We actually live in St. Petersburg, Tampa's sister city; and if you're up for making the trip across the bay, this pier - which often hosts live music, shopping, and the option to drink a White Claw while strolling - is one of our favorite spots.
Wanna hit the beach?! Tampa beaches are on the bay, so you'll want to head to the coast to enjoy those white sand Gulf beaches and calm turquoise waters. We can't recommend Pass-A-Grille enough! This is the spot closest to our home (and the hotel) so we go here often. It's rarely crowded and has easy (paid) parking.