This weekend Tampa opened it’s newest stretch of the Tampa Riverwalk. That leaves only one stretch to go to complete the currently planned sections. This page will definitely be updated once the next section is completed. I went out last night to check out the new section and decided to put together a little photo essay of the Tampa Riverwalk from the beginning to the end.

The Tampa Riverwalk starts (or ends) at this sign, which is situated at Channelside Drive and S Meridian Ave/S Beneficial Drive. At this point you have the Channelside complex to the left which is soon to be comepletely remodeled by Jeff Vinik, the owner of the property along with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Over in that direction is also the Florida Aquarium and the cruise ship port.

The Tampa Riverwalk however, currently heads in the other direction, following the outside of the Tampa Bay History Center. At the Tampa Bay History center is also the Columbia Cafe, a scaled down version of the famous Ybor City restaurant.

After passing the Tampa Bay History Center you walk through Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park. From here you have a great view across the Garrison Channel to Harbour Island which has some very colorful apartments/condos.

To the right side is Amalie Arena, a first class venue that is home to the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team and and one of the most active arenas in the country.

After Cotanchobee Park you come to the Tampa Marriot Waterside, also owned by Jeff Vinik.

Next, you pass under the Franklin Street bridge and round the corner to one of the coolest spots on the Tampa Riverwalk. This area hosts the Sail Pavilion, a waterfront bar with great views, especially at sunset. At this spot you can also rent boats, waterbikes, etc.

Next, you walk pass the Tampa Convention Center. It’s a cool building with columns and palm trees right along the water.

The Riverwalk then passes under the Platt Street Bridge, Which has one of the best viewpoints of the Tampa skyline if you are interested. For this view you have to get off the Riverwalk momentarily after you pass under the bridge and walk around to the top of the bridge.

Continuing on the Tampa Riverwalk you pass underneath the Selmon Expressway and the Brorein Street bridge. This section also contains a small park, Macdill Park.

The Riverwalk continues behind the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel and the relatively new Aloft Tampa. This is the beginning of the newest section. This section also has several cool little sitting areas with some nice shade spots for the warm summer days. At night these spots are lit up with colored lights as are the bridges through downtown Tampa.

You then cross under the Kennedy Bridge which is not that far overhead and was by far the most difficult and expensive portion to build. On the other side is a small area with some plants and several more shaded areas. You also now have a great view across the Hillsborough River of one of my favorite places, the University of Tampa.

To your right is the Rivergate Tower, aka Sykes building, aka the Beer Can Building. Next comes Kiley Gardens. The complex of gardens and buildings, completed in 1988, was designed by architect Harry Wolf and Dan Kiley. The design is based upon the Fibonacci mathematical sequence, whereby beginning with the numbers zero and one, each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. Kiley used the sequence to determine the plaza’s checkerboard pattern of grass and concrete panels. There is also an amphitheater here.

Nearing the end of the current Tampa Riverwalk you come to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. There is a lot of stuff to do around this area. There are many events held here throughout the year including concerts, art shows, foodie events, yoga in the park, etc. My favorite this year was the Lights on Tampa. The Tampa Museum of Art is located here as is the Glazer Children’s Museum and the Museum of Photogaphic Arts. There is also a playground, a dog park, and fountains for the kids to play in.

The Tampa Riverwalk currently ends here, behind the Tampa Museum of Art, just before the Cass St Bridge. I am going to put the unconnected part on a second page following this.