per day from Honeymoon Island State Park. Both facilities have amenities, and ample public parking is available within the grounds of Honeymoon Island State Park for both park facilities. In addition to the county and state parks mentioned above, several important municipal parks provide direct beach access, amenities and public parking as well. St. Pete Beach's Pass-A-Grille and Upham Beaches, Treasure Island's four city-operated beach access parks, Madeira Beach's Archibald Park and Clearwater's North and South Beach Parks are examples of major municipally operated beach access facilities. In Pinellas County, beach access is provided at 31 parks and 135 public easements providing well over 12,000 parking spaces available to the general public. Pinellas County continues to recognize the need for expanding the number of publicly available beach access points and the desirability of providing properly designed and aesthetically pleasing walkovers. The joint efforts on the part of Pinellas County, the State of Florida, our local beach municipalities and the tremendous citizen volunteer efforts employed in our dune replanting, continue to make our beach access expansion and enhancement program a resounding success. About Pinellas County beaches Occupying a peninsula along the Gulf Coast in the heart of west central Florida, Pinellas County is the second smallest county in the state, containing less than 281 square miles. While small in total area, Pinellas enjoys a long coastline along the Gulf Coast, providing over 35 miles of fine white sandy beaches stretching from Tarpon Springs to Fort De Soto. With over 3,150 people per square mile, Pinellas County today is by far the most densely populated county in the State of Florida and is second only to Atlanta Georgia's Fulton County, in the southeastern United States. Large numbers of residents are attracted to the county's mild sub-tropical climate and strong economy. In 1996, over 4.1 million overnight visitors came to Pinellas County from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. To support the growing needs of our expanding residential population and the large number of visitors drawn to our area, enhancing our beaches, the county's greatest asset, is vitally important to our overall economy and quality of life in our community. Spotlight -- Fort De Soto named America’s Top Beach - 2008 Pristine Area Favorite Lauded as “Portrait of Tranquility” Fort De Soto Park was named America’s Top Beach by TripAdvisor, the world's largest online travel community. Citing a “spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water and a laid-back atmosphere,” the popular online travel network put the park’s North Beach at the top of its annual best-of list, based on TripAdvisor's Popularity Index. This marks the second time in three years the pristine Pinellas County beach has received top honors on an annual “best-of” list. In 2005 Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a.k.a. “Dr. Beach,” named Fort De Soto the nation’s #1 Beach .

Dog Parks in Tampa Bay, Hillsborough and Pinellas County

Dog Parks in Tampa Bay Hillsborough Pinellas County

Pinellas County Dog Parks

Apartment dwelling dog owners rejoice! The Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Department has opened several Dog Parks.  These green fenced areas allow unleashed canines the opportunity to run free. And, when the pet gets hot and thirsty, there are cooling stations complete with showers and dog-level water fountains to cool things off. Owners are required to supervise and clean up after their four-legged friends, and all dogs must be on a leash when outside of the Dog Park area. Please see dog park rules below. Note: The only Pinellas County park where dogs are allowed on the beach is the dog park at Ft. De Soto park. Did You Know? Unscooped dog poop washes off into waterways and provides nutrients (pollutants) that may cause algae blooms and fish kills. Stormwater runoff may become your drinking water. Play video Learn more... Dog Parks are located at the following Pinellas County Parks: Fort De Soto Park Anderson Park Boca Ciega Park Sand Key Park Walsingham Park Chesnut Park For additional dog park locations, check with your local cities. Pet Rules & Safety Issues at the dog park: Animals other than dogs are not allowed in the dog park. All dogs must be legally licensed, have current vaccinations and wear a visible license tag. Dogs that have been declared dangerous or aggressive are prohibited (Pinellas County Code Section 14-64 or F.S. Chapter 767). Dog owners are solely responsible for the actions of their dogs. Please ensure that dogs do not escape the fenced area. Female dogs in heat are prohibited. Keep small children and infants under strict supervision. Please clean up after your dog. (pet owners are responsible for their own bags) Dog owners must be in the fenced area and within the unobstructed sight of their dogs, which must be under the control of visual or oral commands when not on a leash. (Be aware that not all dog owners are watching their dog, which means when the dog is not acting appropriately, the owner might not know or care.) Dog owners must immediately fill any hole their dogs dig. Dogs must be leashed when entering and exiting the area. Dog owners must have a leash in hand at all times. For the safety of the dogs and other users, please refrain from smoking and bringing food into the fenced area. Please do not bring treats in for your dog.  Other dog will smell your treat and want one too. Do not introduce a new puppy to the dog park until it has been vaccinated for a variety of diseases. Be aware of the communal diseases that your dog can catch from other dogs in the dog park. Kennel cough, ring worm,…… Warning to Patrons: Beware of holes dug by dogs. Users of this facility do so at their own risk.         Pinellas County shall not be liable for injury or damages caused by the dog in question and/or the dog owner while in the park. Hillsborough County Dog Parks

Carolyn Meeker Dog Park Sports: Dog Park View More Information					122 1st Ave. SW Lutz, FL 33548 (813) 635-3500 View Map
Logan Gate Dog Park Sports: Dog Park View More Information					7374 Monterey Blvd. Tampa, FL 33625 (813) 635-3500 View Map
Mango Recreation Center Sports: Accessible, After-School Camp, Arts & Crafts, Dog Park, Facility Rental, Gameroom, Pre Teen / Teen Programs, Special Interest Classes, Summer Fun Camp, Tot Programs Courts: Basketball Courts(2, Lighted) , Playground Equipment(2, Non Lighted) , Softball Field(1, Lighted) View More Information					11717 Clay Pit Road Seffner, FL 33584 (813) 635-7489 View Map
West Park Sports: Accessible, Dog Park View More Information					6402 North Occident Street Tampa, FL 33614 (813) 635-3500 View Map

About Tampa

About Tampa  

About the City of Tampa

The City of Tampa is the largest city in Hillsborough County, is the county seat and is the third most populous city in Florida. It is located on the west coast of Florida, approximately 200 miles northwest of Miami, 180 southwest of Jacksonville, and 20 miles northeast of St. Petersburg. The population of the city represents approximately one-third of the total population of Hillsborough County. Tampa's economy is founded on a diverse base that includes tourism, agriculture, construction, finance, health care, government, technology, and the port of Tampa. Contributing to the success of our community is the way businesses, City government, and citizens work together to make Tampa a better place to live.

Tampa has a number of sports teams, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League, and the Tampa Bay Rays in Major League Baseball. It also has many tourist attractions.
In 2008, Tampa was ranked as the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes. In Depth: America's Best Cities For The Outdoors - Forbes.com]
A 2004 survey by the NYU newspaper ranked Tampa as a top city for "twenty-somethings".

Tampa Bay, FL | Attractions and Things To Do (Annualy)

Tampa Bay Annual Feature Events

Tampa is the home of numerous unique cultural, educational, and other entertaining annual events.

  January

•   Gasparilla Pirate Fest

Every year, plunderers take over the city in honor of the mythical legendary pirate Jose Gaspar. The Gasparilla Pirate Fest is one of the country's largest and most unique outdoor celebrations.

•   Outback Bowl

The Outback Bowl is a New Year's Day college football game matching teams from the SEC and Big Ten Conference.

•   Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival

The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival is an 8-day cultural fest in which speakers, musicians, artists, poets, and craftspeople welcome many visitors each year.

February

•   Fiesta Day (Ybor City)

Fiesta Day honors the Cuban, German, Italian, African-Cuban, Jewish and Spanish immigrants who first settled in Ybor in 1886.

•   Florida State Fair

The annual Florida State Fair is a showcase for Florida's agricultural industry. The fair is educational, exciting and fun.

•   Gasparilla Distance Classic

The Gasparilla Distance Classic attracts world-class runners who compete on foot in 5K and 15K events.

•   Sant' Yago Knight Parade

The streets of Ybor City come ablaze when floats with lights, bands and pirates fill the streets for the Sant' Yago Knight Parade.

March

•   American Invitational & Winter Equestrian Festival

This equestrian event draws some of the world's finest horses and riders. The finale of the Winter Equestrian Festival is the American Invitational, a world class jumping competition, at Raymond James Stadium.

•   Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

Painters, artisans, photographers, sculptors, jewelers and artists from around the world display their work at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts. It is one of the largest art shows in the Southeast.

•   Rough Riders St. Patrick's Day Parade

The 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Rough Riders, Inc. and the City of Tampa invite you to attend their Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

April

•   MacDill Air Fest

MacDill Airforce Base buzzes with excitement as Air Fest, one of the largest air shows in the Department of Defense, comes to Tampa.

July

•   Independence Day

Family oriented celebrations of United States Independence Day in the Tampa area.

October

•   Guavaween

Guavaween is a Latin-style Halloween celebration held in Tampa's historic Ybor City.

November

•   Latin Fest

The Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Committee's Annual Latin Fest is held downtown and is free to the public. The event is part of the month long Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.