Southwest® flights from Washington D.C. Reagan National to Tampa from $174

While Tampa does have a wide variety of urban sights and sounds, its natural options truly shine. A simple 20-minute drive takes you from Tampa International Airport to the downtown center. Grab lunch in the historic Ybor City neighborhood or Hyde Park, and try fantastic fresh seafood or innovative drinks. Don’t forget to grab Tampa’s signature sandwich, the Cuban sandwich, which features ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. From there, you can check out the variety of urban parks, like the Riverwalk, which spans along the scenic Hillsborough River.

Move a little further down the waterway and sign up for a canoe trip down the Hillsborough River. Enjoy an incredible breadth of native wildlife despite being so close to the city. Paddle along the cypress tree-lined river, where alligators sun themselves, otters frolic along the bank, and roseate spoonbills forage for food. Beyond that, see if you can spot the countless birds, deer, and other native wildlife along your journey.