Henry B Plant Museum

Lonely Planet review

Railroad magnate Henry B Plant's Tampa Bay Hotel, which opened in 1891, was one of the most luxurious places imaginable in the early days of the city, when Tampa was about as remote as Miami. All 500 guestrooms had private bathrooms and electricity, and the extravagant hotel contained all the furniture, sculptures and mirrors Plant's wife had collected during their European and Oriental travels.

After the hotel failed in the early 20th century, the city of Tampa took over and today the National Historic Landmark is a museum across the river from downtown on the University of Tampa campus. You can gawk at the luxury and tour the hotel's grand salon, guest room, solarium and lobby, among others. Even if you don't go in, admire the dramatic Moorish revival architecture and silver minarets. The popular annual Victoria Christmas Stroll takes place from December 1 to 21, and it includes dramatizations of fairy tales by actors in period costume in different rooms of the hotel. Tickets for an adult/child cost around US$9 / US$3 .