27 Reasons Why You Should Visit Tampa, Florida as a Wheelchair User

I could sit here and think of hundreds of reasons why you should visit Tampa, Florida as a wheelchair user, but I have narrowed it down to my top 27. I recently visited Tampa and fell in love with the city once again. I constantly found myself asking, “Why do I not come here more often?”.

Tampa is one of my favorite cities in the world and as a wheelchair user myself, I know what to look for when I’m traveling to make life as easy as possible. I need wheelchair accessible transportation, good accessible entertainment, and delicious food in restaurants that I can easily roll in and roll out without causing a scene. Not too much to ask, right? But as you and I both know, sometimes finding a city with all the boxes checked off for accessibility is not easy to do (To learn more about accessible destinations across Florida, click here!).

So, let’s not waste any more time and instead, let’s get right to the top 27 reasons why you should visit Tampa as a wheelchair user.

1. You can eat the world’s best pancakes at Goody Goody

Goody Goody Burger is a restaurant located in the Hyde Park area of Tampa and it serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But no matter what time of day you visit, the pancake is a must-get. Their pancakes are huge (12 inches in diameter!!) and the best I’ve ever eaten in my life. The Cracker Maple Syrup and the Bananas Foster Syrup are both off the chain as well and top it off so deliciously. With either syrup choice, you won’t go wrong. 

2. You can dine at Florida’s oldest restaurant, Columbia, in Ybor City

If you’ve never had the chance to eat at one of Florida’s scrumptious Columbia restaurants, then you have not lived. Columbia has locations in St. Augustine, Clearwater, Celebration, and Sarasota, but their location in Ybor City in Tampa is their original restaurant. It is actually the oldest restaurant in all of Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in all the world. My mouth is watering just thinking about their 1905 salad and the delectable dessert, white chocolate bread pudding. Whew, it is soooo good! I really can’t recommend it enough.  

3. You can enter Cuba without a passport

Tucked away inside Ybor City is actually land that is owned by the people of Cuba! Here, you can roll from Florida to Cuba in just one second and be on Cuban soil without even needing your passport. This piece of Cuban territory is called Jose Marti Park. This park is fenced and stays locked at night. In the daytime, you will be able to go inside the gate and see a statue of Marti, a poet and journalist that led Cuba’s revolution against Spanish rule. 

4. You have a chance to win lots of money at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa

Enjoy thousands of the newest slot machines and tons of table games 24 hours per day and 7 days a week at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. After all, you never know when that next pull may hit that jackpot you have been waiting for. During my last visit, I won a few thousand dollars from a $5 pull on a slot machine, so trust me when I say that it is completely possible to win here.  

5. Stroll along the Riverwalk

This perfectly paved path runs 26 miles along the Hillsborough River and connects downtown Tampa to some amazing eateries and entertainment. It has beautiful scenic views of the city and the water. The Riverwalk provides benches and overlook spots to take a rest or to take in the amazing views of Tampa Bay. 

6. See manatees, hippos, orangutans and more at ZooTampa

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is absolutely my favorite zoo that I have visited. The animal viewing areas are wheelchair accessible and I felt close to the animals, so I was able to get a great look. The zoo is 62 acres large and overall, pretty flat and easily manageable. 

7. See sharks at the Florida Aquarium

This 250,000 square foot aquarium is complete with shark viewing tanks, penguins, lemurs, stingray touch tanks, and much more. And access to it is even better! You can ride the fully accessible free streetcar to it (more info about this in just a bit!) or roll along the Riverwalk, as it is located on the riverfront. 

8. Visit a cigar store replica at the Tampa Bay History Center

Inside the Tampa Bay History Center, you can see exhibits of Tampa Bay’s first native inhabitants and historical figures who shaped the area’s history. It is here that you can also enter a replica of a 1920’s cigar store. The museum offers a lot of fascinating exhibits, but the cigar store replica was one of the most unique. 

9. Ride a water taxi to dinner

The Pirate Water Taxi is accessible for wheelchairs, but there could be a bit of a steep ramp to board the boat depending on the tide when you visit. The water taxis run all over the city with 14 different stops and will take you to several entertainment areas along the riverfront. This is a fun and unique way to get around Tampa, while being out on the water. 

10. Visit the beach, which is only a 30-minute drive from Tampa 

Clearwater Beach is only about a 30-minute drive from Tampa. In Clearwater, there is a paved path along the beach that is fully wheelchair accessible. To get out on the sand, manual beach wheelchairs and one powered beach wheelchair are available at the lifeguard station on a first-come, first-served basis for free! 

11. Shop till you drop at Hyde Park Village

Covering six city blocks is this stylish, modern open-air complex of high end retailers, restaurants, and bars. Here, you will be able to roll around and purchase yourself some very nice gifts or even find your pet a treat as well at Downtown Dogs. 

12. Visit a beer garden at Sparkman Wharf

This waterfront area is the host of hip restaurants, shops, street food stands, and even a beer garden. Sparkman Wharf is a colorful area with lots of the roll-up eating establishments being housed in beautifully painted shipping containers. You can also enjoy live events, such as karaoke, on select nights. 

13. Eat a Fruity Pebbles cookie at Bake’n Babes inside Armature Works

Inside Armature Works are a variety of tasty restaurants and event spaces with a trendy vibe. And let me tell you, you don’t want to miss the chance here to try one or two or four of the scrumptious Fruity Pebbles cookies at Bake’n Babes. This cookie has a burst of fruitiness with the colorful fruit cereal baked right in. This cookie is so good and it reminded me of my childhood. I’d also highly recommend getting some empanadas from Empamamas, which is next door to Bake’n Babes. 

14. Ride a FREE streetcar 

The TECO Line Streetcar is fully wheelchair accessible with access that allows you to roll straight in. Even better still is that it is free and it can quickly get you around downtown Tampa, Ybor City, and more of Tampa with easy stops along the way. 

15. Visit an awesome theme park at Busch Gardens Tampa

If you love animal encounters, rides, roller coasters, safari rides, and live entertainment, Busch Gardens has it all. While the many rides aren’t wheelchair-friendly, you should be able to find plenty of accessible things to do to easily spend the day here and have an amazing time. I really enjoyed my time at Busch Gardens and in particular, I loved seeing all of the animals.  

16. Board a cruise ship to the Caribbean 

Tampa even has a cruise port! Here, you can board a cruise ship and travel to breathtaking destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico. You should plan to stay a couple days either before or after your cruise though, so that you can fully enjoy what Tampa has to offer while you are in town.

17. Watch a live pro football game 

Head over to Raymond James Stadium and enjoy a few hours with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They are a professional team in the National Football League and even won the Super Bowl in 2021, so roll on over to the stadium for some football if you’re visiting during football season. 

18. See colorful murals

Located all over the city, you will find over 40 bright and colorful murals, so get ready for the perfect selfies! Learn more about all of Tampa’s murals here.

19. Watch the sunset at Pier 60 in nearby Clearwater Beach 

Only a 30-minute drive away from Tampa is Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach. At Pier 60, you can enjoy a nightly sunset celebration complete with artisans and street performers. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind celebration that is a must-do during any trip to the Tampa Bay area.

20. View amazing art at the Dali Museum

Located only 25 minutes from Tampa is St. Petersburg, Florida. Spend some time here visiting the collection of works by renowned artist Salvador Dali at the Salvador Dali Museum. His works include melting clocks and many visual illusions. After visiting the Dali Museum in Catalonia, I became a huge Dali fan and the museum in St. Petersburg was phenomenal as well. 

21. Go indoor skydiving 

At iFly Tampa, All Abilities Night makes it possible for you to soar through the air inside a wind tunnel to give you the feeling of skydiving. Guests with physical and/or cognitive challenges will have an amazing time with this experience. I haven’t personally tried this myself, but I have heard from other wheelchair users that it is a remarkable experience.

22. Watch a hockey game 

Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a fun-filled evening watching hockey with the Tampa Bay Lightning?! Held inside the Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay Lightning is a professional hockey team. So suit up in all your team gear and come on out for some fun! 

23. Watch a professional baseball game

Yes, you can enjoy football, hockey, and even baseball in the Tampa Bay area! Located at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, you can root for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. This stadium is only a 25-minute drive from Tampa and well worth the trip. 

24. View the most recognized parts of the Bay Area

From the Henry B. Plant Museum, you can enjoy the perfect view of the minarets. The minarets are made of stainless steel really standing out from the city’s skyline and are part of the University of Tampa’s campus. The museum is wheelchair accessible via ramps on the north end and at the back of the building. 

25. Roll through nature on a 3,500-foot wooden boardwalk

At Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, you can enjoy the great outdoors in this 240-acre nature lover’s dream. Here, you can roll along a wooden boardwalk for 3,500 feet while enjoying a possible sighting of barred owls, roseate spoonbills, and maybe even some alligators! 

26. Learn about the planets at the Saunders Planetarium 

The Saunders Planetarium is located inside the Museum of Science & Industry. It is wheelchair accessible with automatic doors at the entrance and wheelchairs are available to use during your visit if needed. This museum will urge you to ask questions and expand your mind as you interact with over 100 hands-on activities. 

27. Why not?! 

And the last, but certainly not least, reason why you should visit Tampa as a wheelchair user is because “Why not?!” Tampa is a city that has it all. All my boxes are checked off when I list all the wonderful things I look for in a wheelchair accessible city with Tampa. So, whether you are in a wheelchair or have a family member that uses a chair and you haven’t visited Tampa yet… my response is “Why not?” 

As you can see, Tampa is a city that strives to be inclusive for ALL. There are so many exciting options of things to do and places to see, you will never run out of options to satisfy your whole family. Start planning your next vacation to Tampa, Florida and come see this wonderful city for yourself! 

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*Thank you to Visit Florida and Visit Tampa Bay for working with me on my most recent trip and showing me the best of wheelchair accessible Tampa! While my experiences in Tampa were complimentary, all opinions expressed are authentic and my own.

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