Pokémon: Where Do You GO in Tampa Bay?

Tampa Bay, FL — The Pokémon GO craze has gripped the Tampa Bay area with reports pouring in about players scouring the region to find magmars, rattatas and eevees of their very own.

As people aim to “catch ‘em all,” Patch has received many reports about players actually getting out of their homes to take walks — long walks — to find the digital critters. Parents are even reporting that their kids, normally sluggish in the summertime, are getting outside and moving.

Florida theme parks, too, have also noted an uptick in player traffic as have many community parks. The relatively new smartphone app even has police departments issuing a few commonsense warnings about safety. That’s not stopping them, however, from having some fun with the new game, too. In Largo, for example, one officer brought a Pokémon into custody that was seen standing, rather rudely, right on a cruiser. It remains unclear what charges the Pokémon might face.

• See Also: Pokémon GO: Theme Parks Welcome Considerate Players

For those who haven’t caught Pokémon fever, the game works by having players move through the real world. As they do, their smartphones vibrate to let them know when a Pokémon is near.

Players then throw a PokéBall to catch it and add it to their PokéDex. The game uses a smartphone’s GPS and camera to turn the real world into a gigantic scavenger hunt.

Where do you go to catch 'em all? Let us know by commenting below!

In each town nationwide, developers have added PokéStops— from libraries and churches to public art installations, historical markers and monuments. Businesses throughout the country are also noting an uptick in foot traffic as players enter inside to catch stray critters found within. Some cities are even seeing the craze evolve into pub crawls in busy entertainment districts, for adult players, of course.

As the game’s popularity continues to grow, we’d like to hear from you Tampa Bay! What are the best spots in your town for hunting Pokémon? Tell us by commenting below!

Editor’s note: In full disclosure, my two daughters are completely hooked and have managed to get me to play along. With only 10 Pokémon currently in my PokéDex, I’m clearly far from an expert. Even so, I can pass along that a recent trip to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo did pay off with a few choice catches. Plus, it was a fun outing for my kids.

Photo courtesy of the Largo Police Department Facebook page