New Iceland Air service; new airport experiences

New in 2017, Iceland Air joins Tampa Bay's list of international carriers, which includes daily flights from Toronto, London, Frankfurt, Panama City and more than 80 U.S. cities. Also new in 2017 flights to Cuba on Southwest Airlines, which actually start Dec. 12, 2016. 

Award-winning Tampa International Airport wraps up a $1 billion expansion with new options for shopping and dining. Bask in Tampa Bay's sun on the new outdoor dining terrace while watching flights come and go. New Customs technology and a new rental car hub and tram system make it easy to get on with your visit. In surveys, travelers rank TIA No. 2 in in the U.S. and No. 5 in the world for customer service. It has the U.S.'s quickest TSA lines.

Tampa Riverwalk: Walking, biking paradise

The 2.4-mile (4km) Tampa Riverwalk links popular downtown attractions like gems on a string. You'll find hotels, restaurants, museums, and festival parks. After dark, the Riverwalk becomes a canvas for shifting colors of light, joining downtown's bridges and the Tampa Museum of Art in the nightly display. 

If you would rather ride than walk, rent a ride from Coast Bike Share, which has stations along the Riverwalk. New in 2017, Fourth Friday includes discounts, tours or free admission to Riverwalk attractions.

Home away for every type of traveler

Tampa Bay's supply of hotels has something for every traveler. NEW in 2017, European visitors will find a familiar name — AC Hotel by Marriott — among Tampa Bay's hotel. 

Changes are in store for The Westshore Grand, formerly InterContinental Tampa, and for downtown's Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, which has added a wellness floor. 

In the meantime, downtown's popular boutiques — Aloft Tampa Downtown, Le Méridien Tampa and the Epicurean — continue to add exciting features, such as free bicycles for guests. 

On the horizon: New hotels for downtown, West Shore, Ybor City, and the Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay area.

Take your taste buds on a tour of Tampa Bay

New in 2017, food halls bring a dynamic vibe to historic Tampa Heights. Sample the fare at Hall on Franklin or Armature Works, both historic buildings reborn as modern eateries.

Creative chefs have earned Tampa Bay a spot on every foodie's must-try list. Travel & Leisure ranks us among the most creative food scenes in the U.S. The Refinery, ranks among the Top 10 Eco-Conscious Restaurants in the U.S. James Beard-winning Bern's Steak House houses the world's largest private wine collection. Other restaurants that imbue their menus with local flavor are Ulele, Oxford Exchange, and the Columbia, Florida's oldest restaurant. Taste local history at the reborn Goody Goody burger.

A waterfront full of wonders

Where the river meets the bay, downtown abounds in ways to get out on the water. New in 2017, the Cross Bay Ferry links Tampa and St. Petersburg from November to May. Trips depart from the Tampa Convention Center and put visitors within walking distance of the renowned Dali Museum.

Pirate Water Taxi stops at downtown's popular spots on its daily runs up and down the Hillsborough River.

See the city from a new angle when you rent a water bike, biyak or e-boat for a self-guided and in some cases self-propelled trip on the sparkling waterfront.

Reserve a trip with iTrekkers and set out in search of fantastic fishing in sight of downtown's towers. Or leave the city behind and paddle with Canoe Escape among moss-draped cypress trees minutes from downtown.

Your Gateway to the Gulf of Mexico

Port Tampa Bay hosts four cruise lines: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian America and Holland America. They make Tampa Bay the ideal port of departure.

New in 2017, Port Tampa Bay will host the Monsters of Rock series of cruises. Also, new in 2017, Carnival has added two five-night trips from Tampa Bay to Cozumel, Mexico.

Add a day to your stay to enjoy the destination “Porthole” magazine named its Best Kept Secret. The TECO Historic Streetcar will carry you to Ybor City. The Tampa Riverwalk and The Florida Aquarium are steps from the gangway.

Florida's only destination with CityPASS

For less than half the normal cost of a ticket, CityPASS gets you into some of Tampa Bay's most popular attractions. Fly like a falcon at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Dive with sharks or play outside in the NEW in 2017 2-acre water zone at The Florida Aquarium. Come face to face with manatees at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, named the best zoo in the U.S. by Parents magazine. Build robots or ride a bicycle 40 feet (12 meters) above the ground at MOSI, the Museum of Science and Industry.

CityPASS costs $99 for adults, $89 for children 3-9 years of age -- a 53% saving compared to buying all the tickets at full price.

Florida's hub for craft beer, artisan cocktails

Great drinks are part of Tampa Bay like sunshine and hand-rolled cigars. Our local brewers produce award-winning drafts found only here. Cigar City Brewing Co. ranks among RateBeer's best craft brewers in the world. New in 2017, Rock Brothers Brewing blends beer and music at its Ybor City site. Brew Bus runs beer-tasting tours from its own brewery in hipster-friendly Seminole Heights.

Try cocktails at Florida Cane Distillery where the signature vodka comes from Florida-grown sugar cane.

Or mingle with the locals in the intimate confines of Cigar City Cider & Mead.

Test your courage at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay

Cobra's Curse sends your whole family swooping and spinning  through an Egyptian archeological dig. 

Half way up Falcon's Fury, North America's tallest drop tower, your heart starts to beat faster. Soon you're looking straight down at the ground 335 feet (102 meters) away. Then things get really wild. Need to slow down? Travel into the sprawling Serengeti Plain to visit rhinos, zebras, and gazelles. You can even feed a giraffe.

Lots of options for every kind of shopper

Anyone looking for a little retail therapy will find all kinds in Tampa Bay. The region's premiere shopping destination,

International Plaza & Bay Street, has 200 luxury shops. NEW in 2017, open-air Hyde Park Village near downtown is expanding, adding restaurants and high-end retailers. 

Simon Premium Outlets' Tampa Premium Outlets stands just 20 minutes north of downtown in rapidly growing Wesley Chapel. It has nearly 100 retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Michael Kors, and shoe stores galore. Looking for something crafty or unique? A multitude of weekend markets make Tampa Bay a shopping centerpiece.

Avast! There be pirates here!

Each January, the scurvy crew of legendary pirate José Gaspar sails into Tampa Bay with cannons blazing. Get into the spirit by pulling out your best pirate gear to greet Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla as they lead the country's third-largest parade down scenic Bayshore Boulevard past 300,000 cheering fans. 

The invasion aboard the nation's only fully functioning pirate ship, kicks off Gasparilla Season: 8 weeks of parades, festivals (arts, music, and film), and sporting events. 

On the horizon: Tickets are on sale now for Gasparilla Music Festival. Look for tickets to Gasparilla International Film Festival and Gasparilla Festival of the Arts coming soon.