Carrington & Matt
Things To Do
Charann's
This bar is close to our first apartment in Tampa, and it slowly became one of our constants. It’s a neighborhood bar with good people, slightly overpriced drinks, and reliably solid bar food. I get the chili and pretzel bites every single time. No exceptions. When the first hurricane hit after we moved here, we evacuated and stayed with my grandparents. It was a lot of work, and we realized pretty quickly that we’d rather just stay put and hold the fort. By the next hurricane, we felt more like actual Floridians and decided to ride it out. The night before the storm, we came here. That turned into hurricane parties, and that’s been the tradition ever since. We’ve celebrated a lot of milestones here too, from graduations and passing my BCBA exam to getting engaged. It’s where Matt brings friends when they visit because it feels familiar and easy. It’s not fancy or trendy, but it’s been the backdrop for a lot of our life here, and that’s what makes it special to us.
Two Shepherds Taproom
This is one of our favorite places in Tampa and the first spot on the map that’s really about our dogs. We come here when it’s either too hot for humans at the beach or somehow too cold for Florida humans at the beach. The dogs get to run, play, and socialize. Matt gets a drink. I spend most of the time monitoring and throwing the ball for Echo, who is a full time job. This is also where we took our first real family photo. A stranger took it for us, after years of trying to get everyone in one picture. It was our first family photo after moving to Tampa, at a place we’ve kept coming back to ever since. Our dogs are our heart and soul, and this spot holds a lot of that story.
Raymond James Stadium
We’ve been here twice to see our favorite team, Alabama Crimson Tide, play when they came to Tampa. Both trips ended up being memorable in the same way: rain, waiting it out near the concession stands, then going back to finish the games on wet seats because we didn’t want to miss it. It’s one of those places that holds real memories for us. Some of our favorite photos together were taken here, including the one we’re sharing on this map. Raymond James is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and depending on timing, there may be a football game or a concert happening while you’re in town.
BayCare Ballpark
We’ve gone here during baseball season for Dollar Tuesdays. Cheap food, cheap drinks, and an unexpectedly fun night that turned into one of those memories that stuck. Parking, however, was neither cheap nor close. The wedding is in December, so the Dollar Tuesday deals won’t be happening, but during the season this was one of our favorite summer plans.
Adventure Island
We went to Adventure Island for Easter our first year living in Tampa. We had just moved, didn’t have family here yet, and both had the day off from our new jobs, so we made our own tradition. It ended up being a really fun day and one of our first holiday memories here. A few years later, Matt’s brother visited with his kids, and the photo we’re sharing is from the wave pool with his niece. It’s a place we’ve gone back to and enjoyed in different seasons of life. If you like floating the lazy river, hanging out in the wave pool, or letting kids have their own space to play, this place checks a lot of boxes. Also worth noting: they serve drinks with edible taffy straws, which is both kind of cool and kind of weird.
Croc Encounters
Our love for alligators started at Croc Encounters! This reptile park and alligator farm was one of our first Tampa experiences, and it was incredible. We got to feed the gators and hold baby alligators! Now, "Does it gator?" is our official motto when near any body of water. Guided tours are available by reservation only.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
A zoo visit with Matt’s mom and a safari jeep photo that exists because I love pictures and Matt loves me. We went in June and it was extremely hot. December weather is much cooler, which makes visiting far more comfortable if you’re looking for something to do while you’re in town.
Armature Works
Armature Works is a good all around stop with a lot of food options, indoor and outdoor seating, and space to walk around. Matt often brings family and guests here because it’s easy, central, and gives a good feel for Tampa.
Sparkman Wharf
Sparkman Wharf is similar in vibe, with multiple food vendors, drinks, and views of the water. It’s a solid option if you’re looking for a casual place to eat, wander, and get a sense of the city.
Indian Rocks Beach
When we say “the beach,” this is usually what we mean. We tend to come to Indian Rocks because it’s quieter and less tourist heavy, but anywhere along the Gulf will give you the white sand and clear water Florida is known for.