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Tampa Attractions and Activities

Tampa Attractions

Located on Florida's west coast, sunny Tampa features family-friendly theme parks and attractions. Perhaps the city's most popular choice, Busch Gardens offers thrilling rides, an animal park and a children's area equipped with kiddie rides and a giant tree house. If this park's assortment of African creatures – hyenas, monkeys, hippos and giraffes – isn't enough for you, then check out Lowry Park Zoo, home to over 2000 animals from around the world. Among the Florida Aquarium's fascinating variety of fresh- and saltwater creatures you'll spot river otters, turtles, alligators, sharks, stingrays, eels and jellyfish, and hands-on activities such as Penguin Promenade, Wild Dolphin Ecotours and Swim with the Fishes allow visitors to interact with marine life. When visitors are not touring these major attractions, most of them gravitate towards Ybor City. This city is good for shopping, dining and nightlife. The Ybor City Walking Tour offers an interesting overview of the city's heritage.

Museums

Children's Museum of Tampa: This hands-on, interactive museum encourages the entire family to learn and have tons of fun doing it. There is even an interactive miniature community, Safety Village, to explore.

African Art Gallery And Museum: Authentic African artifacts and artwork of leading African and African-American artists are on display at the African Art Gallery and Museum.

Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI): The Museum of Science & Industry presents over 400 "hands on" displays and science exhibits, including the hurricane room where you can feel what it's like to be in an 80-mile-per-hour wind, the butterfly encounter, and three and a half miles of nature trails.

Flora and Fauna

The Florida Aquarium: Located in the Channelside area of Tampa, during your visit to The Florida Aquarium you can follow the path of a drop of water from the underground aquifer to the deep sea, see birds, plants and sea creatures of all descriptions in near-natural habitats.

Henry B. Plant Museum: Discover a museum which transports you to turn-of-the-century Florida. The Henry B. Plant Museum is housed in the original 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel which is now a National Historic Landmark and the symbol for the city of Tampa. You won't want to miss this Victorian palace featuring dramatic towering minarets. The Henry B. Plant Museum on the campus of the University of Tampa provides a taste of what the leisure-class visitors to Tampa enjoyed a hundred years ago.

Yvor City State Museum: The Ybor City State Museum complex includes an ornamental garden and three restored cigar worker's houses. One house, La Casita, is a museum. The Ferlita Bakery building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Dinosaur World: Here's a parkful of over 150 lifesize dinosaurs that stand perfectly still! Like its sister park in Kentucky, Dinosaur World Florida allows visitors an experience not unlike walking through a prehistoric picture book. There's also a "fossil dig" activity that lets kids find and take home their own small fossils. The pathways are paved and though there are no food facilities, picnicking is allowed.

Lowry Park Zoological Garden : Lowry Park Zoo includes a Florida Manatee and Aquatic Center, native Florida Exhibit, Primate World, Asian Domain, aviary and a petting zoo. If you don't have a chance to swim with the manatees in person, be sure to drop in.

Lowry Park Zoo: Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo features rare Asian animals and a Florida wildlife section, shaped like the state itself. Marvel at manatees from a unique underwater perspective. The zoo's Aquatic Center is home to one of three critical care facilities in Florida for this endangered species.
Art

Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts: The Tampa Gallery of Photographic Arts is a non-profit museum of photography exhibiting photographic art presenting a photographer's vision as vital and central to life and culture.

University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum: The USF Contemporary Art Museum brings vital, investigative and scholarly contemporary exhibitions, while simultaneously contributing to the dialogue within the international arts community by organizing exhibitions, producing relevant catalogues, scheduling critically significant traveling exhibitions and by underwriting experimental projects of artists emerging on the national and the international fronts.

Tampa boasts an average year-round temperature of 72 degrees, making the city ideal for tourists who enjoy outdoor activities. For a fun family outing, visitors and residents alike head for the internationally renown theme park, Busch Gardens. Situated in the northeastern portion of Tampa, Busch Gardens is a wildlife-themed adventure park complete with roller coasters, fine dining, games, and sightseeing tours. Right across the street is Adventure Island, another theme park owned by Anheiser Busch. Adventure Island is open from March through October and features a wide array of water slides, whirlpools, and other water-themed attractions.

Tampa

Kids Activities in Tampa

KONK Club (Kids Only, No Kidding!): What fun! No boring family vacation here! The KONK Club, a fully supervised program in the mornings and evenings, offers a range of exciting activities for kids ages 4-11 that includes crafts, games, and activities, all with kid-friendly themes. Mom and Dad can have a few hours to themselves to relax in a hammock or enjoy a quiet romantic dinner. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. All children must be completely potty trained. All events are located at Island Grand. Nominal charge for these programs.

RedBeard the Pirate: Captain RedBeard brings tall tales and rollicking songs of tropical adventures to Pirate Island, entertaining young buccaneers and older pirate wannabes. Kids get painted up like swashbucklers and search for shark's teeth, then after the show everyone heads for the pool for a family-friendly pirate flick at the "dive-in" movies. Not to be missed! Free.

Our T.A.Z. Team: Relax poolside and allow our TradeWinds Action Zone (T.A.Z.) Team to keep you amused and entertained every day. T.A.Z. Team was created to provide recreational opportunities for our guests of all ages. Whether it's a relaxing game of poolside bingo or glow in the dark volleyball or a spirited sand sculpting contest there’s something for everyone. Most activities free, nominal charge for crafts and some activities.

Swimming Lessons: What better time to learn how to swim than while on vacation in sunny, warm Florida in a happy and relaxed atmosphere. We'll provide a fun introduction of the swimming basics and water safety with a "child friendly" Red Cross certified instructor. Private lessons and prices for multiple lessons available upon request. Pre-registration required, adults welcome. Nominal charge.

Beaker Tuck-Ins at Island Grand: Create a memory for a lifetime! Surprise your kids! Have our lovable mascot, "Beaker" the pelican, come personally to your room and tuck your child into bed! Beaker will bring a keepsake for your child. Nominal fee and registration. 

Tampa Festivals and Events

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