“Thanks for flying with us, enjoy your trip to Tampa Bay.” The pilot has made the official announcement you're in Florida. You can grab your bags, pick up your rental car, and it's still early enough in the day to explore the Sunshine State for a while. Your head is filled with visions of Disney, Universal and Tampa's own Busch Gardens. But, Disney and Universal aren't until later in the week and Busch Gardens is tomorrow when you can get up bright and early and spend the entire day there. Right now, it's all about getting a bite to eat and taking in some local color. There are several places just a stone's throw away from the airport where you can get your fill of food and see what the natives enjoy.
You are in the land of the everglades, sweet tea and alligators. You're also in the home of Sonny's BBQ. A true Florida original from the little town of Gainesville, FL. Founded in 1968, Sonny's has several locations in the central FL area but the one you are interested is off of Dale Mabry Hwy. It's a great sampling of good old' fashioned southern BBQ. From pulled pork to slow smoked ribs, this will satisfy your BBQ craving! And for those whose taste run a little greener, there's Sonny's Garden of Eatin', a salad bar that provides over 30 items! You can top all this off with banana pudding or a fruit cobbler. Sonny's BBQ is truly Southern cooking at its finest!
The next restaurant you'll want to consider on our tour around the airport area is Origami sushi. Whether you are in the mood for hand rolls or hibachi fresh off the grill, Origami sushi has it all. They have Happy hour every day from 3pm-7pm, with sushi only a dollar a piece! If you’re still in the mood for Asian cuisine but looking for something a little different, there is also Crazy Buffett which is and Up-Scale Asian fusion buffet filled with everything from noodles and rice, various soup options to steak and sushi. There are over 40 different choices of foods to try and a massive salad bar to go along with it. The ice cream is amazing too!
Finally, the last stop on our food tour is the Le Teresita Restaurant. Serving the Tampa Bay area since 1993, the La Teresita restaurant has all kinds of classic Spanish foods and Cuban treats. With entrees like the classic chicken enchilada and beef fajitas, as well as its own built in bakery, Le Teresita is a place you'll want to check out if you are feeling a little south of the border!
It's not just food located around the Tampa Airport, there's the local favorite International Plaza Mall. International Plaza has the premier shopping experience. They have causal stores like Hot Topic, Quiet Flight or Urban Outfitters. They have premier and specialty stores such as Williams and Sonoma, Burberry and Neiman Marcus. They also have special events that take places depending on the time of year you come. Williams and Sonoma offer kids cooking classes so that next father's day or mother's day breakfast in bed can include more than cereal and pop tarts! If you are coming around Christmas time, your whole family can have their picture taken with Santa, even Fido! There's something for everyone at the International Plaza Mall.
These are only a few places the Tampa Bay area has to offer once you leave its international airport. Feel free to explore the rest of our beautiful city full culture, food and great times!
To know more: http://www.econocarental.com/econo-car-rental-blog/luxury-hotels-in-tampa/florida-airport-food/
