Did you know Tampa has a tropical climate?
Nah, just kidding. If you know us, you know we’re here for the deep cuts — and there’s plenty of interesting factoids to go around. As connoisseurs of the quirky and unconventional, we put together a list of some of Tampa Bay’s history, oddest characteristics, and more. Maybe you’ve lived here your whole life and know some of this, or maybe you’ll learn something new.
Either way, test your local knowledge with these interesting facts.
1. Tampa’s temperature has never exceeded 99º. That sounds like a lie because, ya know — it’s Florida, but it’s true. The last time the thermometer even hit that number in Tampa was June 5, 1985.
2. The world’s longest continuous pedestrian walkway — meaning no vehicle or road interruptions — is located along Tampa Bay’s waters. Bayshore Boulevard is a great place for a stroll, and measures ~4.5 miles.
3. St. Pete holds the official Guinness World Record for most consecutive days of sunshine. There were a whopping 768 in a row starting in 1967.
4. Florida’s oldest restaurant resides in Ybor City. The Columbia Restaurant has been serving Cuban sandwiches, Spanish bean soup, and its legendary 1905 Salad for 119 years. Fun fact: It’s also the largest Spanish restaurant in the world and can seat 1,700 diners.
5. Lindsay Lohan’s dad launched himself from the third-floor balcony of the Tahitian Inn to avoid rearrest in 2011. Upon being put into the Tampa Police Department squad car, he said, “I’m an idiot.”
6. The world’s first passenger flight took place in St. Pete. On the first day of 1914, the first passenger flight worldwide took off from the Burg and landed in Tampa.
7. Why is it called Tampa? There’s no one definitive answer. Some theorize the name is a loose translation of “sticks of fire” in the language of the Calusa — a Native American tribe indigenous to southwest Florida.
8. Our area is also commonly referred to as the lightning capital of North America — possibly explaining the Calusa’s name. It’s estimated that Tampa Bay residents are within half a mile of 10-15 strikes per year.
9. According to legend, St. Petersburg was named by Peter Demens, an exiled Russian aristocrat, thanks to the flip of a coin. His opponent — John Constantine Williams — lost the 50/50, and instead received the honor of naming the city’s first hotel after his hometown, Detroit.
10. “Goodfellas,” “Dolphin Tale,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Magic Mike,” “My Girl,” and “The Parent Trap II” (call back to Lindsay Lohan’s dad) are just a few of the movies that have been filmed in TBAY.
11. Busch Gardens got its start as a brewery and a botanical garden, but later on developed into the theme park you know today. Yuengling, America’s oldest brewery, runs a bottling plant right next door. And right behind them, Pepsi has a facility too.
12. A swath of famous authors have resided in the area, one of whom was Jack Kerouac, a novelist of the 1960s who lived in St. Petersburg. And just south of TBAY, you can find Stephen King’s extravagant estate in Sarasota, far from the spooky New England settings around which many of his tales revolve.
13. This one’s an old school meme. Remember the “You know I had to do it to em,” guy? He’s from Tampa. Holy throwback. The meme began when Twitter user @LuckyLuciano17k posted a photo of himself dressed to the nines with that infamous caption.
14. Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, is a Tampa native. He started his wrestling career in 1977 and gained international recognition in 1983 when he signed for the World Wrestling Federation.
15. It took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32 seasons to return a kickoff for a touchdown. In 2007, Michael Spurlock took one to the house for 90 yards from a kick by Falcons kicker Morten Anderson.
Your turn. Tell us your favorite local trivia tidbit, and you might make it into the newsletter.
City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.
