Unlock Tampa Bay's Treasures With Travel Agent Academy

One of the most beautiful outdoor-focused destinations in the U.S., Tampa Bay attracts all sorts of travelers each year - from culture enthusiasts on a cruise extension to fun-loving families enjoying a week-long vacation. Together with its stunning waterfront off Florida's Gulf Coast, Tampa Bay offers a rich variety of attractions to keep visitors engaged for days on end. For information on these offerings and how to plan a trip around them, check out the Visit Tampa Bay Specialist training course at TravelAgentAcademy.com. And with a few clicks, you can also unlock some of the destination's treasures right here in this slide show.

Tampa Bay is famous for its dazzling waterfront, which can be enjoyed when strolling or pedaling along the 2.6-mile path known as the Tampa Riverwalk. Parks, restaurants, bars, museums and performance venues line this promenade, making it a lively spot day or night.

The Hillsborough River, which runs south through downtown Tampa and alongside the Riverwalk, shimmers at night with colorful lights that transform the bridges into works of art in a program called Agua Luces (water lights).

Visitors on the Riverwalk should stop in to see The Florida Aquarium, not only for its marvelous displays and programs but also for its shell-shaped glass architecture, which bathes interior spaces in natural light. Also on the Riverwalk is the Glazer Children's Museum, a treat for kids and a superb example of a playfully modern building. Tampa Bay is filled with many more architectural delights, including hotels from the Gilded Age, Craftsman-style residences and the Moorish extravaganza that is the Henry B. Plant Museum, which features opulent items from turn-of-the-century Florida. There are plenty of tours that will take your clients to all the great buildings.

Tampa Bay is a kaleidoscope of colorful neighborhoods, each with its own vibe, reflected in its people, architecture, attractions and cuisine. A prime example is Ybor City, which was built around the cigar industry in the 1880s and is known for its boutiques and Cuban/Latin American restaurants - as well as cigar shops and chickens that freely roam the streets.

Including the Glazer Children's Museum and the Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa Bay has nearly a dozen unique museums focusing on everything from railroads to baseball to contemporary art to local history, which showcases Seminole tribes, Spanish conquistadors, pirates and immigrants. Visitors will also find historic sites where they can learn about African American history and the blend of Cuban, Italian and Spanish cultures in Ybor City.

Tampa Bay celebrates the legends of its pirate past, especially during Gasparilla Season (late January - March), when pirate-themed parades, food events and music, art and film festivals take center stage. Visitors can enjoy swashbuckling entertainment any time of the year if they take the Pirate Water Taxi on the Hillsborough River to points along the Riverwalk.

The TECO Historic Streetcar offers free rides through downtown Tampa, the Channel District and Ybor City.

Waterfront dining, flamenco performances and restored historic buildings lend ambiance to a whole range of culinary experiences. Tampa Bay's restaurants feature Cuban, Spanish and Italian cuisine, along with Southern U.S., Mexican and Asian, many incorporating locally sourced ingredients, especially seafood.

Simple pleasures like strolling along the Riverwalk, riding the TECO Historic Streetcar or setting sail on the Pirate Water Taxi will enhance any family trip. But Tampa Bay has many more attractions to entertain children, including parks, museums, an aquarium and a zoo.

Tampa Bay welcomes LGBTQ travelers and celebrates pride with numerous events, such as the Tampa Pride Parade, Tampa Pride Music & Arts Festival and Mr. & Miss Tampa Pride.

Go to TravelAgentAcademy.com and register for the Visit Tampa Bay Specialist program, where you will not only learn about these offerings but also find ideas on creating great itineraries for families, couples, groups of friends, LGBTQ travelers and passengers on a pre- or post-cruise stay. Helpful information includes details on transportation, nearby day trips to beaches and amusement parks and accessible travel for a truly inclusive experience in Tampa Bay.