Tampa is the commercial hub of Florida's west coast and one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. It is also a city of diversity with plenty of museums, outdoor attractions and cultural events to keep any visitor busy and entertained during a stay. Although tourism is the top industry in Tampa today, cigar manufacturing once held that honor. If you are going to get around by cab then be sure to call for one. It can be difficult to hail a cab in Tampa.
The Riverwalk is one of the highlights of the city and many of the main attractions are located along the 4 mile stretch. You can enjoy shopping or spend the day touring Florida Aquarium or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (one of the country's top rated zoos). Ybor City is one of only three National Historic Landmark districts in Florida and well worth a stroll.
The climate in Tampa is very mild. Summer temperatures hoover around the 80º degree mark while the winter temperatures fall just below 50ºF. June, July, August, and September have the highest amount of rain with August topping out close to 8 inches on average.
There are plenty of cheap flights to Tampa, Florida particularly during the spring months. You can find cheap airline tickets from Los Angeles to Tampa International Airport (TPA) starting around $200 US.
There is a wide variety of accommodations and cheap hotels in Tampa. You can find cheap hotel rooms around the business district starting just over $100 US. There are even cheap hotel rooms near some of the major attractions in Tampa that start as low as $50 US.