West Central Florida
Dotting the region’s coastline, a host of unique diversions await on the roads less traveled. Down scenic bayfront avenues and tucked off quiet Gulf beaches, gilded architecture, ethnic enclaves and historic villages can be explored at a leisurely pace reminiscent of a bygone era.Rising above the Hillsborough River, the six silver onion-shaped minarets atop the former Tampa Bay Hotel are the first clue that travelers are approaching a hallmark of the city’s gilded age. The former hotel, with its distinctive Moorish architecture, still stands but now operates as the University of Tampa, with one wing — the Henry B. Plant Museum — furnished as it was in the late 1800s. Visitors can wander through opulent rooms, such as the restored parlor suite, domed dining room and magnificent solarium. The museum also showcases Victorian art, furniture and fashions.
For another fine example of ornamented architecture, tour the Tampa Theatre, a restored 1926 movie palace, built to resemble a Moorish courtyard, complete with colonnades, balconies and Greek and Roman sculpture replicas. Visitors-in-the-know will want to take advantage of free guided tours offered on a monthly basis. On the tours, visitors can explore the theater from balcony to backstage, see a special film screening of "American Movie Palaces" and hear a mini-concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. In addition, open house tours are held periodically on selected Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Interesting museums nearby include the Tampa Museum of Art (new location opening fall of 2009), specializing in classical antiquities and showcasing Florida’s acclaimed and emerging artists; and the Tampa Bay History Center, featuring exhibits on the area’s historical and multicultural influences. Visit these and other cultural sites on walking tours of the city’s art and architecture.
Across the bay, St. Petersburg's trolley service provides travelers with easy access to a variety of downtown cultural treasures. Stops along the route include the world-famous Salvador Dali Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of works by the Spanish surrealist; the Florida International Museum, the state's premier museum for blockbuster exhibitions such as the "Treasures of the Czars" and "Titanic: The Exhibition;" and Museum of Fine Arts, housed in a waterfront Mediterranean villa and noted for its collection of French impressionist paintings. Since relocating from nearby Madeira Beach, the Florida Holocaust Museum features a concentration camp boxcar from Treblinka, Poland, has been added to the trolley's route. And near downtown St. Petersburg, one of Florida's original roadside attractions still thrives. Sunken Gardens features an exotic collection of more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers as well as a walk-through aviary, wax museum of biblical characters and gator wrestling shows.
Pinellas County's particular blend of culture and history is also wonderfully preserved in several vibrant communities awaiting discovery. Strolling through Tarpon Springs, vacationers get the impression they are visiting a seaside Mediterranean village. Here, the aroma of freshly baked Greek pastries and festive melodies fill the air, while fisherman and shopkeepers exchange greetings in Greek. This special flavor is an outgrowth of one of Florida’s most fascinating, one-of-a-kind industries — sponge diving. Considered "America's Sponge Capital" at the turn of the century, Tarpon Springs has retained the colorful traditions and atmosphere introduced by Greek sponge divers over a hundred years ago. Today, visitors can explore the Sponge Exchange, once the "Wall Street for Sponges," now converted into a shopping and dining district featuring Greek foods and handicrafts. Learn about the history of the community at the Spongeorama or get a first-hand look at a diver harvesting sponges on sightseeing cruises. Nearby, visitors can marvel at the neo-Byzantine architecture of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, featuring Grecian marble, elaborate icons and exquisite stained glass windows.
In Dunedin, passers-by can peruse the town’s Scottish heritage at the Dunedin Historical Museum, housed in the original Orange Belt Railroad station. Or take walking tours of the picturesque downtown area, featuring quirky antique shops and cafes in a village-like atmosphere. Step into turn-of-the-century Pinellas County at the Heritage Village in Largo. The 22-acre village features a fascinating collection of restored homes and buildings that depict the county’s pioneer lifestyle. Spinning, weaving and other exhibitions are held regularly and add to the authentic atmosphere.
