For thousands of years, the shores of Tampa Bay have been inhabited. In 1513, Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer, first arrived in the Tampa Bay Area, but the Spaniards left the western areas alone and focused on settling in eastern Florida. Two months after the arrival of the first American settler in 1824, Fort Brooke was established by four companies of the United States Army to protect the strategic harbor at Tampa Bay. In 1845, the territory became part of the United States, after which the development of the Tampa Bay region began. Despite Federal occupation and the blockade during the Civil War, the area grew consistently. The area was incorporated as a village on January 18, 1849. The 1884 Henry B. Plant's railroad extension to the Hillsborough River granted settlers access to new areas, and he built luxurious hotels along his rail line to attract visitors. Thanks to Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River, Tampa experienced commercial success. In the late 1880s, phosphates were discovered nearby, resulting in mining and shipping industries which prompted a long-lasting boom of growth and wealth in Tampa. Till today, Tampa's port is recognized as the seventh-largest in the nation. As a result of World War II, the city of Tampa grew considerably. Before the United States' involvement in the conflict, construction started on MacDill Field, which served as a central base for Army Air Corps and later Army Air Forces operations before and during World War II. The development of New Tampa was the most significant recent growth in the city, which began when it annexed a mostly rural area of 24 square miles in 1988.

Parks
Are you one of the many residents that love hanging out at city parks? Then, you are in the right place as there are about 165 parks that cut across Tampa, and one of the must-visit parks in the city is the Lettuce Lake Regional Park. The park was founded in 1982 and since then has been a hub for a series of fun activities. The 240 acres park is located on Fletcher Avenue between Interstate 75 and the University of South Florida.

The park has an observation tower, barbecue pits, nature trails, a playground, an open playfield, picnic tables, and a visitor's center. You would also enjoy various outdoor activities at parks like ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Sparkman Wharf, and Picnic Island Park.

Do you love taking walks with your dog? The city is also home to a couple of dog-friendly parks, like Deputy Kotfila Memorial Dog Park. The park welcomes dogs of all sizes and breeds and is also allowed to roam freely around the park. There are other dog parks like the Palma Ceia Dog Park, Davis Island Dog Park, and Queenie's Dog Park.


Enjoy the waves on the Beaches
Visiting the beach is one of the most exciting and relaxing things to do when you live on the Gulf Coast. Did you know that Tampa is referred to as the Sunshine City for averaging 361 days of sunshine? This means you can visit Tampa beaches year-round.
The city has the prettiest beaches with miles of shoreline ranging from secluded nature preserves to popular full-service beaches.

If you reside in the city, your favorite option will be Ben T. Davis Beach, the closest beach from the airport and downtown. It is also the most extensive public beach in the area and one of the best beaches to play volleyball or catch the sunset.
Get A Delicious Taste Of Tampa
In Tampa, you will discover that there are restaurants everywhere. One amazing thing about living in Tampa is that you can find nearly every dish you are looking for by a simple drive to the seafood joint, Korean barbecue restaurants, or the taco trucks.

Samaria Cafe is one of the best places to have breakfast. Their light and fluffy pancakes, coffee, and savory thick French toast are a well-deserved breakfast to try out in the city of Tampa. Are you looking to have a group dinner? Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse is one restaurant to check out. They have one of the best steaks in the city and serve other mouthwatering dishes like shrimps, bacon-wrapped pork, BBQ chicken, salmon, ribs, salad, and others.

Satisfy your taste bud and craving at notable restaurants like Wright's Gourmet House, Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, and La Terrazza Restaurant.



Sports
One of the exciting aspects of living in Tampa is its numerous professional sports teams. Cheer on the city's favorite team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who compete in the National Football League (NFL) and play at the Raymond James Stadium. Fan of hockey? Watch the Tampa Bay Lighting hit the ice between October and April every year at the Amalie Arena. If you love baseball, you are in luck, as the city is home to two professional baseball teams. Watch the Tampa Bay Rays play at the Tropicana Field or the Tampa Tarpons at Steinbrenner Field. And oh, the New York Yankees use the Steinbrenner Field as a training ground during spring training.