Tampa’s High Speed Rail Gets Another Step Forward

It's another step closer to high speed rail from Tampa to Orlando. What's the latest?

The commission that oversees Sunrail needed to approve a deal that would share a corridor with Brightline. They voted last week.

The resolution received a unanimous 5-0 vote by SunRail's governing body. This means that they support the Sunshine Corridor. That's the route that will connect Tampa and Orlando.

The Sunshine Corridor will connect central Florida to the Tampa Bay area. From the east, there will be a stop at Orlando Airport, plus stops near Universal Orlando Epic Universe, the Orange County Convention Center and a stop close to Disney property.

From the west, there will be a stop at Ybor City. That location has yet to be built. The proposed high speed rail route would travel close to the I-4 corridor, also alleviating traffic on the interstate between Tampa and Orlando.

[Source: TBBJ]

If you're looking for something to do that's a little different, check this list out. These are not the familiar and popular places to visit. Instead, here are a few lesser-known attractions around Tampa Bay.

Summer is here and schools are out. If you're looking to visit someplace you haven't been yet, here are some places around the Tampa Bay area that you may not have though about before.

Owned by a couple of artists, this Safety Harbor home has nearly everything covered with tile mosaics. Then there are the bowling balls, painted and decorating the property.

Filled with natural and unnatural oddities, many you can actually purchase.

Sunken Gardens has been open for over 100 years, and is St. Pete's oldest roadside attraction. Get a visitors guide and explore the more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers. Take lots of photos of the waterfalls and their flock of flamingos,

Glass art brought to its highest peak. Add to that, the drawings and limited edition prints. You can also purchase your new home decorations.

Learn the history, and mystery, of the traveling carnival.

Whether the design is intentional or an unfortunate result, the building is certainly memorable.

As their sign reads, "Nauticals, Antiques, Curiosities." It's someplace you need to visit to find that special, one-of-a-kind treasure.

Originally on display at Lowry Park, the figures were acquired by Ulele (and Columbia Restaurant owner) Richard Gonzmart, who put them on display at his restaurant on the Hillsborough River.

On land acquired by brothers Dr. Joseph Addison Braden and Hector Braden, a two-story manor, nicknamed 'The Castle' was built. The property fell to hard times, and much of the remaining structure has been grown over by the natural flora.

Get some laughs, and learn about some of your favorite comedians. Clearly, noplace screams "National Comedy Hall of Fame & Museum" like the town of Holiday, Florida!

We had so much fun finding our first list of odd things-to-do near Tampa. Now, we've continued scouring the area and found seven more odd attractions and sights.

Sure, the Tampa Bay area has beaches, theme parks, trails, sports arenas, malls, etc. Sometimes, however, you need to look just a little deeper to find something you never realized was there.

Here are seven odd things-to-do around the area that you may or may not have known about. If you did know, let us know about your experience. Keep an eye out for the next list!

Yes, Tampa hosts ZooTampa, the Florida Aquarium, and Busch Gardens. Here's a place you may not have known about. Croc Encounters sits off of SR 301 a little north of I-4. It's a place you can have contact with some of Florida's scaled residents.

Brenda and Frank Crum have run Golden Spirit Alpaca Ranch since 2006. According to their website, they have around 150 alpaca on 75 acres.

Located off 34th Street in Tampa, McKay Bay Park was developed as a national avian sanctuary. It's located at the northeasternmost part of Tampa Bay. Groups such as the Audobon Society have been monitoring the birds that have made this a wintering location for many wintering bird species. The city of Tampa purchased the land in the 1980's and turned it into a park featuring boardwalks and viewing towers.

It's not a zoo. It's the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary. This is a place where primates can live out their lives. It's located in Palm Harbor. In fact, after his acting days, Cheetah from Johnny Weissmuller's "Tarzan" lived here until he turned 80. According to the BBC, he joined the sanctuary around 1960.

The manatees love the warm waters of the Big Bend Power Station. Travel to Apollo Beach where you can visit the viewing center, particularly in the winter. These wild, gentle sea cows are safe in the sanctuary provided by Tampa Electric.

The Official Ybor City Ghost Tour is considered one of the top haunted tours in the country. This isn't just a Halloween event. Haunts are here year-round. The 90-minute tour will introduce you to some spine-tingling residents of Ybor City.

Get that camera ready and take some pictures of this uniquely Thai. Also, it's not just a beautiful Thai Buddhist temple, but it features a drive-thru Sunday market. And bring your appetite, Wat Mongkolratanaram is known for some of the most amazing Asian dishes you'll find outside of the Far East.

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