On this podcast episode we are reporting back from the Florida RV SuperShow, our very favorite RV show of the year. Two weeks ago, we fled the frigid temperatures of the northeast and hightailed it to sunny Tampa, where we enjoyed touring an amazing variety of RVs and shopping for camping accessories.

We also were lucky to meet tons of podcast listeners and enjoy the talented and quirky entertainment that visitors always find at the SuperShow.

Segment One

On this episode, we will chat about some of the podcast listeners that we spoke with, and share their unique and diverse RVing experience. We are still continually surprised at the wide variety of listeners this podcast has, and we will introduce you to the stories of young couples with Aliners, moms with Class As, and retired folks living the life in Class Bs.

Segment Two

Then in the second segment, we compiled a list of things we learned about RVers from hanging out at the Florida RV SuperShow. In many ways this RV show is more like a festival, and we thought a lot of wonderful aspects of RV culture were evident during our visit. We came up with 6 things we can say for sure after the show:

• RV owners are always shopping.
• There is more diversity in RV selection than ever before.
• RV owners are dreamers.
• The RV lifestyle leads to the creation of community.
• RV owners are more educated than ever before.

Segment Three

Our final segment of the show is really a travel piece. After two years at the Florida RV SuperShow, we have realized that the Tampa/St. Petersburg area is an amazing RV destination, and anyone attending the show should also explore the region. So we tapped Courtney Parish who works with the Florida RV Trade Association to tell us the best things to do and the best places to eat in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Courtney has lived there her entire life, and her passions for the area is evident in the interview.

Find information about the 2018 Florida RV SuperShow here.

Here are links to many of the places that Courtney recommends:

Tampa

Do:

• • Glazer Children’s Museum 
  • Tampa History Center 
  • Florida Aquarium 
  • Tampa Museum of Art 
  • Busch Gardens
  • Yuengling Brewery Tour
  • Hyde Park Village Sunday Market 
  • Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza 
  • Ybor City – This historic city is filled with shopping, dining and entertainment.
  • MOSI – www.mosi.org/ – The Museum of Science and Industry is both educational and fun. 

Eat:

• • Ichicoro Ramen – ichicoro.com 
  • Brocato’s Sandwich Shop – brocatossandwich.com – Hands down, BEST Cuban sandwhich in Tampa Bay. 
  • La Teresita – http://lateresitarestaurant.com/ – Affordable, family friendly Cuban restaurant.
  • Ulele (pronounced You-lay-lee) – http://www.ulele.com/ – Located in downtown at Tampa’s Riverwalk, Ulele serves up native Florida cuisine the whole family will enjoy.
  • Loli’s Mexican Cravings – www.lolismexicancravings.com/ – Eat here for their authentic Mexican tacos, but place your order to go because the restaurant is small and fills up fast.
  • Bern’s Steak House – www.bernssteakhouse.com/ – This is a Tampa institution. Bern’s is famous for their unique decor, dry aged steaks, world renown wine cellar, and famous dessert room. Make sure to schedule a tour when you make your reservation.
  • Oxford Exchange – Bring a good book and grab some brunch or coffee.
  • Green Lemon – www.eatgreenlemon.com/ – Modern/healthy (for the most part) twist on American/Mexican cuisine. Great place for brunch or dinner. 
  • Jai Ho Royale Indian Cuisine – 2311 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33617

Drink:

• Coppertail Brewery – coppertailbrewing.com/
• Cigar City Brewery – https://cigarcitybrewing.com/ – dog friendly
• Six Ten Brewery – https://www.sixtenbrewing.com/ – dog friendly
• Blind Tiger Cafe – https://www.blindtigercafe.com/
• Buddy Brew Coffee – www.buddybrew.com/

St. Petersburg:

Do:

• The Dali Museum – thedali.org/ – Most extensive collection of Salvadore Dali’s work outside of Spain.
• St. Petersburg Fine Arts Museum – mfastpete.org/ – this museum is so underrated.
• Artpool Gallery – www.artpoolrules.com/ – Local art, vintage clothing/furniture, records.
• Haslam’s Book Store – www.haslams.com/ – Vintage books.
• Saturday Morning Market – www.saturdaymorningmarket.com/ – a favorite Saturday morning hangout spot amongst the locals.
• St. Pete Beach

Eat:

• Farm Table – www.localegourmetmarket.com/farmtable-kitchen/
• Brick and Mortar – Everything is good here, but you have to try the Lavender Panna Cotta
• The Mill – themilldtsp.com/ – Great place for brunch or dinner.
• Annata – www.annatawine.com/ – Great place for tapas and wine.
• Cafe Bích Nga – Best place in town for Authentic Vietnamese food.

Drink:

• Cask & Ale – www.thecaskandale.com/ – Best bar in the Tampa Bay are of artisan cocktails.
• 3 Daughters Brewery – https://3dbrewing.com/ – Good beer and games for everyone.

A huge thanks to the Florida RV Trade Association for putting on such a great RV show for 32 years running! You can also check out our article about the event on Go RVing’s blog.

And you can also learn more about Fort De Soto Park Campground, a great place to stay while visiting this region, over on Episode #66 of Campground of the Week.

This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds we have seen, but listen to the podcast to find out specific details about reservations and location!

Thanks also to our sponsors who support weekly content for all our RV fools:

See you at the RV Show!

Stephanie + Jeremy

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