Ybor City in Tampa seems to meet all of your needs. In addition to the
restaurants and clubs, you can bike across the Friendship Bridge (the
old Gandy Bridge) from Tampa to St. Pete.
Ybor City - Tampa - Reviews of Ybor City
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34678-d109448-Reviews-Ybor_City-Tampa_Florida.html
TripAdvisor:Ybor City's smokin'
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUrl-g34678-d109448-r43676-e__2F__Attraction_Review__2D__g34678__2D__d109448__2D__Reviews__2D__Ybor_City__2D__Tampa_Florida__2E__html-Ybor_City-Tampa_Florida.html
"Since the late 80s, 155 new businesses have opened in Ybor City,
creating 1,500 new jobs and representing $45 million in private
investments in the area. Latin cafes with Cuban style cafe con leche
(coffee with milk), chic art galleries, eclectic restaurants, and
clubs housed in historic buildings that offer jazz, blues, salsa and
reggae are just a few of the inclusions that make Ybor an exciting
destination.
Ybor City has also earned the distinction as "Nightlife Capital of
Florida's West Coast." About 40,000 people converge in Ybor on a
typical weekend night including those who come to enjoy Ybor City's
many ethnic festivals and events.
In the next few months, a 91-room Hilton Garden Inn will open at the
intersection of Palm Ave. and 17th St. in the heart of Ybor City, just
minutes from downtown Tampa. The hotel will be four storeys and comply
with the historic guidelines of the Latin quarter."
Biking
Biking and blading along Bayshore Boulevard
http://www.sptimes.com/News/050500/Outdoors/Biking_and_blading_al.shtml
"Within walking distance of downtown Tampa, Bayshore Boulevard runs
about 5 miles along the waterfront. The wide, well-maintained path is
an excellent place to ride, run and rollerblade. Best times are early
morning and at dusk. If possible, check the tides. High is better than
low."
Price tag on bike path:$25 million
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/06/23/Northoftampa/Price_tag_on_bike_pat.shtml
"The current bike path, constructed in 2000, runs for about 41/2 miles
from Tampa Palms to Hunter's Green."
Just off U.S. 19, a Pasco paradise awaits
http://stpetersburgtimes.com/News/050701/Pasco/Just_off_US_19__a_Pas.shtml
"A path is in the works that would connect the back of the Starkey
park trail to the 29-mile bike trail that runs parallel to the
Suncoast Parkway. The connector would meet the parkway path between
S.R. 54 and Ridge Road and could be open by next year.
The parkway's bike path now stretches from SR 50 to Lutz-Lake Fern
Road. We boarded it at the SR 54 trail head and headed north."
Frommers.com:Destinations:St. Petersburg:Active Pursuits:Biking
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/stpetersburg/0402020086.html
"With miles of flat terrain, the St. Petersburg area is ideal for
bikers, in-line skaters, and hikers. The Pinellas Trail is especially
good, since it follows an abandoned railroad bed 47 miles (76km) from
St. Petersburg north to Tarpon Springs and from there to Tampa. It
crosses the bay via the old Gandy Bridge (which runs alongside the
newer Gandy Bridge), now known as the Friendship TrailBridge (tel.
813/289-4400). The 2 1/2-mile-long (4km) bridge is open to hikers,
bikers, bicyclists, fishers, and in-line skaters, but be careful going
up and down the steep center span, especially if you're on skates. The
St. Pete trail head is on 34th Street South (U.S. 19) between 8th and
Fairfield Avenues south. It's packed on the weekends. Free strip maps
of the trail are available at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of
Commerce."
SEARCH TERMS
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Ybor+City+attractions
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Tampa+biking+Gandy
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Ybor+City+%22bike+path%22
hlabadie-ga |
