Take it From the Locals: Getting around Tampa

When you arrive at Tampa International Airport there is a complementary shuttle service provided by the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Simply locate a courtesy phone marked "Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay" located in any baggage claim area. The shuttles are available from 5:00 am to 1:00 am daily and depart from the hotel every half hour. Once you've reached the hotel and you're settled in you might want to get out and explore the city.

Here are some ways that you can get around the city:

The TECO Line Streetcar is a multi-line street car that will take you from Downtown Tampa  to Ybor City and Harbor Island and back again. You can find schedules and maps by going to http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit (PSTA) is the local transit system in Tampa Bay. The bus system is the most popular public transportation option in the Tampa Bay area. If you're not planning on renting a car, visit http://www.psta.net/index.php to take advantage of public transit.

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For a slightly less conventional mode of transportation take a Magic Carpet Glide segway tour. Glide through gorgeous downtown Tampa and its surrounding islands.  Experience breathtaking views on a 2 generation Segway that is easy to ride and provides endless fun.

Contact Info:

www.magiccarpetglide.com

615 Channelside Drive

Tampa, FL  33602

(813) 380-1916

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City Bike Tampa is a full-service specialty bicycle shop with two locations in downtown Tampa where you can rent bicycles and baby seats, trailers and jogging strollers.  Also offers scenic tours, history tours and weekly group rides.

Contact Info:

www.citybiketampa.com

212 E Cass St.

Tampa, FL  33602

(813) 225-1777

Finally, you can take a water tour on one of the Tampa Water Taxi Company taxis. This fleet operate seven days a week, offering harbor tours, history tours, eco tours, sunset tours, special children’s tours and transportation for small or large groups.

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Contact Info:

www.TampaWaterShuttle.com

200 N. Ashley Drive

Tampa, FL  33602

(888) 386-8687

Tampa is a great outdoor city and there is a ton to see and do. Hopefully these travel options will give you a way to get out and explore. 

Take it From the Locals...

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Known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter for over a century, Ybor City is an exotic blend of aromas, flavors, sights and sounds. This popular destination, about 10 miles away from downtown Tampa, is known for it's eclectic shops and art galleries.  Ybor City is only one of two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida.  Red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies and narrow brick streets give it an old-world charm that is a refreshing change of pace from the beach and the mall.

To get a more intimate tour of the city, visit www.secretcitywalks.com, put on your headphones, and experience the city with this mp3 tour. From cigar magnates to con men and Cuban revolutionaries, the ghosts of Ybor will take you on a journey through Tampa’s colorful history. This hour long tour of Tampa can be started at any time, waked at your own pace, and paused to take a break to eat, shop, and explore.

While you're in Ybor stop in Bernini, an eclectic eatery where the cuisine compliments the artistic surroundings, and where the atmosphere and dedicated service have yet to be matched. This upscale casual italian restaurant is a treat not to be missed.

Contact Info:

http://berniniofybor.com/

1702 E 7^th Ave

Tampa, FL 33605

(813) 248-0099

Take it From the Locals...

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Bayshore Boulevard is a waterfront road on Hillsborough Bay just south of Downtown.  Its sidewalk, claimed to be the longest continuous sidewalks in the world, is approximately 4.5 miles long and 10 feet wide, and is widely used for recreation and exercise.  The 3-mile bike lane, a linear park, and the Bayshore Greenway Trail provide scenic views of urban Tampa and the water.  Many large and historic homes line the street as well as The Colonnade, a popular seafood restaurant established in 1935.

Tampa’s favorite seafood restaurant, The Colonnade, has been serving fresh seafood "the way it oughta’ be" for 75 years! This reasonably priced restaurant overlooks beautiful Tampa Bay. Combine dinner here with a walk along the Bayshore for a wonderful evening! 

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Contact Info:

www.thenade.com

3401 Bayshore Blvd

Tampa, FL 33629

(813) 839-7558

Why Should You Attend?

While the decision to come to the 2013 Refresher Course and workshops might not be an easy one to make, the benefits are varied and the experience will offer you the opportunity to connect with the larger Montessori community. 

Here are some things that people had to say about past refresher courses:

"I feel refreshed, not only by the content itself, but perhaps even more so by getting to be with and absorb the special energy and encouragement of my distant Montessori family."

"It was a great opportunity to be touched and re-motivated by trainers and colleagues all over the world. I appreciate and enjoy the supportive and positive atmosphere all the time."

"It brought me back to the theory, grounded me. It was an exhausting process, but worth it and much needed!"

Each year we look forward to welcoming our fellow Montessorians for a time to reflect, connect, and learn with one another. This year's Refresher Course and workshops will be the best one yet!

Take it From the Locals...

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Located in a 53,000 square foot facility in the heart of downtown Tampa, the Glazer Children's Museum is a great place for an afternoon of exploration. Created for children 10 and under, the Museum is a place where parents and children can learn through play and shared discovery.

Contact Info:
www.glazermuseum.org
110 W. Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL  33602
(813) 443-3861

For a family friendly bite to eat check out Burger 21, cited as a top 50 Restaurant in Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Times. Burger 21 offers a large variety of burgers, from the regular "Cheesy Burger" to the very unique "Ahi Tuna" burger. This is a place you don't want to miss! 

Contact Info:

http://www.burger21.com/

9664 West Linebaugh Ave.

Tampa, FL 33626

(813) 475-5921

Meet the Speakers!

Judi Orion an AMI trainer, and child-birth and parenting educator using Respirator Autogenic Training (RAT) which she trains both nationally and internationally at the 0-3 level. She has conducted courses in Japan, Australia, and China and has lectured in Taiwan, The Philippines, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Canada. She has even spoken at the International Congress in India!

 In the mid-1980s Judi created sessions called Parent/Infant or Parent/Child Groups. In these sessions the parent(s) and child come once a week to a center and parent(s) come for an additional information session which helps to introduce the parent and child to the concepts of Montessori living.   

Judi loves to travel and train the 0-3 and 0-6 levels in other countries, and when she's not traveling she enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren who attended the same Montessori school that their mother graduated from. 

We are excited to welcome Judi to the 2013 Refresher Course and Workshops, where she will share her expertise in a lecture entitled, "Forming a Critical Bond - Support and Collaboration Between Schools and Families!"

Refresher Course and Workshops Registration

Did you know that registration for the 2013 Refresher Course and Workshops is now open?

Click on this link for more information, and to register for this year's conference, and keep checking back here for updates and things to do and see in Tampa Bay.

We look forward to seeing you there!