You could almost see the cartoon steam come out of the ears of St. Petersburg residents last fall when ESPN analysts repeatedly referred to their city's American League champion baseball team as the "Tampa" Rays.

Forgetting the "Bay" part of the name of the Tampa Bay Rays was a major slight to St. Petersburg, the smaller, less cosmopolitan – but considerably more charming – city that historically has played second fiddle to Tampa across the bay.

Municipal rivalries aside, the Tampa area is what it is – cool and diverse enough to be hosting its fourth Super Bowl – because of both cities and the surrounding area. And people coming in for the big game on February 1 will be cheating themselves if they don't get away from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa to see what else is out there, including, of course, St. Petersburg.

"There are a lot of unique pockets in the Tampa Bay area that offer a little bit of something for everybody," said Reid Sigmon, executive director of the Super Bowl Host Committee. "And the weather in January is typically in the 70s and sunshine, which isn't the case in most of the rest of the country."

Now Tampa is the big boy here, for sure. It's got the skyline, port, big-city museums, world-class aquarium and Busch Gardens theme park, plus a hockey arena and outdoor amphitheatre that draw the concert calendar's biggest acts.

Some of the glitziest game week parties will happen in the clubs and restaurants of Ybor (EE-bor) City, the former Latin quarter downtown that was redeveloped as an entertainment district before the city's last Super Bowl in 2001. New in Tampa since the last Super Bowl is the gleaming Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which is not only full of flickering slot machines and black jack tables, but also some top-notch eateries. NFL legend Mike Ditka plans to make the hotel his home base for star-studded events put on by his Gridiron Greats charity.

Just a half hour's drive across the bay, St. Petersburg's Central Avenue has a neon-lighted string of restaurants and bars that are a little more laid back but every bit as cool as those in Ybor City, belying St. Pete's unfair reputation as God's waiting room.

The clean, pedestrian-friendly downtown also has striking views of the bay and a pier that's anchored by a quirky-looking upside-down pyramid with shops and restaurants inside.

A short drive from downtown over to the Gulf of Mexico lie some of the best white-sand beaches anywhere, including two – Fort DeSoto Park and Caladesi Island – that have topped the list from Stephen P. Leatherman, a Florida International University professor dubbed "Dr. Beach" for his annual rankings of the nation's best coastlines.

Just up the coast is Clearwater Beach, which is sort of St. Petersburg's younger, wilder cousin. Check out the sunset celebration at the public pier, modelled after the traditional nightly party on Key West's waterfront.

Just north of Clearwater is Tarpon Springs, a small town established by Greek immigrant sponge divers in the early 20th century whose descendants have worked hard to maintain the distinct Mediterranean flavour. The sponge docks now cater to tourists with a string of wonderful Greek restaurants, bakeries and gift shops.

Around 150,000 people are coming to the Tampa Bay area for Super Bowl XLIII. Here's a little more about what they can expect:

FOOTBALL: For the 18th year, an interactive theme park will be part of the event. The NFL Experience will be open the weekend before the game, January 24-25, then January. 29 to February 1, www.nfl.com/superbowl/43/events/nfl-experience. (Only Super Bowl ticket-holders will be admitted on February 1.) Fans can get autographs from NFL players, learn football skills and shop for football cards and other souvenirs. A nighttime party for adults, NFL Experience After Dark, will take place on January 29. A Tampa high school stadium will be the site of the January 31 Snoop Bowl VII, a youth football game between the LA All-Stars coached by rapper Snoop Dogg and a local team coached by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Mike Alstott. Disabled former NFL players and families of fallen US soldiers will benefit from a January 30 autograph and memorabilia show featuring more than 100 former pro football players who participate in Mike Ditka's Gridiron Greats charity. Ditka also hosts a benefit VIP dinner and reception on January 28.

MUSIC: Something for everyone. Celine Dion (February 28), The Eagles (January 29), Rihana, Fall Out Boy and Lifehouse (January 29), and the Latin-flavoured Pepsi Musica concert (January 30) are among the shows on tap. Comedian Dane Cook also performs (January 31). The annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is on January 30, and jazz greats play at the SuperLX Live! daytime concert in Ybor City January 31.

PARTIES, PARTIES, PARTIES: Although the economy put a minor dent in Super Bowl partying this year, celebrities ranging from rappers to "it" girls are still putting on their see-and-be-seen events. The names include Diddy, T-Pain, Nelly, Antonio Traver, Jenny McCarthy, Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian and more. Big-time agent Leigh Steinberg is holding his exclusive Super Bowl party at the city zoo!

FOOD: The Taste of the NFL features 32 top chefs from each NFL city, paired with a current or former NFL player for an event January 31 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Guests can sample great food and wine, and meet the players.

On the Net: Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee: www.tampabaysuperbowl.com/index.htm

Getting there from Bermuda

Flights: According to the website Expedia.com, to get to Tampa, Florida leaving on Friday January 30, and returning on Friday, February 6 American Airlines offers the best rate at $424 with one stop in Miami, Florida.

It leaves Bermuda at 8 a.m., and arrives in Tampa at 12.15 p.m. with a one hour lay over in Miami. On the return flight it leaves Tampa at 1.30 p.m., and arrives in Bermuda at 7.50 p.m. with a layover of 90 minutes in Miami.

Delta offers a flight on these dates from $433 with a stop over in Boston, Massachusetts. The flight leaves Bermuda at 12.45 p.m. and arrives in Tampa at 7.15 p.m. with an hour and 45 minutes in Boston.

On the way back it leaves Tampa at 8 a.m. with an hour and a half layover in Atlanta, Georgia. It arrives back in Bermuda at 2.34 p.m.

Continental offers a one stop flight for $450. This flight connects in Newark, New Jersey, and requires an overnight stay. The flight leaves Bermuda at 4 p.m. and arrives in Newark at 5.48 p.m.

It leaves Newark the next morning at 6.45 a.m. and arrives in Tampa at 9.42 a.m. On the return it leaves at 7.05 a.m. and arrives in Newark at 9.39 a.m. It departs Newark at 12 p.m. and arrives back in Bermuda at 3.05 p.m.

Hotels: For a more luxurious stay in Miami, you could stay at the Sofitel Miami, four hours away from Tampa which has a deluxe suite for $2,005.75 for seven nights. It is located at 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami.

In Tampa itself, there is the Comfort Inn Tampa Stadium at $299 per night located at the 4732 North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. This is the closest hotel to the Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and venue for the Super Bowl. www.comfortinn.com 1-813-874-6700

La Quinta Inn Tampa Airport $149 per night at 4730 West Spruce Street, Tampa. 9202 N 30th Street, Tampa 1-800-531-5900. www.lq.com.

Bay Harbour Hotel at 7700 W Courtney Campbell Csw, Tampa. http://www.bayharborhoteltampa.com/Area-Information.htm. 1-813-281-8900. Check with hotel for rates.

West Shore Hotel and COnference Centre at $99 per night at 1200 North Westshore Boulevard, Tampa.www.thewesthorehotel.com. 1-813-282-3636.