Discover Gay Florida: Tampa

Tampa is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. From 2000 to 2015, the population of the city has grown over 20%, and the metro area has grown even more than that. As more and more people come to "The Big Guava" to enjoy the plentiful job market, the great weather and the low cost of living, they have helped to cement the city's reputation as one of the "crown jewels" of the Sunshine State.

Tampa is a city that offers lots of world-class amenities but still feels intimate and familiar enough for you to know your elected officials, and even the mayor, by their first names -- and they know yours too.

There is so much to do in this booming city, situated just minutes by car from the Gulf Coast. Let me tell you all you can enjoy as an LGBT traveler making your way to Tampa.

WHERE TO STAY

Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown offers the best value for the location. Located just two blocks from the heart of GaYBOR on 7th Avenue, each room and suite is delightfully plush. Each morning, a complimentary hot breakfast, including eggs and bacon, is served, and businessmen will love the quiet, spacious workspaces that look out onto the swimming pool. The shuttle will take you to the airport and other sights. (1301 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, 813-247-6700)

The Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk is located right on the Hillsborough River, across from the WFLA-TV studios in the heart of downtown Tampa. The 277 guest rooms are tastefully decorated and many feature great views of the river. Don't miss the special "social hour," which is a wine tasting event held twice weekly beginning at 6 p.m. This hotel offers great amenities and an even greater location. (200 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa, 813-223-2222)

The Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection by Marriott offers glamorous lodgings in the hip and happening SoHo district. First, let's talk about the rooms, which are impeccably designed in the "urban chic" style, complete with bright colors and beautiful artwork, especially in the executive suites. Relax at the Evangeline spa, have a drink on the rooftop, and then decide which wine you'd like to take home in their exclusive wine shop! (Don't forget to stop at Chocolate Pi, the hotel's p�tisserie.) (1207 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 855-829-2536)

Also, consider staying at the nearby Flamingo Resort, a nightclub complex and resort geared specifically to the LGBT traveler, with six themed bars, a dance club, and guest rooms of all sizes. It is located 30 minutes from downtown Tampa at 4601 34th St. S. in south St. Petersburg. For more information, call (727) 321-5000 or visit flamingofla.com.

WHERE TO PLAY

Tampa Pride is the largest LGBT pride event in the city limits, and is held every year in March. Next year's date has already been decided (March 25, 2017); to learn more about Tampa Pride, visit tampapride.org. The local LGBT service organization is Metro Wellness and Community Centers. Based in St. Petersburg, the organization also staffs a Tampa office on 7th Avenue adjacent to the Hampton Inn in Ybor City. For more information, including updates regarding their upcoming gala on September 10, visit metrotampabay.org.

Speaking of Ybor City, a lot of Tampa's LGBT nightlife is based here. A little backstory: Ybor City is an area of town that used to be well-known for its cigar manufacturing, and is now a nightlife hub for Tampanians both gay and straight. The area on 7th Avenue from Centro Ybor down to 14th Street is a budding area for LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly businesses called the GaYBOR District. In this area, you will find Hamburger Mary's Tampa, which serves up fierce drag and other fun events like bingo and talent night, all alongside some great food, drinks and ample customer service. If you'd like to drink a few beers and enjoy a sports bar atmosphere, complete with multiple TVs tuned to sports networks, stop by Hamburger Mary's Pub House, right next door.

Walk down 7th Avenue and the first gay bar you will see is The Honey Pot on the left-hand side. A high-energy dance club, the owners routinely bring international DJs to spin for the crowds. Further up the street and back on the Centro side of the street is Bradley's on 7th, a neighborhood bar featuring friendly bartenders, a spacious dance floor, and popular drag shows each Friday and Saturday hosted by Joey Brooks.

Next door to Bradley's is Liquid Tampa, which is a dual-story nightclub featuring a dance floor, drag stage, bars and seating on the main floor. Many "RuPaul's Drag Race" queens make their Tampa debuts at Liquid. One block away, on the other side of the street, is Southern Nights Tampa. The Orlando favorite opened in Tampa in the spring of 2015, and it has quickly become a popular venue. It features a dance area, a smoking lounge, and lots of sexy go-go dancers.

There are two LGBT bars in Tampa outside Ybor City: City Side, a lounge featuring a spacious patio, live DJ, drag shows on weekends, and a special event room; and The Body Shop, which has traditionally catered more to men than women, and is now specifically a bear bar. City Side is located in South Tampa, near the junction of Dale Mabry Highway (the north-south artery in Tampa) and Henderson Boulevard, and The Body Shop is close to the University of South Florida on Nebraska Avenue.

If you want to relax at a bathhouse after going to the clubs (or any time of day!), the Ybor Resort and Spa is centrally located in Ybor City, a block from 7th Avenue, and it boasts the largest hot tub in the city, situated outdoors in a tree-lined patio area. The Tampa Men's Club is another well-known bathhouse, located off Hillsborough Avenue between Dale Mabry Highway and Tampa International Airport.

WHERE TO GO

When you're in Tampa, start sightseeing in the northern part of the city. Learn about science hands-on at one of the largest science museums in Florida, the Museum of Science & History (well-known locally as just "MOSI"). Just across the street is the University of South Florida, one of the largest public universities in the state. Within a five-minute car ride from MOSI and USF, you will find Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. If you've been to Busch Gardens in Virginia, you will find that the format of the parks are similar, except the theme here is not Europe, it is Africa. You can see lots of beautiful animals that are unique to Africa in between rides on some heart-stopping roller coasters!

While you're heading down Dale Mabry to downtown, be sure to stop off at the Lowry Park Zoo, which features, among other attractions, a boat tour, giraffe feeding and camel rides. Raymond James Stadium plays host to many blockbuster concerts (Beyonc�, Taylor Swift), and is also the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In downtown, the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning plays at Amalie Arena, as do many other entertainment acts. The downtown area has quite a few fun things to see, such as the picturesque campus of the University of Tampa, which includes the Henry B. Plant Museum. Originally a hotel, the Moorish designs inspired future buildings at the adjoining university. Walk back across the bridge and you will get to see the beautiful Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, where the Broadway in Tampa series takes the stage (among other productions), is nearby.

Ybor City and Channelside are very close to downtown Tampa. Visit the Ybor City Museum to see how Tampa grew to become the multicultural city it is today. Channelside is home to The Florida Aquarium, the largest such institution in the state, featuring marine life exhibits and interactive dolphin tours.

For more information on Tampa Bay, go to the Visit Tampa Bay tourism website at visittampabay.com. Read more about the GaYBOR District by going to gaybor.com