TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Golf Cart Tours gives visitors and residents a way to see the city from an open-air golf cart, with routes that include Hyde Park, Ybor City and other recognizable Tampa stops.
The company runs three tours a day, seven days a week, according to general manager Hannah Johnston, who also works as a tour guide. Johnston said the tours allow guests to move at a slower pace while taking in the city.
“Not only do you get to take it a little bit slower and really take in all the sights, but with the open-air feel, you get to see everything around you,” Johnston said.
Johnston moved to Tampa after graduating from Georgia Southern and began working with Tampa Golf Cart Tours. She said her interest in the city and its history made the job a good fit.
“I loved the city during college, and when I moved down here, I just couldn’t get enough,” Johnston said.
Tours last about an hour and a half to two hours and include stops at Sparkman Wharf, Armature Works and the Tampa postcard mural, where guests can take pictures, Johnston said.
The route also includes neighborhoods such as Hyde Park and Ybor City. During a stop in Hyde Park, Johnston pointed out local businesses, including a pirate-themed candy store, ice cream and popsicle shops, and restaurants.
In Ybor City, Johnston highlighted José Martí Park and its history.
“For over 60 years, this piece of land right here, José Martí Park, was the only piece of United States soil owned by Cuba,” Johnston said. “So if you walk through those gates, you can travel to Cuba without a passport.”
Johnston said sharing Tampa’s history is part of what she enjoys most about leading the tours.
“I can’t put into words how much I love it,” Johnston said. “I love to yap. Talking is one of my favorite things to do. And when I get to talk about important things like history …”
From city landmarks to neighborhood stops, Johnston said the tours are designed to offer something for a range of guests.
“There is something for everybody to love,” she said.