There are few places in the US that offer professional and college football, baseball, hockey, and college basketball all in one concentrated area, and if they do, the changes are crowded cities without a palm tree or canal in sight.

That’s why each year thousands of sports fans vacation in Tampa Bay, the metropolitan area that encompasses Tampa, St. Petersburg, and even Sarasota. Because the weather is beautiful throughout the year, there are always travelers visiting the area.

If you come in the spring, you can watch Major League Baseball spring training. The Rays, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays, and Pirates have spring training in that area, and the Rays, of course, call the area home year-round. You can also catch a hockey game with the Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as a variety of USF sporting events.

During the summer months, you can catch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp at One Buc Place in Tampa, or attend a Rays game. If you’re staying at a St. Pete Vacation Rental or St Pete Beach Condo, you can take a trolley ride to downtown Tropicana Field, which is about nine miles from the beach. To get to Tampa, you may need a rental car, although there are a variety of Tampa sports vacation packages available through various travel agencies and resort management companies.

Fall is the best season for sports enthusiasts here, and it’s also a great time to travel here: you can get amazing discounts on condo and hotel rentals and the weather is a bit cooler than July and August.

Spend the day soaking up the sun and at night, catch a Rays game. On Saturday, head to Raymond James Stadium to see the USF Bulls football team and end your trip on Sunday with a visit to Ray Jay for a Bucs game.

During the winter, football will be ending and hockey will just be starting. Head to the St. Pete Times Forum to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning, then check out Channelside, one of the area’s best entertainment venues! Also, in December and January, two college football games come to town: the St. Petersburg Bowl in mid-December at Tropicana Field and the Outback Bowl, played at Raymond James on New Year’s Day.

There really is something for every sports fan when you visit Tampa Bay and you can usually purchase some type of family package. Even better: a vacation rental on Treasure Island or St. Pete Beach, included with a sports package. What could be better than the beautiful sun and sports of Florida?