Are Tampa and Tampa Bay the Same Thing?

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Are Tampa And Tampa Bay the Same Thing?

The short answer is no, Tampa is not the same thing as Tampa Bay. I have lived in the area since the early 90s, minus a few years living in Ohio. The answer to this question has been evolving over the years.

Is Tampa Bay A City?

Tampa Bay is the area on the central Gulf Coast. The region includes but is not limited to, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota/Bradenton. Tampa is a city, Tampa Bay is not a city, but a region.

What Are The Different Regions of Tampa Bay?

The primary regions that make this area are the major metropolitan areas of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, however, Sarasota / Bradenton to the south and New Port Richey, in Pasco County, to the North can also be described as Tampa Bay.

Tampa

Tampa is a large city in Hillsborough County that sits to the West and stretches inland, toward the East. Tampa is home to Busch Gardens, several universities and colleges, the Lightning Hockey team, and more.

Tampa is a great place to visit, especially along the downtown riverfront. The Florida Aquarium, Cruise Port, Sparkman Wharf, and of course, Ybor City, are all connected by a free cable car that makes several stops along the route, so you can hop on and hop off at all the great spots.

Also Read: Thrift Stores In Tampa

Snicker and Spinnaker enjoying a day at Ft. Desoto Dog beach on Tampa Bay

St. Petersburg

Downtown St. Petersburg also sits on Tampa Bay to the East and stretches to the Gulf of Mexico to the West. The white sandy beaches of St. Petersburg are award-winning and feature sunsets that will take your breath away. There are a lot of activities to enjoy in St. Petersburg.

Also Read: Amazing Beaches In St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is my jam! I lived in St. Pete for a number of years, finishing High School and, after a few years in Ohio, moved back to St. Petersburg and raised my kids there. After my first marriage ended, the man I started dating lived in New Port Richey, so eventually, I moved up to Pasco County. The things we do for love. Most of our social calendar happens in St. Pete, so we are down there, a lot!

Also Read: 27 Best Things To Do In St. Petersburg

Clearwater

While the entire region swells during the spring season, Clearwater is no doubt the spring break capital of our area. With the abundance of hotels along the beach and a plethora of excursions, restaurants, and souvenir shops all within walking distance, you could spend your entire vacation here.

Some of the activities you can find, right in the beach area, are a pirate ship excursion, great for the kids, offshore fishing charters, parasailing, dolphin watches, and dinner cruises. Also, along the beach promenade are lots of shopping opportunities and dining options.

Also Read: Is Clearwater Beach Safe?

Use this map to book your Clearwater Beach getaway!

Sarasota / Bradenton

St. Petersburg is connected to the Sarasota / Bradenton area by taking the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. With many attractions of their own and miles of pristine beaches, the residents of this region consider themselves from the “Sarasota / Bradenton” region, although still included in this region, as a whole.

The Skyway Bridge in the distance spans Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay FAQ’s

Q. When is the best time to visit the Tampa Bay Region?

A. Tampa Bay is truly a year-round destination, however, it gets very hot and humid during the summer months. If you’re able to visit in December, January, February or March, you will find the most moderate temperatures.

Q. Is Tampa Bay a great place for Spring Break?

A. YES! Because of the beautiful beaches, countless hotels and restaurants, close proximity to theme parks, and a plethora of outdoor recreational activities, Tampa Bay is a great Spring Break destination.

Q. How do I get to the Tampa Bay Region?

A. The Tampa International Airport (TPA) is award-winning and is centrally located to everything in the Tampa Bay Region. Also worth mentioning is the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport, (PIE) located on the west side of Tampa Bay.

Breakin’ it down: Tampa is Not the Same Thing as Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay area consists of mostly Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, however, the term reaches far beyond these cities to include a large portion of the Central Gulf Coast.