In our third installment for great “spring break” weekend options, we would like to suggest Tampa, Florida, Austin, Texas, and Charleston, South Carolina. All are easily accessed from the Memphis Airport and provide a broad variety of entertainment for a weekend getaway to make your college student feel as if they had a break when they were not able to take a full week off. At the end of this post, we also have provided links to a variety of hotels and entertainment options in each city.
Tampa, Florida
If you didn't get a chance to go to the Outback Bowl, now is the perfect chance to visit Tampa, FL. The weather is sunny and hot, perfect for a potential tan! Southwest offers inexpensive direct flights into Tampa International Airport. Just across the bridge, St. Petersburg Beach, home to fun in the sun and ocean, sunbathing and the recently opened St. Pete Pier, extending into Tampa Bay from downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Here guests can stroll, bike, dine, drink, shop, swim, or listen to a concert on the pier.
A favorite Tampa restaurant is Salt Shack. Known for their fresh seafood, outdoor seating, and gorgeous bay views. One can purchase a water taxi day pass ticket and use it to reach multiple destinations along the Hillsborough river in Tampa. One favorite is Armature Works, a modern gourmet food court that has just about every type of cuisine one could imagine. Another fun stop located on Harbor Island is American Social; a fun place to enjoy an espresso martini after dinner.
Lots of good shopping can be found in Hyde Park. Including a cute photo op, to remember the trip by. Busch Gardens theme park is always a thrill. Guests can enjoy the rush of roller coasters or the beauty of the animals like elephants and tigers while strolling through lush surroundings. For a bit of nightlife, Macdintons, a locally loved bar located on South Howard Avenue where many other bars and nightclubs line the street.
The JW Marriott Tampa Water Street is also an excellent pick for your stay. It has a brand new rooftop bar overlooking the skyline of the city and the water. Traveling to Tampa will be a memorable experience with so many options of things to do.
Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas is a cool and trendy spot. Flying there is easy via Allegiant Air; offering inexpensive direct flights from the Memphis airport. Austin is well known for its music scene, outdoor spaces and notable graffiti street art. (A link to the best graffiti, murals and more is included in the links down below.)
Situated in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is home to beautiful trails for all sorts of outdoor activities including running, walking, hiking or biking. You might want to give Barton Creek Greenbelt or McKinney Falls State Park a visit. Enjoy the music scene and experience live music at Güero’s Taco Bar. After grabbing a taco, guests can head next door to listen to live music Wednesday through Sunday.
Magnolia Cafe is a must visit staple restaurant of Austin. The menu includes just about everything from all day breakfast to burgers and enchiladas! Veracruz food truck is also a tasty and quick place to try with authentic Mexican dishes as well as healthier options for guests to enjoy including a smoothie or juice. Rustic Tap is a country bar, but not just for country music lovers! At the Rustic Tap Customers can enjoy awesome live music and a delicious Mexican Martini. Hotel ZaZa, a luxury hotel located in the heart of downtown Austin, is in a most convenient location offering a lively cabana bar alongside the relaxing rooftop pool.
Charleston, SC
Charleston, South Carolina is a safe, breathtakingly beautiful town, rich in history and near gorgeous, accessible beaches. Easily flown to from Memphis, Charleston is known to have impressive seafood. One of the most well-known restaurants for oysters is Nico’s, a unique oyster bar offering some of the most delicious oysters imaginable! For a different vibe, Red’s Ice House provides a laid back, waterfront outdoor bar. Guests will have the time of their lives here!
For real Southern hospitality and charm, try Charleston Harbor and Resort and Marina. Located on the water, you can reach downtown Charleston via water taxi. Charleston is known for their preserved cobblestone roads. Visitors can take carriage rides and go sightseeing along the authentic cobblestone. Another fun thing to do would be to get on the water and rent an inshore fishing charter. If fishing isn’t on the bucket list, King Street has all the designer shops and other boutiques to spend the day shopping. Shem Creek Waterfront is a local favorite with unique restaurants and bars along the waterfront. At Shem Creek, people like to take in the breathtaking views of the Charleston Harbor and marshes. It is a great spot to take a sunset picture! Charleston would be a leisurely trip away from the stress of classes.
Tampa
● St.Pete beach Pier: https://stpetepier.org
● Salt Shack: @saltshacktampa www.salt-shack.com
● Armature Works: @armatureworks_tampa https://www.armatureworks.com
● American Social: @americansocial_tampa
● Hyde Park: @Hydeparkvillage
● Busch Gardens: @buschgardens https://buschgardens.com/tampa/
● Macditons: @macditonsirishpub www.macdintons.com
● JW Marriott Tampa Water Street: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpajd-jw-marriott-tampa-water-street/
Charleston
● Nico: @nicoshemcreek https://www.nicoshemcreek.com
● Red’s Ice house:@redicehouse https://www.redsicehouse.com
● Charleston Harbor and Resort and Marina: @charelsgonharborresort https://www.charlestonharborresort.com
Austin
● Art Murals Austin: https://austin.com/guide-to-the-best-austin-street-art-graffiti-murals-and-more-2020-edition/
● Güero’s Taco Bar: @guerostacobar www.gueros.com
● Veracruz food truck: @veracruzfoodtruck
● Hotel ZaZa: @hotelzazaaustin
● Magnolia Cafe: @magnoliacafeaustin magnoliacafeaustin.com
● Rustic Tap: @therustictap www.rustictap.com