The Tampa Theatre is hands down one of the best places to watch a movie. Forget the giant chain…read moretheaters. This place has something they just can't replicate. The building is absolutely beautiful and has almost 100 years of history. You can feel it the second you walk inside. Every room has a presence to it. The atmosphere is unlike anything else. It always feels full, even when it isn't. You're never really by yourself...;) The concessions are great, the staff is always friendly, and I love that they haven't tried to modernize away all the character. The little noises, the old floors, the way the building seems to settle around you during the movie just reminds you this place has seen generations of people come and go. I definitely will be back. I have a feeling something there is looking forward to seeing me again.

A Cinematic Masterpiece Before the Movie Even Begins…read more If you are looking for an unforgettable night out, the historic Tampa Theatre is an absolute must-visit. Calling it just a "movie theater" feels like a massive understatement - it is a breathtaking time capsule and a true architectural marvel that elevates the simple act of watching a film into a grand event. From the moment you step through the doors, you are transported into a spectacular, 1920s Mediterranean courtyard. The attention to detail inside the auditorium is stunning, offering an experience that modern multiplexes simply cannot replicate. Here is what makes it so incredibly special: * The Atmospheric Ceiling: You sit under a remarkably realistic night sky, complete with 99 twinkling stars and gently drifting clouds, making you feel like you are outdoors on a perfect evening. * The Architecture: The eclectic, opulent blend of Moorish, Spanish, and Byzantine details - surrounded by gargoyles, statues, and ornate balconies - gives the space a magical, almost surreal charm. * The Mighty Wurlitzer: Arriving early is a requirement! Hearing the historic theatre organ played live before the screenings perfectly captures the golden age of cinema. The programming is just as thoughtfully curated as the decor. Whether you are catching a brilliant independent film, a beloved cult classic, a documentary, or a live event, the venue makes every single screening feel momentous. Grab some popcorn, take in the gorgeous scenery, and enjoy the show. The Tampa Theatre is a meticulously preserved local treasure and truly one of the greatest places to spend an evening!

Such a beautiful location. Great decor and atmosphere. Went…read morethere for a yelp event and the event was absolutely amazing. Recognizing and celebrating Women Owned Business.

This is a beautiful venue in the heart of downtown Tampa. As soon as you walk in the door, you will…read morebe impressed with the vintage decor and cozy ambiance.

Totally worth it! I mean seriously it is free! Can't beat free fun! We did not have tickets. We…read morecame right before 7. They let us know to sit on the side while the 7pm people came. Once they did, she accumulated extra tickets for us to go in. Once inside the wait seemed forever. They would let a certain number of people in a group each time. We finally got in around 7:20pm! For sure jumping in is hard when you are bare footed. You can easily get stuck under. It's like drowning, but a bunch of balls instead of water! The most fun or most difficult is trying to get out! Phew! I felt so happy and free after playing around for a bit! What a great fun concept. Those were the days of Chuckie cheese ball pits! Here it is again!

What an awesome event! And it was completely free! Huge thanks to the Vinik Foundation for bringing…read morethis amazing experience to Tampa! I didn't expect to have so much fun in a ball pit... nor did I expect it to be so physically challenging! The first time I fell, I needed help to get back up, and just walking through the balls was hard! The *shore* with lounge chairs & umbrellas was a nice way to catch my breath. Due to my kids' work & college schedules, Sunday was really the best day for us to go together. I ordered our free tickets online several weeks before the multi-week event began, and 5pm 8/21 was the only slot still available for a group of 6... That's how popular this event was, sight unseen! Once I realized The Beach Tampa would be closing at 6pm on Sundays, I was concerned our time would be limited. However, worrying was not necessary. At the entrance outside, we queued up to enter precisely at our ticketed time. Then inside, we waited again as staff monitored the number of people inside the actual *beach* area for safety and enjoyment, allowing people to enter as others left. The line moved quickly at this point, but we still weren't able to go in until after 5:30. Luckily, staff had already announced to everyone that even the very last person to enter would get a minimum of 45 minutes to enjoy The Beach. I really hope The Beach returns to Tampa!

A bus driver deliberately waited an unscheduled 2 hours because she did not feel like driving the…read morebus. This caused me to miss my connecting bus. The next bus did not leave until 14 hours later the next day. I asked for a hotel and food voucher for the inconvenience and was denied. I asked for a refund or credit and was also denied. I had to stay 14 hours in an unsafe station. There was no apology issued. I called customer service multiple times and spoke to multiple people who were rude and unsympathetic and said my issue was not their problem. In addition, there was no wifi onboard and the seat outlets did not work. This was the absolute worst travel experience in my life. Please, if you are considering traveling with Greyhound bus lines, do not. It is better to just pay extra to fly or find a better bus line.

Ridiculous uncomfortable location, yuck, why, omg, do better greyhound. Just gross and no where to…read moresit

This is a great venue and they are managed very well. I've been to various events here over the…read moreyears and experiences have all been positive. People traffic flow is well managed and I really appreciate the forethought in having standing tables spread throughout the facility. I can't recall another venue with a similar setup so you don't see many people trying to eat a meal while standing next to a trash can. I think we've all been there - but probably not at Benchmark. Kudos for the well designed common areas.

I ordered my tickets online for the Kings of Leon concert which was on January 31st…read more Well getting to the arena was a total mess. It was the same Saturday as Gasparilla so they had streets closed and we made it downtown in no time but drove around for an hour trying to get to the parking garage. I was worried we would miss part of the show. Finally made it and on time! The line to get in went quickly and everyone was very nice. Our seats were close to the stage so we were trying to figure the best way down. An attendant asked if he could help and he pointed us in the right direction. The ladies there were so sweet showing us where to go. On the floor you have your own bar and bathroom area. Very clean and the employees seemed almost happy to be at work, more than I can say for myself...lol. The concert itself was amazing! The band played old and new songs. They sound just as good in person as you hear on the radio or iTunes or anything else. Maybe even better live!!!! They were full of energy and just a great band!!!! Hope they come back to Benchmark soon!!!!

Sparkman Wharf hosts its annual Haunted Wharf Halloween themed spooky event on weekend nights of…read moreOctober for Halloween every year! This year, Haunted Wharf featured an interactive spook-tacular maze on the waterside wharf featuring photo ops and haunted visitors roaming the area. This event is great for kids and adults, alike. Tickets for the Haunted Wharf maze are only $10 and must be purchased in advance from Eventbrite. Sparkman Wharf suggests children under the age of 10 attend the maze before 6PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sparkman Wharf will have extra spooky things happening after 6PM for adults! The Haunted Wharf Maze limited participants to a maximum of 10 people at a time for better scares! Cost: $10 Parking: $2 Duration: 10 minutes. A little short but it was inexpensive. 8/10 Atmosphere: spooky lighting, smoke, sound effects, pirate theme was great. 8/10 Costumes: authentic looking Mermaid, zombie, Skeleton man, & camouflaged man provided effective scares. 8/10 I look forward to attending next year as well! If your in the Channelside Downtown Tampa area, I highly recommend checking the Haunted Wharf out! If you're looking for a haunted house running for the whole month of October, I recommend Scream-A-Geddon in Dade City, just north of Tampa and Sir Henry's Haunted Trail in Plant City!

We purchased 3 pre-sale tickets because we saw it advertised on the news as a haunted ship. Did not…read morerealize that is was just this little 5min maze with only 3 scary guys in it. What a waste of money and time. We thought we were buying tickets for the ship. Waste of $40 would of rather stayed home with my kids. They were so disappointed. They really needed to clarify that the pre-sale tickets were only for the stupid little 5 min maze AND not the 30 min haunted ship ship we were expecting! The maze is more for little kids under 9 not for 12 and 14 year olds. We even tried to go talk to someone to exchange or buy the correct tickets and they were all sold out. So upset and disappointed! That little maze is not even worth $5.

I love this Halloween activity! A great value compared with many of the haunted attractions in the…read morearea. They do a great job with pacing attendees so you get the jump scares and aren't on top of the party in front of you. There is a lot of stairs and narrow passageways to navigate the ship so wouldn't be a good option if you have mobility challenges. Staff is always posted at the exit to snap photos which I really appreciate also.

This was the scariest house I've ever been in!!! Everyone is so talented and dedicated to their…read moreroles!! It was affordable too!! I almost peed my pants from how scared I was!! If you are looking for something to do for Halloween, this is it!!