After a busy schedule, people always want to feel refreshed by taking a wonderful trip with loved ones — one that brings peace of mind and lasting memories. You can plan your trip in the USA (popular for tourism), which has multiple places to explore. Tampa, Florida, is one of the most well-known destinations in the US and is celebrated for its riverfront locations, rich cultural history, and scenic waterfronts. And waterfronts like Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park are the most visited destinations.
This Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park travel guide will provide you with key details that you will need to know in this article. Read on to discover interesting things about this park. Let’s dive in.
Why Curtis Hixon is Tampa’s Best Riverfront Park?
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is one of Tampa’s top family-friendly attractions, spanning over 8 acres with something entertaining for all age groups. It’s one of the top family-friendly attractions in Tampa, which spans over 8 acres and has something entertaining for all age groups. This vibrant park is well-known for riverfront views, open space and events. Also, its friendly festivals, art shows and splash pads make it a more interactive place to explore. Visitors get certain amenities like playgrounds, dog parks, amphitheatres, restrooms, etc. This park has nearby attractions like the Tampa Museum of Art and the Glazer Children’s Museum that attract people & make it a top destination to explore.
Best Things to Do at the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Visiting Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and wondering what to see and do? Here’s a rundown: Then, this Waterfront Park has multiple things to do for visitors’ entertainment. To know about them, see below:
Exploring the Tampa Riverwalk: Biking and Walking Guide
If you are a sports enthusiast, then you can go for a walk or bike the Tampa Riverwalk. This beautiful riverfront walkway stretches 2.6 miles and joins some attractions with facilities, shops, a museum, wildlife seeing and much more. This riverfront is better known for its breathtaking views, photography spots, walking and biking. Also, it is safe to walk at night, so you can also go alone. Here, you don’t need to pay any cost as it’s free, but for parking, you may need to pay charges if you park in a city garage. For the peaceful walk, you need to visit here before sunrise when there is no crowd. For biking, the best time is between 7:00 am and 9:00 am.
Family Fun: The Best Splash Pads in Downtown Tampa
Visitors with their kids can bring them to the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park splash pads. The two splash pads are spacious, making them perfect for cooling off during summer. Find amazing features such as fountain dancing, buckets, jets & more. With this, amenities are also offered like restrooms, cafes, playgrounds, seating, etc. Parents are advised to stay with their children and ensure they wear comfortable, non-slip shoes. It’s advisable to come early in the morning.
Relax on the Lawns of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Are you keen to stay active during your outing at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park? Then, have a great visit to the great lawns. This is one of the places where you can maintain your health by attending yoga classes with your family & kids, or simply relax and enjoy a picnic here. To have a great picnic, you need to visit areas like Tampa Riverpark, Hillsborough River & Riverfront Terrace. Late afternoons in April are ideal for enjoying sunset views and avoiding the heat.
Visit the Tampa Museum of Art
If you are eager to see ancient time collections and breathtaking views of art, then your visit to the Tampa Museum of Art will be fruitful for you. Visiting this astonishing museum offers you a great chance to look at ancient Greek and Roman collections. With the collections, visitors can also admire sculptures, paintings, textiles, and other works that showcase the museum’s beauty. The museum offers educational programs so visitors can learn about the ancient collections and how they are preserved. The Tampa Museum of Art is available for private events including cocktail parties and weddings. Preferring weekdays like Thursday in the evening from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm is suggested for you.
Join Events & Activities at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
If you’re in the mood for some activity, you can join free weekly fitness classes hosted in the evenings. Or do you want to discover something new? Then visit Downtown’s Backyard Market to get fresh produce and food. For something more festive, like music shows or seasonal festivals and the Winter Village event is the perfect choice.
Events & Seasonal Highlights of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
After knowing all this, you also need to know about which seasons and which events get hosted here. From this, it will be easy for you to book tickets to see the live events of that season when you are visiting there.
- Weekly Climax: On Sunday and Thursday, events like yoga and pilates are conducted. So you can join there.
- Summer & Fall (dry season, June to Oct): Separate these into two distinct bullet points with accurate descriptions.
- Spring Season (March to May): During this season, you enjoy local foods & festivals with your loved ones. And also add great experience by joining the Gasparilla boat parade and festivals.
- Winter season (cold weather, November to January): During this season, visit the Winter Village, which features shopping, holiday events, and ice skating.
Perfect time of Day & Season to visit Curtis Hixon, Waterfront Park
Do you want to know which time is best to visit Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park & to relish such great events & things? Then, visitors can come here in the early morning and in the evenings. Both are quiet times when the park is free of heavy crowds. As for the best months to visit, then coming during the winter season (December to Feb) is ideal for visitors with their loved ones. Temperatures are mild during this time, with fewer crowds and a pleasant atmosphere. For events like Rock and the park, visiting during this season is ideal and Thursday is a better day to visit during weekdays.
Food & Dining Options Nearby
After a day of exploring, you’ll naturally work up an appetite. Here are the best dining options near the park. To boost your energy and satisfy hunger, we are going to tell you about the best food and dining options. These are all you get nearby this park and don’t take much time to reach out from there.
Oxford exchange
After exploring the park & surroundings, it’s time to have a meal that satisfies your hunger. For that, you may go to the nearby restaurant of this park, Oxford Exchange, about 5 to 7 minutes away. This place offers three meals, like breakfast, lunch, and brunch & along with that, they serve tea too. This is a multipurpose place where you get shops, bookstores, bars and more. Visitors are advised to book their seats in advance so that they don’t miss some seasonal dishes that the place offers.
Tips to know:
- Visiting time: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm.
- Parking availability: limited area, so you need to pay if parking on the street side.
Urban Cantina
Would you like to eat food which is a little bit spicy & has a Mexican flavour? Then visiting Urban Cantina of Tampa is a perfect option for families and couples. You are offered lunch and dinner here, and a full vegetarian menu is also available. Furthermore, Mexican food is given a modern twist. Items like French fries, meats, tacos, etc are served here. Services like wheelchair-accessible table service are also available. It’s better to book your seats in this restaurant in advance.
Tips to know:
- Visiting Time: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM.
- Parking Availability: reserved areas are available and parking on the street is required payment.
Accommodation Options Nearby for a stay
After discovering this park, visitors feel fatigued and need to stay and rest at a better hotel. Here are some budget-friendly accommodations you can book near the park.
Uptown Suites Extended Stay
Uptown Suites Extended Stay is designed with guests’ comfort and needs in mind. This beautiful hotel in Tampa is about a 30-minute drive from Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This lodge is beautifully designed with available modern facilities like flat TV screens, room kitchens, refrigerators and AC. The hotel also offers amenities like parking, a fitness gym, and more. It’s highly recommended not to smoke here as it’s prohibited in this hotel.
Quality Inn & Suites Tampa
If you’re tired after a day of exploring and need a well-equipped hotel, Quality Inn & Suites Tampa is a great option. You can find it near the Fairgrounds and Casino. It’s approximately 20 minutes from the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to reach here. All rooms are clean and equipped with air conditioning and a refrigerator Other facilities that are offered to customers in the room are bathrooms, a flat TV, wifi, coffee and tea maker, an alarm, etc. There is a telephone available to call for any enquiries or help in this hotel. Booking in advance is fruitful for you.
Practical Travel Tips
Following are some of the practical travel tips that you need to read & keep in mind while leaving for a trip with your family& friends.
- Whenever you are leaving to explore this place must check the weather conditions.
- International travellers should carry their passport, visa, and a copy of their identity documents at all times.
- Visiting during dry weather leads to suffering from the high heat of the sun, so you must apply sunscreen and wear a moisturizer with SPF to protect your skin from the heat. Visitors may also wear hats and shades to save themselves from heat stroke.
- To capture great memories, bring your smartphone, a camera, a charger, and spare batteries.
- Don’t forget to bring your medications and copies of your prescriptions. You need it anytime if you’re suffering from health issues.
- Booking a charter bus service is highly recommended to explore more of the downtown areas and the nearby areas of Tampa.
Final Thoughts
To wrap up this travel guide with final thoughts, I hope that you understand the details shared regarding Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This park is favourable for all age groups who visit here. It’s a mixture of adventurous events and activities, breathtaking views and relaxation. Furthermore, get the best dining and art collection that lets you learn something interesting. So, plan your next trip to this downtown heart destination and get a stress-free experience and lovely memories with dear ones. Tell us which part of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park you’re most excited to visit.