Bloomingdale Real Estate > Bloomingdale Community Info

There is plenty to do in Bloomingdale. From shopping to swimming, to eating and watching professional sports, enthusiasts of all sorts are sure to find something they'll enjoy. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers thrill rides, dining, shopping and live entertainment. The park has an African theme and is home to 2,700 animals housed in natural habitats. Adventure Island is a tropical water park with slides, beaches, play areas and a volleyball complex. The Florida Aquarium is a three-story, glass-domed building, located downtown on the Tampa Bay waterfront, containing more than 10,000 aquatic animals and plants. Various Florida locales are represented including a cypress swamp, a river with otters, bays, beaches and a coral reef. A close look at the manatee can be had at Lowry Park Zoo at the Florida Manatee and Aquatic Center. The zoo is also home to native plants and animals, primates, and a children's zoo. Wildlife on Easy Street is home to rare and endangered cats and visitors are given the opportunity to pet a cat during the tour.

Excellent museums are also found in the area. Centro Ybor Museum, located in the historic Ybor City neighborhood, features the clothing and work spaces of those who hand-rolled cigars when the area was known as the "Cigar Capital of the World." Historic photographs and a video illustrate the history of cigar making and the growth of Tampa from swampland to world-class city. MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) features hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, a hurricane simulator, a wilderness with 3 miles of trails, and a children's science area. The Ybor City Museum State Park is on the site of a former bakery. The large brick ovens are on display along with a cigar worker's cottage furnished with period pieces.

Tours of Tampa Bay and its environs are available by hot air balloon, bus, car, boat and on foot. Miles of sugar sand beaches beckon swimmers, surfers, sail boarders, shell collectors, people watchers and sunbathers. Spectator sports include baseball (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), football (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), hockey (Tampa Bay Lightning), greyhound racing and horse racing. Bicyclists will enjoy the view and cool breezes on the 6-mile ride along Bayshore Blvd. Other places to ride include Suncoast Parkway Trail and on the Friendship Trial Bridge.

Malls, outlet stores, and specialty districts are found everywhere. Centro Ybor offers boutiques, restaurants and specialty shops. Old Hyde Park Village consists of more than 50 shops, restaurants and cafes in an Old World setting. Silas Bayside Market is a tropical retreat of shops and restaurants. The Pier is a collection of shops and restaurants under a pyramid facing Tampa Bay. Channelside, adjacent to downtown, is an entertainment and dining complex with boutiques and gift shops.

Bloomingdale is located in Hillsborough County. Named for the 1772 British Colonial Secretary, the area was visited by the Spanish as early as the 16th century. The Timucuan and Tacobega Indian tribes originally occupied the land. When the United States purchased the land now called Florida from the Spanish in 1821, the area had been ruled by Spain, France and England. Florida became a state in 1845.