Did you know that Tampa, Florida has a boardwalk? I did not. What a pleasant and fun discovery that was. The River Boardwalk
is a nice wide walkway that reminded me of Mexico’s Malecon. It is used by walkers, bikers, families with young children, and couples out for an evening stroll.
The riverwalk is lined with restaurants and hotels. I stayed at the Barrymore Hotel, it was right on the riverwalk and offered a beautiful view of the river. I had dinner at Jackson’s Bistro. A great place to eat at the far southern end of South Harbor Island Blvd. It was classy and upscale without being stuffy. They serve a variety of fresh seafood, steaks, pasta, salads, and have a great wine menu with numerous American wines.
Tampa Riverwalk – More Than Just Food
There are many interesting things to see as you stroll down the River Walk. The Historical Monument Trail has bronze busts and plaques that tell the history of Tampa and the people who helped form it to what it is today. There are boats and ships with colorful flags. Your furry four-footed even have a place to hang-out.
Tampa’s wooden planked Riverwalk first opened in 1976. The wooden planks were later replaced with granite pavers. It is one of the busiest commercial sea ports in North America, with an economic impact of $17.2 billion supporting over 85,000 jobs. It is also one of the most popular (nearly 1 million passengers) cruise ports for cruise lines heading to the western Caribbean.
