There are many interesting and unique museums close to Tampa vacation homes. For those with some extra time, there are also several convenient daytrips.
Downtown Tampa
The Tampa Bay History Museum is in the Channelside area of downtown and is close to the Florida Aquarium and the Cruise Terminal. The newly built, 60,000 square foot museum displays a varied collection about the influences on Tampa's history. A visitor will learn about the Spanish conquistadors, cigar making and local sports heroes during a few hours in the museum.
For those who are particularly interested in the history of cigar-making, the Ybor City Museum State Park provides exhibits and information about one of Tampa's oldest local industries. Among the other exhibits, the museum recreates a cigar worker's living quarters. The location is in Ybor City, just east of downtown from the Tampa Bay History Museum.
The Tampa Museum of Art is situated on the Hillsborough River and is near the downtown branch of the Hillsborough County Public Library. The new art museum is 66,000 square feet of open architecture and display space. The collection consists of 20th century paintings, sculpture and photography as well as Roman and Greek art.
Across the Hillsborough River from the Tampa Museum of Art is the Henry B. Plant Museum. It is located on the University of Tampa campus, and its minarets are hard to miss as you approach the 19th century building. Railroad magnate Henry B. Plant constructed the building as a 500-room hotel, the first in Florida to have electricity. Today the building serves as a museum to Plant, the railroad and Victorian-era Florida.
University of South Florida Area
The University of South Florida has a Contemporary Art Museum with a small (5,000 pieces) but interesting collection. Although the museum is probably not a destination unto itself, it is worth a short visit if in the area. Potential visitors should keep in mind USFCAM has limited weekend hours (Saturdays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM).
Located near the University of South Florida's main campus, the Museum of Science and Industry is unique to the west coast of Florida. MOSI, as it is called, has child-friendly exhibitions, a butterfly garden, an IMAX Dome and a planetarium, just to name a few activities.
St. Petersburg
It is easy to take a daytrip or two from your vacation home to St. Petersburg, just 20 miles from downtown Tampa. While in St. Petersburg, be sure to visit the Salvador Dali Museum. It is one of the world's most notable collections of works by the Spanish artist. The Museum of Fine Arts has a broad collection of art from antiquity to the modern era. For those interested in history, there is the Florida International Museum and the Florida Holocaust Museum.
Art buffs should consider a daytrip to Sarasota to visit Ringling Museum, which consists of an art museum, circus museum and a mansion formerly owned by John Ringling.
Tampa vacation rentals on Vamoose.com will indicate their location. Your Tampa home will not be too far from any of these cultural attractions. You can search for a rental home at Vamoose based on the size, location and amenities you want or need for your trip.