Ryan Lemond's Guide To Tampa

Since Big Blue Nation is about to bring the “Blue Wave” into the city of Tampa, Florida, for the annual SEC Tournament, we thought it was only natural to have an expert enlighten everyone as to what the city of Tampa has to offer. 

I am that expert! 

My parents moved to nearby Largo, Florida, about 7 or 8 years ago, so I’ve been to Tampa numerous times and consider myself the absolute authority on one of the most beautiful areas of the world. Tampa sits on Tampa Bay and is the third-largest city in the state.  Blah…blah….blah…. let’s get to the good stuff!

Places To Eat

Maybe the best thing about the Tampa area is the food.  It is phenomenal! There are great seafood restaurants all over the place, even better than Red Lobster!  Here are my top 5:   

1)  Island Way Grill – The Island Way Grill is in nearby Clearwater and offers waterfront dining where you can sit outside and watch the sunset over the bay.  The food is great.  The item to get is the “Tower” appetizer.  It’s about $75, so of course we order 2!  It’s always a treat to watch my family nearly get into a fist fight arguing over the last lobster tail on the Tower.  Good memories!   

2)  Salt Rock Grill – The cozy Salt Rock Grill is in Indian Shores and overlooks the intercoastal waterway.  The food is incredible – steaks and seafood.  This is where we have an “adult night” and no kids!   It’s worth the drive, and they probably have great dessert, but I always stuff myself with my entree and never can get dessert.   

3)  Since the Hulk Hogan restaurant closed, right around the corner is Whiskey Joe’s.  This is more of a laid back place and has a “party vide”.  It sits right on the water.  Usually places like this have great drinks but the food is only “ok”.  Not Whiskey Joe’s!  The food is really good.   I usually end up needing someone to drive me home.   

4)  There are a ton of restaurants at Ybor City.  There is a trolley you can take through the city, and just ride around and pick one.  You should definitely plan on eating at least one time at Ybor City.  You’ll thank me later.   

5)  Of course, there are always Hooters if you’re in a pinch.

Things To See

Of course, the main attractions to the Tampa/Clearwater/St Petersburg area are the beaches.  These are always rated as some of the most beautiful beaches in the solar system.  Tourists pack Clearwater Beach and St. Pete beach all spring, summer, and fall.  You can always find Banana Boats, Parasailing, Paddleboards, etc., all over these areas.  These beaches can get crowded, so since my family are beach experts, we go to Indian Rocks beach.  It’s a little smaller, but always less crowded and an escape from those pesky tourists.  Since the temperatures may not allow BBN to put on their speedos and head to the beach, there are lots of options to buy a special sunset boat tour, or cruise around the bay, take a Tiki Hut boat tour. There are also a ton of fishing charters.  Just google it! 

Things To Do

So if you’re looking for something to do when UK isn’t playing or if you need to relax after you “turned up” the night before, here are some top notch expert ideas:   

1)  Busch Gardens –  Come on man!  Who doesn’t like Busch Gardens? The kiddos have all the rides to entertain themselves, and the parents have the animals and plants and pretty stuff to see.  Busch Gardens is an amusement park blended with a zoo!  It’s the perfect place to go.  I gotta be honest, the best time to go though is their Halloween Scare Park in October. It has scared one of my sons to cry, and another son to vow to never return again!  Good times.  Good times indeed.   

2)  Tampa Bay Grand Prix – My family has been to probably every go-kart track in the country, and this one is one of the best!   These karts can fly!  They flat out can get it!  I love it because I can finally drive like a wild man and nobody cares!  There are 2 tracks, and the fact that it’s indoor means the parents can watch in an air conditioned building and not in the scorching hot sun outside!     

3)  Fishing at my parents’ lake – This is a must every time I go see my parents.  Go get the rod and reel out and drop your line in!  There are some nice size bass in this lake, but there are also alligators.  If you get hung up on a tree limb out in the water….leave it!   Don’t go wading out in there!  Don’t walk your dogs close to the shore!  You regularly see the alligator sunning himself on the shore, but other than that I love sitting on the bank with a cold beer and becoming one with nature!     

4)  There’s always Ybor City to start “turning up” again and drink it off!

5) Come to the KSR morning show on Friday! We will be at American Social from 10 am to noon.

Tampa Fun Facts

In a 12-month span, Tampa dominated the professional sports world!  In the fall of 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup Finals, and in baseball, the Tampa Bay Rays won the American League Championship Series to advance to the World Series, where they lost to the Dodgers.  Then about 4 months later, the Tampa (Tompa) Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl.  The next fall of 2021, the Lightning again won the Stanley Cup Finals.

The super crafty media people then began calling the city of Tampa ….. Champa!  Oh those media folks are so dang gone clever!

Best Travel Tips

1)  Bring your speedo

2)  Eat at Ybor City

3)  Take advantage of the cheap Allegiant flights

4)  Go to Ybor City

5)  Tampa traffic is horrible, so plan accordingly     

6)  Spend some time at Ybor City

Tampa’s Most Famous Athletes

There are SEVERAL famous athletes from Tampa, primarily baseball players – Steve Garvey, Fred McGriff, Gary Sheffield, Lou Pinella, Dwight Gooden, Tony LaRussa, and Derek Bell. The wrestling world is well represented by the Tampa area – Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and Randy Savage. Probably the best football player from Tampa is Matt Stafford. Sports celebrities also include Erin Andrews and George Steinbrenner. The best basketball player from Tampa has to be UK’s own Kevin Knox.

Enjoy, Big Blue Nation!!!!!