Tampa Riverwalk Voted Second Best In The Country

After a four-week long voting process, the results are in! We were almost number 1! Downtown Tampa's Riverwalk is gaining national recognition as one of the best in America. The 2.6 mile-long path earned the second spot for USA Today's top 10 Riverwalk's. Beating Tampa for the number 1 spot was Detroit’s International Riverwalk, who also claimed the number 1 spot last year. To determine the best river walks in America, a panel of travel editors and experts selected 20 river walks across the country and let online voters determine the top 10 winners.

Executive director of Friends of the Riverwalk said in a statement "We hope this inspires people from all over the U.S. to include the Tampa Riverwalk in their travel plans and see for themselves what our amazing our city has to offer."

This is the first time Tampa has been nominated for the award. With the expected changes to be coming to the Riverwalk in the near future, we can expect we'll be at the top of the list next time. According to ABC Action News, the US Department of Transportation approved a $24 million grant to expand the Riverwalk and link it to more neighborhoods west of Hillsborough River. There are also plans for the Riverwalk to expand to ZooTampa with it's own water taxi entrance.

See the full list of winners, here.

[Source: News Channel 8]

One of the great things about St. Pete is the endless amount of restaurants to try. Each month it seems like a new trendy spot is opening up and it's hard to keep track on which places to try. You may have heard of OpenTable before. It's an online reservation platform for restaurants. Many Tampa Bay area restaurants use it for their online reservation system. OpenTable recently released their top 10 Diners' Choice restaurants in St. Pete. Here's what made the list.

Each year, OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. They sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. Some other factors OpenTable considers is overall value, ambiance, and more. OpenTable will even tell you which restaurants are trending by booking and how many reservations have been made that day.

From speakeasy's to beachfront views, this list has so many places worth checking out.

This family-owned and operated St. Pete restaurant is dedicated to a gluten-free, farm-to-table menu. Located at 2149 3rd Avenue South, St. Petersburg... Across from 3 Daughters. Make a reservation here.

There are lots of Italian restaurants to choose from in St. Pete, but this is at the top of the list. Gratzzi's menu offers an array of feasts to satisfy your Italian cravings, which also includes classic insalatas and paninis for lunch and dinner. Click here to make a reservation. 

Parkshore Grill is located along Beach Drive in St. Pete. They've also been featured on OpenTable's Top 100 Best Alfresco Restaurants in America and Best Sidewalk Dining. Click here to make a reservation. 

Need a new pizza place? Their pizza is made from a careful selection of highly fermented grains free from additives and preservatives, very high hydration with long fermentation time and a super light and airy crust. Click here to make a reservation. 

Tropez St. Pete offers shared plates from around the world experience with menu options including brunch specials, shared plates, dinner entrees, and refreshing cocktails. Click here to make a reservation. 

One of the local's favorite spots for date nights or celebrations. Savor Chef Scott's Unique Seafood creations such as Bacon Wrapped Swordfish with chorizo asiago grits or Kona Coffee Dusted Deep Sea Scallops with mango vanilla bean sauce and caramelized plantains. Click here to make your reservation.

The Urban Stillhouse by Horse Soldier Bourbon is a unique entertainment space featuring American cuisine centered around a wood-fired grill, innovative craft cocktails, and bourbon education. This is the place to go for a night out when you're feeling ~fancy~. Click here to make a reservation. 

The Saint is one of the most popular speakeasy's in the Tampa Bay area. Confess your sins, enjoy fine cocktails, and small bites. Try one of their 7 Deadly Sins specialty drinks and be whisked away. You can now make reservations at The Saint, click here to get yours. 

Bacchus Wine Bistro is an oasis of Old World charm nestled within St. Pete’s expanding modernity. This is the perfect date night spot or a great place to treat yourself. Click here to make your reservation. 

The #1 place you must try in St. Pete is Mullet's Fish Camp & Market. Whether you want to treat yourself after a long day or unwind in our backyard tiki bar, Mullet’s is about to be your new favorite spot for flavorful seafood fare and sharing a beer amongst friends (or strangers). Click here to make your reservation.