Formerly known as Channelside Bay Plaza, this new park in east Downtown Tampa features a biergarten, eateries and an events lawn. If you want to make a day of this area, the Florida Aquarium, the American Victory Museum, and the Spiltsville bowling alley are close by. Cargo and cruise ship watching at the Tampa Port Authority can be a great pastime too.

Cheong Fatt Tze, the Blue Mansion, was one of the wealthiest merchants of the 19th century, and Penang Straits Settlement imported artisans from China to build this opulent 38-room mansion. With its five courtyards, carved woodwork, Gothic louvered windows and cast iron, the mansion is a fascinating fusion of East and West culture. The building was restored at a cost of 7.6 million ringgit, and it is crammed with sculptures, antique furniture and tapestries, while now being a unique boutique hotel. However, it is also open for non-residents during guided tours, so book one ahead.

If you love art, then this is the right place for you. The Taipei Fine Arts Museum has something for any art enthusiast. It opened its doors in December 1983 and was the first museum of modern art in Taiwan. Today, it has more than 4,000 works of art.

‘Make it Art Worthy’ is the name and aim of this gallery that champions creativity in all its forms. Here you can design your own gifts in the Dry Felting workshop from repurposed materials and present them with sparkling style after coming up with a unique wrapping scheme in the Pimping Box workshop. The space is also open to musicians of all levels to play in, a great way to meet like-minded folk and jam together. This non-profit organisation is run by volunteers and kept going by donations so some of the events and workshops will ask for a small sum of money but for the most part, visitors can appreciate the exhibitions free of charge.