IWNA

INTERVAL WORLD Spring 2015

hore

BY A.D. THOMPSON

The magnetic pull of the Tampa Bay–area beaches is,

generally speaking, unrivaled. Few visitors can tear

themselves away from the sugar sand and warm

green swells. We feel you. There are boards to be

paddled, dolphins to be spotted, and watercolor sun-

sets to toast. So, we’ll be frank: You may not manage

to escape the allure of the Gulf’s siren song. For those

who do, though, a collection of off-the-water pleas-

ures awaits. Whether your thing is culture or the

simple joy of a locally brewed craft beer, Tampa’s got

you covered. Extensively.

Belly Up

Did you know that Tampa was recently ranked number two on the

USA

Today

10Best Readers’ Choice list of beer towns across the U.S.? Not to

be outdone by its spirituous competitors in the Northeast and Rocky

Mountains, this sunny, subtropical hub is home to a host of award-winning

breweries and brewpubs. And let’s face it: Tampa’s weather makes alfresco

imbibing a fantasy come to life, even in the dead of winter.

TAMPA BAY’S

beaches

are mesmeric to be sure.

Escape their gravity,

however, and a wealth of

other notable attractions —

scenic, historic,

gastronomic — beckon.

Take in Florida’s

lush greenery

during a stroll at

the Sunken

Gardens, a 4-acre,

100-year-old

botanical garden.

Tampa Theatre; G. Louis; SuperStock/Glow Images