Hey ya'll, just got to visit Tampa for the weekend and it was a blast! Perfect mini vacay spot and I'm here to tell you lovelies all the places you need to visit while your there.
Places to Eat
Chez Faby
Little french themed hole-in-the-wall restaurant that is always full and is absolutely amazing! We had breakfast there and from the cappuccinos to the strawberry french toast to the croissant sandwiches and avocado toast, everything was so delicious. Definitely make a reservation beforehand as so many people tried to walk-in and there was no room.
Rock and Brews
OMG guys this restaurant is soooo good! The atmosphere is amazing, everything is rock & roll themed with music playing and artists painted all over the walls. The burgers are to die for and from the adults pov, there were some really good alcoholic beverages (the comes in the cutest guitar holder with four different signature Tampa beers to choose from; were the favorites for us). Make sure you make room as the portions are quite big; definitely one place per two people if you get apps! Side note: it's right across the Tampa Premium Outlets, if you shop then want to eat, do not leave the mall parking lot as we made that mistake and it the traffic was crazy!
Other places with great reviews (haven't been to these yet, but are known as Tampas iconic restaurants): Armature Works (local restaurants in a waterfront food hall), Ulele (family owned brewery and native/Spanish explorer inspired menu), Sparkman Wharf (Tampa Bay's top chefs), The Deviled Pig (BBQ, most popular dish is the Pitmaster Queban), The Columbian Restaurant (oldest restaurant in Fl). Definitely need to visit the Oxford Exchange, which is an English inspired shop + restaurant that is a dream for any London-obsessed girl.
Activities
Shopping at the Premium Outlets
If you're on this blog, I'm assuming you are also a shopaholic like me. This is a super nice outdoor mall that has a bunch of the fave shops like Express, Aeropostale, and while also having some restaurants around and places to get a drink. They also have a Starbucks, which of course is essential to any shopping day. Tampa gets such great shipments to there stores so there is always something that will catch your eye, just make sure not to make your wallet cry too much.
Tampa Riverwalk
The Riverwalk is a 2.6 mile long walk that features great views, cute stands, great bars and restaurants, and lots of fun activities! There are always music festivals going on in this area, the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, that have so many fun events and great music. We walked along the river and got some popsicles from the stands that surrounded the walk. If you have lots of time to explore the area, you can visit the Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay Historic Center, or even the Straz Center Theatre. It is said that the Sail Plaza is the best place to watch the sunset in Tampa. There is also a beautiful park that leads right into the University of Tampa!
Bush Gardens
Bush Gardens is definitely the most known attraction spot, though there are also Water Works Park and Adventure Island to check out. Just like any theme park, it provides a day worth of various rides, shows, places to eat, and zoos to explore. The most iconic rides are the Cheetah Hunt, SheiKra, and Falcon's Fury; definitely rides that will get your blood pumping with how fast and crazy they are!
University of Tampa
Make a quick trip to the University of Tampa as the grounds are so stunning. With arches and red brick, the buildings are stunning and the public can visit during the day. We only did a quick stop to take some pictures but it was definitely worth the trip.
Fairgrounds
The Florida State Fairgrounds is one of the iconic spots in Tampa, along with Bush Gardens! It only comes once a year, around February, and there are tones of fun fair rides, foods, and much much more. For 2023, it will be occurring Feb 9 - Feb 20 so there is lots of time to place and coordinate your stay. Pro tip, start booking your hotels in advanced as when the fair occurs, the prices
Places to Stay
As rated by the locals and visitors, some of the best places are: Hampton Inn & Suites, the Godfrey Hotel & Cabanas, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and the Epicurean Hotel. Some more affordable options are Red Roof Inn, the Comfort Suites, or La Quinta Inn & Suites.
What to Pack
Florida, as ya'll probably know, is the sunshine state and even in Winter/Spring time, it is hot. For a more casual lounge outfit, athletic gear and cute sneakers are all the trend as walking around the Riverwalk and exploring the city will get you sweating. Though, if you want more of a put-together, cutesy casual look, jean shorts and rompers paired with comfy sandals or sneakers are the way to go. During the evenings, however, it does get pretty cold so if you are planning on staying out late shopping or at the fair, bring a jacket that you can wrap around your waist when it's hot, but will keep you warm later on. Lastly, can't repeat it enough, comfy shoes as there is so much to explore around the tourist areas. A larger carry-on bag is essential for these weekend trips, the monogram tweed tote is the best bag to bring. Wrote a whole blog review about this bag, click here to read.
My Visit
We started off Friday night driving over four hours to get there, my outfit was definitely cute and comfy vibes. Very long car ride calls for a comfy blanket and Starbies; ya'll know I adore my Barefoot Dreams In the Wild blanket, literally the coziest blanket I have ever gotten. Wore this Amazon pink puffer which is the cutest and fits true to size, plus under $50. Also wore my new converse high tops, obsessed with them as they are iconic.
Saturday started off with getting ready for breakfast at the go-to Chez Faby and then lots and lots and lots of pictures. We explored around the Riverwalk, shopped at the Premium outlets, and toured around the University of Tampa. There were so many gorgeous photo spots, I had my mom change outfits with me to get some more variety lol. Did take some pictures for my Instagram, so I have a bunch of looks. This stunning Macy's floral dress is one to showcase, wore it for the pics at the uni and it fit like a dream. The cross detailing on the back is stunning and the heels ahhh love a cute pair of bow heels! Also had to talk about this adorable outfit I got from shopping at the mall; Aeropostale is still having their BOGO free sale plus everything 50% - 70% OFF. Got the cutest floral leggings in an XS, they give me victorian London vibes with the pattern and even have pockets! Also got this stunning ruffle knit top that pairs perfectly with any spring look.
Sunday was the last day and sadly travel home day. Wore another Aeropostale look that I got from the sale, comfiest leggings to travel in: high waisted and with pockets. Paired with this cropped sweater-knit tank that matches the leggings perfectly. Wore my converse again since they're comfy and easy to take off/put on.