Why you should ditch Orlando for another Florida hotspot – with new direct UK flights

THE streets of Ybor City – Tampa’s historic turned hipster neighbourhood – are eerily quiet.

Hours earlier, the clubs, bars and restaurants in this buzzing part of Florida were packed with partygoers.

Now the streets are silent, save for one rather unusual sound — clucking.

Squinting in the early-morning sunlight, I spot a flock of colourful chickens strolling along the sidewalk.

A rooster with splendid black tail feathers and scarlet comb struts past, followed by some rather scruffier hens.

No, this is not a result of one too many the night before. The chickens of Ybor City are the wild descendants of those kept in the back yards of the district’s first residents, more than 150 years ago.

Now the feral fowl have the freedom of the city — and there’s a $500 fine for anyone attempting to harm them.

Max Herman, from Ybor City Historic Walking Tours, warns us not to approach the hens as he tells us how one man’s vision changed the fortunes of this once small port on Florida’s west coast.

Spanish entrepreneur Vicente Martinez-Ybor travelled from Cuba to establish a cigar-making business in the 1880s. It was an overnight success that sparked a boom.

At one point the area had more than 232 factories churning out 500million smokes a year. Immigrants flocked to the city, influencing its growth, with Spanish, Italian and Cubans bringing their traditions — and cuisines.

But the Great Depression of the 1930s, along with increased mechanisation, saw the cigar factories decline and the area was virtually abandoned by the 1970s before artists moved in to the dilapidated buildings in the following decades.

The gentrification continued with bars and restaurants drawing crowds to the 7th Avenue entertainment district.

Today, you’re still able to pick up a hand-rolled cigar from one of the few small mom-and-pop businesses. And no visit is complete without stopping off at Florida’s oldest restaurant, Columbia, with its extravagant tiled exterior and signature Cuban sandwich.

Influenced by the many immigrant cuisines of the city, there’s Spanish ham, Italian salami, Cuban roast pork and German and Jewish swiss cheese, pickle and mustard layered into Cuban bread, brushed with butter and pressed to a crispy finish.

This gargantuan sarnie will set you back £12 and would easily feed two.

This historic district, with its unique architecture — think New Orleans-style balconied buildings and bold street art — could not be in starker contrast to the skyscrapers of downtown Tampa.

Best beaches

Jump on the free tram from Ybor and you’ll find a very different side of the city. Here, multi-million-dollar properties line the banks of the Hillsborough River that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. And yet the city’s past is never far away.

Moored up outside the shiny modern Tampa General Hospital is a vast pirate’s wooden galleon. The Jose Gasparilla is named after a mythical pirate who sailed the Florida waters.

Every January, the city celebrates him with parades, festivals and lots of swashbuckling entertainment. For more fun, the 2.6-mile

Riverwalk is home to the Florida Aquarium, museums, galleries and theatres as well as parks and plenty of riverside restaurants and bars.

You can explore the route on the water with a stand-up paddleboard or kayak, or sit back and relax on one of the many boats offering cruise and dine trips.

Many set sail from the newly created Sparkman Wharf food market, where colourful shipping containers feature the best of Tampa’s dining scene.

Tampa takes its food and drink seriously and was recently announced as the only city in Florida to be in the Michelin Guide. Three of its restaurants have been awarded the coveted Bib Gourmand for good food at reasonable prices.

Head to Ichicoro in Seminole Heights for glorious ramen bowls from just £12, or Rocca in Tampa Heights for elevated Italian pastas.

The city is among the fastest-growing in the US and nowhere is that more obvious than in the new Water Street district, with its skyscrapers and the city’s first 5H hotel, The Edition. Treat yourself to a cocktail in one of its fabulously decorated bars.

But the joy of Tampa is also its incredible accessibility.

Spend a few days exploring the city streets then head 30 minutes down the highways to some of the best beaches in Florida at St Petersburg and Clearwater, with wide stretches of powder-white sands.

Check out the newly opened St Pete Pier — a $68million development stretching into the ocean, with restaurants, parks and more.

But my favourite spot is Pass-A-Grille in St Pete Beach — a relaxed, old-fashioned beach resort with a laid-back vibe.

Head to The Hurricane’s rooftop bar at sunset for glorious views and good-value seafood.

The chickens may rule the roost in Ybor City but Tampa’s delights are ready and waiting for all to explore.

Virgin Atlantic’s new flight

WHILE Tampa’s obvious attractions are a reason to visit the city, Virgin Atlantic’s new flight from Heathrow also offers great value for those heading to the Orlando theme parks or Gulf Coast beaches.

We compared the price of Virgin’s flights to popular Orlando with Tampa, and on every occasion, the Tampa flights were about £50-£100 cheaper.

Launched in November 2022, the route now operates daily direct flights using Virgin Atlantic’s new Airbus A330 neo planes.

Those travelling in Premium and Upper Class can expect in-seat wireless charging, while customers in every cabin can enjoy a greater number of USB connections, Bluetooth-enabled entertainment systems and the airline’s fastest ever wifi.

• Prices correct as of March 8, 2023