(Picture: Visit Tampa Bay)

When you think of Florida, many people will imagine the magic of Disney World and the sandy beaches of Miami.

But there’s so much more to it than Mickey Mouse and getting a tan.

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I learned this when I flew to Florida just recently to embark on a six-day trip to discover Tampa Bay and Bradenton.

The Tampa Bay region – population 3million – combines everything people love about Florida: roller coasters, Cuban culture, year-round outdoor activities and waterfront sunsets all in one destination.

The City of Tampa is the cultural and business hub for the Gulf Coast of Florida.

It’s the home of Busch Gardens, The Florida Aquarium and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.

The city has a diverse history and a vibrant population that blends Latin American immigrants, Florida Cracker culture and the descendants of the Cuban, Spanish, German and Italian immigrants who built historic Ybor City, once the cigar capital of the world.

I headed to Tampa International Airport via Gatwick. The flight took nine hours and once I arrived I was just several miles from downtown Tampa.

(Picture: Visit Tampa Bay)

I stayed in Aloft Tampa Downtown, a hotel located among Tampa Bay’s newest and most stylish hotels.

The boutique property is perched over the Hillsborough River in downtown, and opened in 2014 after a dramatic overhaul of a former Bank of America office building.

Each room features a king-size bed, a modern bar (which serves amazing cheesecake, FYI), and an infinity pool with a stunning view of the downtown landmarks.

After getting a good night’s rest – after having a few cocktails in the bar, of course – the activities commenced.

In the morning, I headed to Oxford Exchange, a restaurant housed in a historic building near the University of Tampa, for breakfast.

Oxford Exchange isn’t your standard restaurant, however.

The building features a restaurant, a coffee bar, a bookstore and a home decor shop.

Oh, and it serves the best salmon and cream cheese bagels.

(Picture: Visit Tampa Bay)

After breakfast, I went for a walk along the Tampa Riverwalk to Sail Pavilion.

The views along the walk were stunning: clear waters and boats galore.

Once I arrived at Sail Pavilion, I tried my hand at stand-up paddle boarding, where I explored Tampa Bay’s sparkling waterfront from the water with Urban Kai Stand Up Paddle Board.

Despite it being a low-impact fitness activity, it was a little tiring and there were times where I simply sat on the board to enjoy the waters.

After leaving the waters, I rented a bicycle from Coast Bike Share to further explore Tampa Bay.

All it takes is a smart phone and a credit card to hire a bike and see Tampa Bay on two wheels in a matter of moments.

(Picture: Visit Tampa Bay)

I rode around the city and through The Tampa Riverwalk, which runs for two-and-a-half miles along the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel, linking downtown’s favourite attractions like gems on a string.

I went back to the hotel to change, and headed out to the Amalie Arena to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning vs New York Islanders NHL game.

The atmosphere was incredible.

Crowds cheered as the game went on, everyone sipping back beer and eating popcorn as others danced and got closer, desperate for a moment on the Kiss Cam, which was a little surreal as the Kiss Cam is a huge deal in the US.

(Picture: Hattie Gladwell)

I’d never have thought an NHL game could be so up my street, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.

The next day was even more action-packed, despite only one visit to a major attraction: Busch Gardens.

The theme park is just a 20-minute drive from Aloft.

Busch Gardens Tampa combines an African wildlife preserve and breeding program and a theme park filled with pulse-pounding roller coasters.

The newest addition to the park is Cobra’s Curse, a family spin coaster and other rides include Falcon’s Fury, the tallest drop-tower in North America, standing at 335 feet.

The firm favourite, though, seemed to be the Cheetah Hunt, which sends riders bobbing and weaving along nearly a mile-long track.

Another amazing thing about the park is the food; they have an amazing barbecue restaurant, and several Dippin’ Dots carts, selling the tastiest ice cream balls ever.

After leaving the park around 3pm, the late afternoon saw me meeting local expert Lonnie Herman, who gave me a walking tour of Ybor City.

(Picture: Getty)

Named after its founder, 19th Century cigar magnate Vicente Martinez-Ybor, this Tampa Bay community was the entry point and melting pot for generations of immigrants from Cuban, northern Spain, Sicily, Germany and Eastern Europe.

The cigar industry employed thousands of people and produced millions of cigars from the 1880s through to the 1940s.

Cigars are still made here, both by hand and by machine, but lately Ybor City has become the city’s main entertainment district.

During the day, restaurants fill with business people looking for lunch.

By night, Ybor City becomes the place for dinner and dancing, with late-night clubbers looking for the most cutting-edge bands.

The brick streets and iron balconies are largely unchanged from a century ago, making Ybor City a distinct location.

I spent the rest of the evening enjoying cider at Cigar City Cider & Mead

There you can sample a mix of hard ciders, and there are so many somewhat bizarre combinations to choose from. There’s even a banana cider.

(Picture: Visit Tampa Bay)

After a few drinks, I strolled through 7th Avenue, which runs through the heart of Ybor City.

The streets come to life after sunset with restaurant-goers, sightseers and party-hoppers.

The street is an electric, eclectic mix of restaurants, retail shops and clubs.

Finally, finishing the night, I enjoyed a huge paella and copious amounts of sangria at Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest restaurant in the heart of Ybor City.

Since 1905, the Gonzmart family has operated the restaurant, expanding it over the years from a bar and sandwich shop to more than 1,700 seats.

According to the staff, on a busy day they can serve up more than 3,000 meals.

Waiters wear tuxedos and fill your glass at every opportunity; they’re also very welcoming, constantly checking up to see if you need anything, even offering sample dishes as you wait for your food.

The menu includes a mix of Cuban and Spanish classics including black bean soup, traditional Cuban sandwiches and authentic paella.

Even the bread baskets are amazing.

The entire experience was to die for.

It was seriously such a spectacular trip – and one I’ll remember for ever.

I managed to do so much in such a short space of time, while still being able to enjoy the views, the sandy beaches and all the sights Tampa Bay had to offer.

If you’re looking to visit Florida for reasons other than to visit Disneyland, I’d recommended a split trip to Tampa Bay.

There’s so much culture, so much fun and so much atmosphere; most importantly both places offer something for everyone.

Prices and packages

You can fly straight from Gatwick to Tampa, with return flights starting at £426.

Prices for Aloft Hotel start at £70.

Bradenton is just an hour’s journey away, of which you can travel to by public transport.

Currently, Travel Planners offers nine nights in Tampa and Longboat Key from £925 a person, which includes a saving of £225 a person.

The price is based on two sharing, on a room-only basis, including return flights from London and a hire car for the duration.

For more information on Tampa Bay, click here.

For more on Bradenton Gulf Islands, see here.

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