John Lennon pointed the way.
Which I thought was very nice of him.
Lennon was loitering outside my hotel in downtown Tampa. Looking quite sporty in mirrored psychedelic glasses and royal purple scarf.
I had some time to kill before heading to The Straz, just across the street, to keep my date with Banksy.
And Lennon thought I might enjoy a meet up with some of his pals.
A Tocobaga princess named Ulule.
And a pirate named…..well, what else would they name a pirate in Tampa?
So I followed Lennon’s steely gaze in the direction of the Hillsborough River. And not only did I encounter his pals, but I discovered a new reason to spend some time in a familiar Florida city that I hadn’t visited for several years.
Yeah, I know. The Bucs, Ybor City, Busch Gardens, et al. Tampa’s always had its charms, but downtown wasn’t really one of them.
But that was before Riverwalk. A 2.6 mile trail that connects breweries, bars, restaurants, lots of art, museums, an aquarium, a rowing center….and, of course, a pirate water taxi.
Listen, I love Florida cities that have turned aging liabilities into quality of life enhancing assets.
Dunedin and Winter Garden experienced an urban Renaissance after they turned rusted rails into trails for people.
St. Pete’s glittering bayfront downtown is a smashing success story.
And now Tampa has discovered what cities before it – San Antonio, Charleston and San Francisco, to name just a few – already knew.
That derelict and long-neglected waterfronts can be transformed into magical places where people love to be – where they want to live, work and play.
We had lunch in an upscale cafe, right next to a complex of old warehouses and machine shops that have been repurposed as a brewery, eateries and bars.
Nor are Lennon, Ulule and the pirate guy art anomalies. All along the riverfront are busts and images reflecting the city’s rich history over the course of a century and more.
On an evening stroll we saw kids at play and adults…well, also at play.
Luxury apartment complexes line Riverwalk. Museums, playhouses, galleries and more are all close at hand.
And the Bob Buckhorn River Center hosts a skulling boot camp for nearby Tampa Prep students who apparently have their sights set on the Ivy League.
Definitely worth a weekend staycation for Floridians up and down the peninsula.
There’s no “being bored when on the Riverwalk,” Tampa boasts.
And who am I to argue?
Hell, John Lennon himself pointed the way for me.
And I’ve always trusted the guy’s judgement.
Check it out.
FreeGNV 