Greater Tampa Bay was made for families. Activities, entertainment and exploration exist in every possible form, delighting families of all sizes and youth of all ages.
For the adventurers — beaches, parks and aquariums. For the thrill-seekers — theme parks, go-karts, ziplining and trampolining. For the artists — theater, mural festivals, world-class museums. For the superfans — professional sports from football to hockey to baseball to soccer.
While no two families are the same, all are likely to agree that time spent together is the most important thing. Lasting memories will be made discovering the nearly unlimited options in GTB.
Amusement Parks and Adventure
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has been a staple for more than 60 years, providing locals with high-energy fun right close to home and hosting more than four million visitors each year. The attraction is home to nine of the some of the country’s best roller coasters and the Serengeti Express safari ride, which offers glimpses at exotic African creatures. Annual events ranging from the Food and Wine Festival to Christmas Town to Howl-O-Scream flesh out the breadth of entertainment at Busch Gardens.
For those summer day heat waves, escape to Busch Gardens’ sister location, Adventure Island. This exciting water park features two pools, 10 water slides, a rolling wave pool, a lazy river, jungle gyms and cabanas. Adventure Island caters to each family member’s ideal notion of a vacation — just make sure not to skip out on the Fast Passes.
The Grand Prix Tampa invites the whole family for some classic fun, whether that means playing arcade games indoors or racing around the go-kart track. The options are endless, with nine batting cages, 60 games in the castle arcade, a bungy dome, miniature golf, pool tables and a rope course.
If searching for even more adrenaline or a unique way to admire GTB’s sunshine and scenery, visit Empower Adventures Tampa Bay. Anyone over the age of 7 can take a high-speed rush through 3,000 feet of ziplines, traversing wildlife pastures and open water.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
If the indigenous wildlife of Florida is not enough — alligators, anyone? — then ZooTampa at Lowry Park is the go-to place to see some of the most majestic beasts from around the world.
Voted Best Kids Attraction in Tampa Magazine in 2021, this zoo, animal sanctuary and rehabilitation center houses dozens of awe-inspiring species, including African elephants, pygmy hippos, giraffes, orangutans, penguins, rhinos and even the endangered and elusive Florida panther. Featuring small amusement park rides, an education center and interactive events year-round, ZooTampa at Lowry Park is the perfect family adventure, more fun even than a barrel of monkeys.
Marine life is passionately celebrated in GTB — and it is no wonder why, with top-ranked beaches, the expansive Tampa Bay and marine sanctuaries throughout the region. GTB is home to two of the best centers to see this wildlife up close and personal — The Florida Aquarium in Tampa and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
The Florida Aquarium, located in downtown Tampa near Channelside, houses hundreds of marine species and features many fascinating exhibits. Kids can experience the wildlife up close with touch tanks and feel the splendor of the seas with expansive, half-million-gallon tanks.
At the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the whole family will enjoy learning about the rescue efforts of the location and can get a front-row view of sea turtles, manatees, stingrays, sharks and otters. It is never too early to expose even the youngest of family members to this wondrous undersea world.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Sports fan? It is always season in Greater Tampa Bay, one the select few metropolitan areas in the country to host four major league sports franchises and five minor league teams.
Catch a game and watch the talent that earned the area the nickname of Champa Bay. Major league franchises include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League, the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball, the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League and the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the United Soccer League.
It is safe to say that Champa Bay is truly home to champions. It was a good year to be a Tampa Bay sports fan in 2021: The Bucs won the Super Bowl, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, and the Rowdies won the USL Championship.
In the fall and winter, watch the Bucs play in Tampa’s Westshore District at Raymond James Stadium, a large, pirate-themed field with cannon fire thundering after every Bucs touchdown. During the long summer break, take the kids to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to see the American League Champion Rays knock a few homers in, or to St. Pete’s waterfront to see the Rowdies score a crowd-pleasing goal in Al Lang Stadium. Cool down in the spring and get up close to the ice to watch the Lightning in Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, held in the spring each year, is 110 laps of high-octane, speed racing fun. Assembled out of existing streets, this IndyCar Series race puts family-friendly excitement into high gear, promising a unique and memorable experience for all.
Into the Surf
Dozens of locations up and down the Gulf Coast offer one-of-kind watersport activities, including kite surfing, parasailing, deep-sea fishing and jet ski rentals. Clearwater Kiteboarding and St. Pete-based Elite Kiteboarding Lessons can teach anyone to cruise across the water with ease. Gators Parasail in Madeira Beach and Parasailing the Pass in Treasure Island lift passengers high above the Gulf of Mexico, providing miles-wide, picturesque views of the shoreline.
Bring out the inner angler in the entire family with half or all-day fishing trips from Tampa Fishing Charters, Queen Fleet Deep Sea Fishing of Clearwater or YACHTFISH Fishing Charters of St. Petersburg. It is hard not to get hooked.
While these are only a select few of the more popular and long-standing locations of the area, there are dozens of places to look, with each offering its own unique charm, flair or twist. Come on in — the water feels fine.
Bringing the Family Together
Tried it all? Pulled out all the stops and want something truly unique? Greater Tampa Bay is home to some truly exceptional activities with no shortage of variety.
The Sunken Gardens of St. Petersburg are a botanical wonder. Explore this 100-year-old garden and take in the lush, tropical beauty for a reflective afternoon.
Looking to relive an old memory? Check out some of the popular drive-in movie spots of the area, Fun Lane Drive-In or Ruskin Family Drive-In Theater. Take in an old favorite or a new instant classic at these locations — pile the kids in the back, roll down the windows, sit back and relax.
Even if science, art or history are not a kid’s favorite subjects in school, exciting outlets including MOSI, the Salvador Dalí Museum and the Tampa History Center can nurture and curate a lasting love for these fascinating subjects.
This list is by no means exhaustive. As a growing metropolitan area, new adventures and fresh opportunities for fun are always just around the corner. Dolphin watching by Island Boat Adventures in St. Petersburg, exploring the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs, beach days, hiking trails, driving ranges, concerts and a fascinating tour through the famous Big Cat Rescue in Tampa are but a few of the many other ways to broaden horizons with loved ones.
If only there were more days in the weekend.
