Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa is one of my favorite spots in the city. With stunning views of the Hillsborough River and the skyline, it’s the perfect place to relax, take a walk, or enjoy the sunset. The park is clean, well-maintained, and always buzzing with activity from yoga classes and food trucks to weekend markets and festivals. There’s a great playground for kids, a dog park, and plenty of open space for picnics or just lounging under the trees. It’s also a short walk to great spots like the Tampa Museum of Art and Armature Works. Whether you’re visiting or local, this park is a must-see and truly captures the heart of downtown Tampa.

Great place to unwind after a long day of anything!!!! The atmosphere is great. You can walk, run, ride or scoot down the sidewalk path from the Convention Center all the way to Armature Works. Sipping is allowed, actually, I recommend it (only after dark tho, it's too hot otherwise). There's a little amphitheater area that's 420 friendly 🥴😉😶‍🌫️💨. They have a nice playground for the little guys. It's downtown, so there's direct access to food trucks, stores, etc.

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is a beautiful spot to relax and take in the scenery. The river view walkway was absolutely stunning, and the whole area had a peaceful, scenic vibe. I just wish there were more benches to sit and enjoy the view for longer. Overall, it’s a great place to visit and unwind!

Had a fantastic time today at Curtis Hixpn Park, celebrating the Asian Cultural Festival. The weather was perfect with blue skies. Sharing in this multi cultural event was a great way to spend the day. Curtis Hixon park always has wonderful events that are open to the public. Bonus was my kiddos loving the playground also.

We visited the waterfront to witness the Tampa Riverfest. What an ambience! 2 hot balloons waiting to be ignited , numerous food tracks providing free and variety food, live music making you vibe and the whole river walk to make you feel alive. The best part in Tampa to view the night beauty 😍

This park is awesome. I am not from Tampa, however, I was inviting with so much to do. The riverboat is reasonably priced for an all day pass. Enjoyed it! Will definitely visit again

This was a nice park. Had a view of the river. A water pump that spews water. A play area for children. It’s very close to the children’s museum and the library. Play area could use some cleaning and sanitizing.

A great park on the water. Plenty of festivals, and seasonal decorations. Has a river walk that goes all the way to Tampa convention center. You can catch the free trolley there which goes to the cruise terminal, and Ybor.

I usually come for many major events being held. This is a great park to relax, unwind, or for events and entertainment! Family friendly. I love playing in the little water spouts like I'm a kid again! Spacious, with different food and beverage options nearby. Def a good park for various recreational activities

We we're here during Christmas time and they had a little Christmas village type set up. Admission was free and the vendors were set up in little portable cube type things. Booths were selling decorative items, jewelry, food, and drinks. My husband bought a bottle of coffee, flavored rum at one of the booths. Another booth we were able to taste some dips where they were selling the seasoning packets. If you stop to look at everything it may have taken about one hour.

Wonderful holiday decorations and container pop-up shops. Quick stop along Riverwalk as we walked our pups over from Armature Works.

Amazing park in Downtown Tampa. Walking distance to some great restaurants nearby. For parking, i would recommend the Poe garage. It's walking distance from the park. The Park extends to Riverwalk which is a marvel on its own. They offer great events throughout the year. The city also provides free yoga on Sunday evenings. Check it out, you won't be disappointed!

Today's event was the Asian Pacific Islander Festival. Today's temps were swelteringly hot & uncomfortably humid. The audience attendance was pathetically sparse. My empathy, and heartfelt applause, goes out to all the performers whose performances were wonderful while wearing authentic dress of their countrie's culture and smiling in spite of the miserable heat. I arrived after opening ceremonies but was enjoying the dances performed by the dancers representing China. Beautiful costumes, dancing and presentation. The opening program presented by the Vietnamese was very odd: an hour-long stretching session which had me shaking my head. The presenation from India was enjoyable, in particular the single dancer whose captivating dance had me thinking how I couldn't do what she did for as long as she did. Whew! And the Temul Drummers were wonderful and a joy to watch. Hawaii was also represented with various styles of hula and song. They opened with the original Hawaiian Anthem, and encouraged all to participate in a hula lesson. I am very disappointed that Indonesia and Japan were not represented. If they are not presented at future festivals, I probably will not attend. I am thankful that tables with large umbrellas and chairs were provided, otherwise I wouldn't have stayed for as long as I did. I'm hoping next year's festival is held in February or March, when temps are much more pleasant. Maybe more people would come out and enjoy the Asian and South Pacific culture. dance and cuisine.

Stunning location by the riverwalk in Tampa Bay. This is also a wonderful time of the year to visit with all the Christmas lighting nearby and the ice rink as well.

This is a smaller but picturesque park that is located in the middle of the Tampa Riverwalk. It is a great spot just to get some nice photos and videos. At the front are some water spouts that the kids can play around in. It is definitely worth a stop for those who have decided to stroll along the Riverwalk. It was fairly empty when I was there. However, during the summer, we were told that they hold free concerts and movie screenings here.

In honor of Earth Month, I've been thinking a lot about parks! I visited Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for the millionth time this past weekend - in 9 years of living here, it's definitely my most frequented local park - and it's truly incredible how clean, enjoyable, and spacious this area is while being in the middle of Downtown Tampa. There's constantly events on the grass and still on off days it remains a well-kept area. In the winter it becomes a holiday staple, and it's probably one of the most walkable areas in town with Riverwalk as well. Truly no complaints outside of parking in a downtown, but I usually go for Poe Garage!

A nice stroll and some nice artwork along the way. They had Winter Village shopping stalls set up and some nice food options. The lights that were up on the river were a nice touch as well.

We are at Curtis Hixon all the time. There's so much in that area right there surrounding the park. There's always a fun event, often free at Curtis Hixon. There's a little playground tucked away in the corner off the riverfront. We also pass thru curtis hixon to get to other areas downtown. There's also two splash areas at CH. These waterspouts are perfect to entertain kids. At the end of the year there is Winter Village. We spend a lot of time at the kid's museum which is right along CH. We actually often park at another park area in downtown called Julian B. Waterfront because it's free over there to park, then walk over to CH or the kid's museum. There's also free zumba every Tuesday night at CH. Also something fun or exciting to do here. CH is a fabulous photoshoot location. I've seen many in action shoots happening well spending a day downtown. CH is a must see Tampa attraction!

I love Curtis Hixon Park. There is so much that can done in this park like concerts, movies & many events throughout the year. Currently, the park has Winter Village going on with pop up shops & ice skating. You can catch a ride on the Pirate River Taxi to go other places on the river.

River of Green with live music and food trucks . We showed up about 4:30 and many if the vendors left early. Maybe for the Ybor festivities. The kids were playing in the fountain and there were lots of boats on the Green River. We came and left pretty quickly .

We had such a wonderful time!! Lots of space to not feel crowded. Shopped at the pop up stands and plenty of food options. Watched the school kids sing and then the tree lighting !!! We will be going back throughout the year for sure !!!

Being a resident of Tampa Bay, I've been to this park many times for various reasons. Many festivals (free or paid) have taken place here. They also have yoga classes on Sunday evenings (donations excepted). I've seen it developed from a construction site to what it is now, including the Riverwalk. It's best described as a wide open field with hardscape steps which lead towards the museums to its north. It has the Hillsborough River to its west, the Sykes Tower to its south, and Ashley drive to it's East. there are a set of fountains on the east and west sides for children (or adults) to play in during the hot seasons. They have a playground for kids and a dog park. Along its portion of the Riverwalk, there are maps, bust statues, sculptures, and historic information plaques along the way. Had many fun times here!

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa is a cool park on the waterfront that has plenty of space to run around and enjoy some fresh air. I really like the open space and places to sit in the park to relax. Everything is well maintained and worth a visit to check out.

Along the Riverwalk this is a nice stop. There's a large open grassy area where events are put on regularly. Plenty of seating to rest and easy access to city transportation and local places

We love coming to this open area Tj hang out. It allows for social distancing since its such a wide open space. They even had circles painted in the grass to help people stay distant. It's great for kids and dogs as well with close promixity to the riverwalk, dog park ans kids park. They have yoga in the park on Sunday evening for free and other activities as well (more often when we aren't in a pandemic). The fountain are a fun activity for kids to run through as well as a nice photo opportunity as well. Lots a great photo locations for the entire family with the scenic view of downtown as well as university of Tampa. There is a bar/food establishment right in the vincinity of the park but if you walk across the street or go to the art museum, there are many more options as well. It's located right near both the children's museum ans art museum where there is a reasonable parking garage for your parking conveniences. Overall this a great place to hang out on a weekday or weekend with the whole framily.

Had fun here. Came from out of town with nothing to do. We walked all the way to the sail bar. Wasn't crazy crowded but enough for good people watching

Unanimously, a drop dead gorgeous park. Located in what seems to be the heart of in Downtown Tampa (I'm not too familiar with the area) you'll find a park for all seasons here. By the looks of other reviews, everything from festivals and concerts take place at Curtis Hixon throughout the year. There are vast patches of fresh-cut green grass, playgrounds for the young ones, and a brick-lined waterfront walkway by the river. The views are remarkable. You can tell a lot of time and effort went into the construction (and a hefty chunk of change). Without a doubt, as good as it gets!

Neat little park on the Riverwalk with a small fenced in dog playing area, kids playing areas and lots of grassy spots to sit or smooth concrete places to walk and jog and exercise. There are even reasonable bathrooms! Lots of open space and the big flat area looked like it's ready to set up for a market or festival. The small amphitheater set up looked very neat, though nothing was going on there when I stopped by. And yep, there are still some signs that refer to it as "Nations Bank Park Plaza." Nations Bank has since morphed into Bank of America.

Pretty sure this is the place that has brought downtown Tampa back to life and was the foundation for the extremely popular Riverwalk which is rapidly expanding. Every weekend you will find an event that has something for everybody. Aside from some of the drinking based events, there are tons of family friendly things to do no matter what the season. Admission is sometimes free and these events normally have plenty of live entertainment. Examples of past events: Margarita Festival, Wing Fling, The Summer of Rum Festival, The Mac & Cheese Throw down, Oktoberfest, Christmas Tree Lighting, Bloody Mary Festival, Spring Fling, Rock the Park, free yoga, etc. So many things to do here. The park is very well kept and is so incredibly clean. I have never noticed any garbage in the grass or felt unsafe. There are public bathrooms that are really clean as well. There is also a splash park by the river and a playground for the kiddies. Dogs are almost always welcome here except for certain events. My only wish is that there were more trees and shade for those summer events that can get quite toasty. But other than that, I can not find anything to woe about. Parking can be found in the Poe garage next door that is connected to the museum (usually a fee of around $4) or you can try to find street parking nearby...this can be tricky for large events.

Curtis Hixon Park is an awesome centerpiece for downtown Tampa. It is located downtown, and is right on the Hillsborough River. Across from Curtis Hixon Park is the beautiful University of Tampa. It is an amazing view. Curtis Hixon Park is a focal point for many to see because of the many different views of the city of Tampa. You will also see that the Glazer Children's Museum is in walking distance as well as the Tampa Museum of Art. If you are looking for a place to eat, check on the Sono Café at the Tampa Museum of Art, or walk across the street, and you will find one of my favorite places Anise Global Gastrobar. Often times, there are many festivals going on at Curtis Hixon Park. Some are pretty darn spectacular, and some are just okay. Two of the most favorite events I have been to at Curtis Hixon Park was the Burger Showdown, and the Bollywood Red Carpet Pre party for the Indian Oscar Awards. Burger Showdown was just a big huge party with tons of vendors with the best burgers in Tampa. Picture this for the Bollywood Red Carpet Pre-Party - Imagine a Wednesday or a Thursday night with the best loudest, fun, dance music playing. It was a blast. I also love Curtis Hixon Park because it is super pet friendly and family friendly. There is a really nice little water area for the kids to play. There is also a playground for the kids, and a dog park for your dog. Every time I go here, I love it more and more. It is a little bit smaller than many city parks, but just the surroundings make it great. I can't forget, Sundays they have farmers markets here in the morning, and in the evening on Sundays, they also have Yoga. This is a perfect location to enjoy beautiful downtown Tampa.

I love this downtown Tampa gem of a park. Lots of events are held here and there's often live music. It's a nice sunny spot. Sono Cafe and the Tampa Museum of Art overlook it. There's also the Beer Can Building (Rivergate Tower) and the Photo Museum Cube adjacent. And the Glazer Children's Museum but they won't let me in unless I borrow someone's kids.. The landscaping of the upper part is cool. The fountains and mister rock. There's a great playground. And the dog park in the back is modern style (in keeping with the museum). There is Yoga on Sundays (5 or 6 I believe depending on season..). Bamboozle workout Wednesdays. And always great views of Tamp Bay Hotel at University of Tampa campus.

Situated on the banks of the Hillsborough River (buffered by the Riverwalk), Curtis Hixon is an awesome and beautiful venue in downtown Tampa. It is a great place to take a stroll and take in the sights, watch a performance, attend a festival, or go to a special event. This waterfront event destination is outstanding. Freelancing as a park during any given day, events that are held here are largely festival-like and has a large capacity for vendors and patrons alike. With a view of the Hillsborough River as well as Plant Hall of the University of Tampa and the new and attractive RiverWalk, I cannot say enough good things about this place. There are public restrooms and a children's play area as well as a splash park area closer to Ashley. There is a large stage which is a perfect place for local acts or entertainment of larger proportions. On a most recent time I saw performers from the Straz Center in a free show. This park is very versatile: I have been here for a gamut of different reasons, to walk/talk with a friend, take my dog to the dog park, attend festivals, etc. Tampa hosts a Rock the Park thing which is year round, the 1st Thursday of every month. http://www.rocktheparktampa.com/2015-schedule.html I think this is an excellent live concert venue and I love when there is live music here. With the new RiverWalk up and running, there is more vivacious activity going on and you access the walkway and can walk the length or the river as long as the walk is if you so choose to. Curtis Hixon also now offers free wifi, how great! In addition, there is a fabulous pop up ice rink in the wintertime. Check this Tampa gem out if you haven't been!

Very pretty park. Came here for the bourbon, beer, bbq fest so view was limited but you could tell without the mob of people it would be a nice place to hang on a Sunday afternoon, The restrooms were clean and air conditioned as well. Nice view

The Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is an urban park in downtown Tampa. This park is located on Ashley Boulevard, overlooking the Hillsborough River and the University of Tampa. There are also two interactive fountains: the Louver fountain in the front of the park and the Mist Fountain that is located along the Riverwalk. The park doesn't include a ton of greenery, but many events are held at Curtis Hixon Park such as music events, food festivals, and yoga in the park.

Great event for dog owners and lovers alike! Great smells, romps, and woods!! My dogs loves the event and the free info, swag doggie bags, swimming pools, and eats. It was a fun event with and for us humans as they were treats and food trucks available plenty of dog watering holes and snacks. Free food samples, Pwt cate info, magnets,dog treats and lots of doggie wears to shop. Also got to visit with some of the rescue groups and adoption agencies in the Tampa Bay all supporting rehoming and animal rights. Great cause good exposure for everyone can't wait to do it next year.

Such a great clean park downtown! I had been to an event or two in the past. It was our first time as parents and it actually being just a park. Needing to let our little one burn of some more energy after the children's museum and this was perfect. Clean and open park that also is pretty good for events. Splash pad and ice skating make this perfect for kids! Definitely a great place to park and walk for a quick bite and then come play for a bit. Then have a nice quiet ride home as your kids pass out in the back. Will be back again the next time I'm in town.

I have been to many events at this park and always have a good time. This park is right along the Hillsborough river so the view is spectacular. The latest event was Bourbon, Brew & BBQ. And even though it rained on and off throughout the event everyone still had a great time. There were samples of Bourbon & Beer included in admission and the food trucks were plentiful. My hubby & I tried some Beef Jerky and incredible nachos. What is also great about this park is the indoor facilities. There is an attendant on duty keeping things neat and clean during events. It sure beats Porto Potties! I look forward to the next event held at this park.

Cool park on the west side of downtown, just outside the financial area. The open area appears to be mixed-use - the day I walked past it they were setting up a giant stage and tent for an ongoing Buccaneer's event. There were bathrooms and a concessions stand, as well as an area for kids to play. A small, enclosed dog park with elevated pedestals for agility training or for owners to hang out on were available. The waterfront views were nice with the exception of some areas that were run down and some graffiti was evident on bridge underpasses and tunnels.

Tampa's Curtis Hixon Waterfont park is the perfect place to hold community events. The event that I attended was "Take back the Night " #tbtntb or #turntampateal, an event that helps promote awareness about the resources available to those who've been victims of domestic or sexual abuse. There were plenty of tables but more than 1/2 of the community tables were available, they'd been assigned, but no one was at them. Wether this is because the event wasn't promoted or because those who'd committed to the tables didn't want to chance the weather (There'd been a chance of rain), it was disheartening. The event compromised of music, of a pledge to stop or intervene in abuse, the processional and the candelite vigil and then the stories. It was a telling and emotional evening, but a necessary one. Given my profession, I hear a lot of stories and in my circle I am the one people come to, so now I have the resources to help my friends and chosen family.. You are not alone, there is help, Take back the night.

This park is lit at night! Love seeing palm trees in various colors. Great Instagram spot - look up!

Beautiful park in the middle of downtown. There's something always going on, from food and wine events to music fest to yoga class. It's perfect for a date or to just relax on your own. The river walk runs across this park so you can jump on there to run or just walk and take in the view. Great to bring your pets or to even have a picnic. It's right by the water with the perfect view of University of Tampa All the benches and seating infrastructure makes it easy to chose a spot.

My favorite park in Tampa! This place has regular functions, which make it a desired location for tourists and locals alike. Looking over the water is a beautiful view of the unique architecture of The University of Tampa. Located in/around the park is a playground that brings the inner child out, two kid friendly water features, a small (off leash) dog park, and the river walk passes through the West end of the park. If you're looking for a nice place to have a picnic, wanting a beautiful walk, or taking to family out for fun day/night, Curtis Hixon Park is a good place to go. Fun for all ages.

Why 5 stars? Because this is the centerpiece of downtown Tampa. --- --- --- People often mistake Yelp for a "restaurant review site," and I always counter with the fact that you can review things a dry cleaner, your dentist, or even a park. Well... here I am... reviewing a park! I remember when Curtis Hixon was basically nothing. When I had recently moved to Tampa, a friend of mine lived in Sky Point, the condo building across the street. At that time, Curtis Hixon was so non-descript that I don't even remember what it looked like. I think it might have been fenced off, and was basically useless land. Fast forward to today, and it's the heartbeat of downtown. It's extremely versatile, in that, it can host just about any type of event. It's 8 acres and can be divided up into several areas, or act as one giant slab of land for a huge event. The views of the University of Tampa, the Hillsborough River, the museums, and downtown's skyscrapers offer the best panoramic scenery in all of Tampa Bay. I had to look up who Curtis Hixon was, and found out that he was the mayor of Tampa in 1956, and died while in office. I'm sure he'd be pretty thrilled to know that such an important part of Tampa carries his name sake today.

Love this open view waterfront park. This park is beautiful. Only wish.... More shade.. Being in sunny Florida, direct sunshine gets hot! I do love to come here with a picnic basket, blanket and hang out while the kids play at the playground or run through the large splash pads. This park hosts some great festivals, Concerts and even free yoga on Sunday's. The riverwalk is a work in progress. But it's so wonderful to take a walk on the river. Tampa has stepped up its game while continuing to grow its waterfront Realestate.

Great place to exercise and feel the breeze. You can walk or rent a bike to walk the river path. I seen kids playing in the Mist Fountain and having a great time. University of Tampa is right in front of the riverwalk by the Children's Museum and the view is nice to see. If you come in the day time there is an affordable snack stand to buy snacks and a restroom if your need to use it. Also a playground area to play on. I also seen a Pirate Water Taxi that you can ride on the river to get dropped off at different locations in route.

We did the River O Green for the first time. It was a completely blast! Lots for the kids, food trucks, live music, and lots of beer!!! They turn the Tampa river green, boats cruise up and down and there is plenty of places to sit and enjoy the festivities!! Tons of family fun!!

I've been coming to Tampa regularly for over 25 years and this was the first time I ever decided to explore the downtown area. I honestly can't explain to you why, other than I didn't think there was much to see here... but I was truly mistaken. Tampa has created a walk along the Hillsborough River that stretches from Water Works Park (near gorgeous Ulele restaurant) all the way to Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park 2 miles away. The entire walk is truly spectacular with so many things to see such as The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts on one end, The Florida Aquarium at the other end and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park somewhere in the middle. The park is home to concerts and festivals in the summer and ice skating in the winter. The park encompasses 8 acres and includes a "Great Lawn" for concerts and other performances as well as leisurely picnics, kite flying and frisbee throwing. There is a dog run, plenty of paved trails, restrooms, and two interactive fountains. One of which we watched as children and parents alike found great joy in the simplicity of water sprouting from the ground! You can truly make a full day of it here. Just across the river via the Kennedy Blvd bridge is Plant Park, part of the grounds for the beautiful and historic University of Tampa. Directly next to the park on one side is Kiley Garden and on the other is Glazer Children's Museum. Also nearby is the must see Sacred Hearts Catholic Church. If you are interested in beautiful architecture, you won't want to miss it. The playground @ Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is designed to fight childhood obesity by combining video games with exercise. How cool is that!!! FINAL THOUGHTS Aside from being a really amazing place to just hang out, it is also responsible and environmentally friendly. The sprinkler system uses reclaimed water and LED lighting is installed throughout the park. The views are spectacular and the overall feeling you get from just being here is one of serenity and peace. If I lived in Tampa, I'd find myself here more often than not. Some might even question if I had a home at all because my visits to this park would be so frequent and lasting. LOL 2016/50

Curtis Hixon is prime real estate of City of Tampa. It connect the people and keep the business by host many event. The event include the Margarita Festival, Mayor O Green, Beer Festival, Food Truck and many music venue. It also has the Christmas series with ice skating rink. What make this park successful as below: 1. The Tampa River Walk that connect the prime river bank estate create downtown living more attractive. 2. The Hillsborough River attract people like to come to the park have water. 3. Spectacular view of the University of Tampa with the old glory of the hotel look in the pass. 4. A dog park nearby that many bring animal friend to walk. This bring the thrive living of the downtown more color full. Several apartment near the downtown make this attraction as a close by walking distance. What can you argue with this type living.

Not really what I would call an actual park in the sense of trees, ponds, flowers, benches and beautiful views. What it actually is is a staging area for events to lure people down town and, in that sense, it's working pretty well. However, the "grass" is more like dirt patches because of all the weekend events. I wish they could rethink the landscaping. It's just an open slope with nothing to relieve the monotony. The biggest negative is a complete lack of shade, which in Tampa, means broiling temperatures most of the year. Wear a hat because there are zero trees, not even a few palms. I also wish there was more seating besides the concrete steps of the art museum and a few chairs along the river front. This is no Central Park, but in a downtown that is just starting to come alive, it works for big public events. Beware anytime it rains, though, because you'll be ankle deep in mud.

I went for the Fall Stampede run which benefits The Children's Cancer Center. Beautiful day, beautiful park. Very kid friendly. There were a ton of vendors out supporting the cause which was awesome. The park is spotless and there were a lot of volunteers out helping for the event. Great place for a day out with kids. There's a playground too.

The architects of this park deserve a civic medal for excellence. The fountain spray features are amazing. It is awesome that the spray fountains are free to the public. The one close to the river has joggers and dogs walking through it. One bike went through it. So be careful! The playground is a modern design. Super fun! (I just looked this up, and the playground is from a Danish playground design company). It would also be nice if sun covers were over the play structures. It is hot here. The dark blue play equipment is hot during the strongest sunlight. It could be nice if the playground expanded where the odd concrete balls are to include a wheelchair accessible play structure. Even a small one, would be nice. It is nice that the picnic tables have space for a wheelchair, but I can imagine a kid in a wheelchair looking at all the kids playing. There's room for a wheelchair at the play table (kids use this as a store)and under the Neos. But, the child would have to be at the right height to use both. Please redesign for inclusive play.

Perfect park for portrait sessions. I'm a photographer in the Tampa Bay Area and this is one of the suggestions for pictures. I love bringing the kids here to hang out. I've seen yoga classes and Thai Chi classes going on, on the lawn. I can't wait until all the construction is done and River Walk is complete. I have been to several concerts which are beautiful with UT in the background. If you like the downtown area and haven't visited, you're really missing out!

My very sweet Yelp friend, Anna M., invited me to join her on a photographic walking tour of the Tampa Riverwalk last Saturday evening. Our group of about 100 intrepid photobugs gathered under the trees in Curtis Hixon Park along Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa and got our marching instructions from Jeff Donald, the event organizer. This sunset photo walk was part of a day-long photo celebration hosted by the 500PX website - the premiere photography community. Groups of photographers from around the country were charged with taking photos of their local cities and then posting the images to the 500PX website. I knew that I was in trouble when I saw people lugging multiple camera bodies, monstrous telephoto lenses, and some serious tripod action. Oh well, these guys were the professionals, and I am just a mere amateur. Our goal was to wander through Curtis Hixon Park towards the Hillsborough River, and then move along the Riverwalk, over the bridge on Kennedy Boulevard, and then down onto the University of Tampa campus. Since we had assembled about an hour before sunset we were able to capture some spectacular images as the skies changed color and the clouds rolled in. Curtis Hixon Park is beautiful, and a great place to just relax and wander across the green grass, or down towards the river where they have interactive fountains and misters to cool you off during the summer heat and humidity. The location of the Park also affords a spectacular view of the University of Tampa campus, sections of downtown Tampa, and the Cass Street bridge. The thunderclouds rolled in just before sunset, and I was able to capture a lot of very interesting images of the clouds and the lighting. Sadly the skies were too heavily overcast to get the sunset's reflection off the University of Tampa minarets, but I did manage some great shots looking back towards the Cass Street Bridge. A fantastic time, and a very enjoyable wander along the river with my favorite Boo.

There is a good dog park. There are fun pillars for dogs to jump up on. There are typically at least a couple other dogs to play with. The cleanliness is good. The park in general has a great grass area, free yoga in the park on Sundays, and a nice water front view.

For those who know me, I am not a lover of the outdoors. It is not that I am high maintenance (although, there will be some to disagree), I just prefer the AC. Plus, I don't need a tan, I am Filipino and I was born with one. But....hold an event or festival at Curtis Hixon Park and I am there! I love Curtis Hixon. I do not know what it is, but every time I step into this park, there is a certain serenity that washes over me. The views are spectacular. Everywhere you turn, there is something to see. I love downtown Tampa because the amount of buildings is just right. The skyline is not cluttered with rows upon rows of skyscrapers. You can see my alma mater, University of Tampa's beautiful campus and its majestic architecture. Still after all these years, the gorgeous minarets take my breath away. At night, it is a whole new ballgame. The whole campus is lit up and is always a beautiful sight to see. The Hillsborough River and the Tampa Riverwalk are two more sights to see in Curtis Hixon Park. There is also the Tampa Museum of Art, Sono Cafe, and the Glazer's Children Museum nearby for you to explore. A great children's playground is located towards the river. And there is even a dog park! There is something for everyone and for all ages. There is plenty of parking on the streets of downtown Tampa or the Poe Garage. Most importantly, I have never felt unsafe in the garage or Curtis Hixon itself. The restrooms, in my experience are kept somewhat clean. There is a myriad of events held here weekly and sometimes daily. You can log into City of Tampa's website and Facebook page and take look at the calendar to find out more information about these events. And of course, you can also check out the Yelp website and click on the "Events" page and it will provide even more options for you. If you haven't already, stop by Curtis Hixon park for a stroll, to see a beautiful sunset or sunrise, or even have a picnic. I promise, you will want to come back again and again.

If you want a nice, clean place to relax for a while, take a stroll, or enjoy the view of the river, the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown is it. It is well-kept and has nice paths for walking--even bicycling--up and down the river area. The park has restrooms, a dog park area, and even a playground for children. The parking in the area is not a problem (unlike in most major cities) and there really is no crime in the area. It is just a neat place to spend an afternoon with the children or for couples. There are frequent music / concert events and other events as well. All the praise aside, if you want a nice adult evening out, there isn't much right on the water for you to do. The city of Tampa could enhance tourism into the downtown area if it developed the Riverwalk area much as the city of San Antonio did...with a mixture of park / restaurant / bar / shop areas and perhaps even a water taxi / boat service similar to what San Antonio has. Just a thought.

Beautiful park. There are always fun weekend events going on at this park. Parking is very easy as there are multiple parking lots within walking distance. I usually use Poe's garage next door to the children museum. The Tampa river walk is right alongside the park so you can travel alongside the river or bring a blanket and lay down in the grass. It's very pet friendly so I usually bring my pup with me for a relaxing day.