A Vacation Guide to Tampa Bay

Planning on a trip to Florida? Instead of choosing one of the heavily crowded tourist spots or spring break getaways, such as Daytona Beach or Miami, why not try a walk on the wild side? Offering quiet sandy beaches, breathtaking sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico, and a wide variety of entertainments to keep even the busiest family occupied, the Tampa Bay area is a vacationer's dream come true.

Sports fans are sure to love the Tampa Bay area in the spring; nearby Clearwater hosting the Philadelphia Phillies during their spring training, the Toronto Blue Jays calling Dunedin their springtime home, and the New York Yankees spend their spring training time in Tampa. Additionally, six additional spring training teams are all located within one hour's time of Pinellas County. New Year's Day is when the annual Outback Bowl is held and, each year, Clearwater Beach hosts the Outback Bowl's Beach Bowl Day, where fans are able to meet the teams, cheerleaders, and members of the band.

If you're looking to pick a winner and win some money, forget Vegas! Greyhound racing is available at one of three locations in the Tampa Bay area, and Tampa Bay Downs hosts some of the finest race horses in the country. Slots more your style? Several different cruise lines offer trips out into the Gulf of Mexico, where guests can enjoy casino gambling including slot machines, blackjack and roulette. Additionally, the Seminole Indian Casino offers land lovers the chance to win at high stake bingo and poker, as well as offering video gaming machines.