10 Places to Visit in Tampa for An Offbeat Holiday Experience in Tampa

Orlando, Florida, receives all the attention. I understand that it has the House of Mouse and a slew of other attractions. But, Tampa, a thriving cultural centre, is only an hour away. Plan a trip to this beautiful city of Tampa with Spirit Airlines Manage Booking and enjoy your days in Tampa.

Tampa, founded in 1855, has a colourful past and some pleasant secrets to tell. And it can compete in Florida’s crowded tourism belt. There are many enjoyable things to do in Tampa with kids, whether you enjoy amusement parks, peaceful pathways through the city, animal life, nightlife, beach sunsets, or a gourmet adventure (or if you’re like our family, all the above).

10 Places to Visit in Tampa:

 

1. Swimming Mermaids 

My grandma lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, when I was a child. There was a frequent commercial for a beautiful spot with mermaids – mermaids! – at Weeki Wachee Park, north of Tampa. I attempted to persuade my folks to make the four-hour trip up that way to see them. No such luck. Weeki Wachee, roughly 45 minutes north of downtown Tampa, is still open and growing. It is Florida’s oldest roadside attraction, combining a state park and a water park. It’s also one of the top things to do with kids in Tampa. This Gulf Coast stop is ideal for those travelling into or out of Tampa.

2. Thrill Rides

The thrill attractions and roller coasters at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay include the swooping and dipping, 200-foot-dropping SheiKra.  Busch Gardens is home to Tigris, Florida’s tallest launch coaster, which is geared for thrills. But wait… there’s more…Iron Gwazi, North America’s tallest steel-and-wooden hybrid coaster, is also the world’s fastest and steepest hybrid coaster. If thrill rides aren’t your style, Busch Gardens also has more than 200 types of animals, entertainment, and a Sesame Street-themed kids’ area.

3. Tampa Riverwalk

The Tampa Riverwalk is 2.6 miles of open space created along the Hillsborough River. And it’s one of the top things to do in Tampa with kids! Take a ride on the Pirate Water Taxi for breathtaking views of the waterways, or take a longer journey to Zoo Tampa (before Lowry Park Zoo). Want to get some exercise? Rent a bike share at a rental kiosk on the Riverwalk or in downtown Tampa. You may either take a canoe or kayak down the river to enjoy the skyline or visit the Tampa Bay Waterbike Company to pedal down the river in style. For a charge, Tampa Bay SUP provides paddle boards for a peaceful trip.

4. Gasparilla Pirate Ship 

Put your best foot forward. You can meet Captain Jack Sparrow during your visit to this famed annual event. The Gasparilla Parade’s children’s component began in 1947 and begins at Beachfront Boulevard, following a portion of the Pirates’ route. The party is held during the third Saturday of January every year. And it’s among my favourite Tampa activities for kids. Hundreds of boats join the parade of watercraft around Tampa Bay, led by Jose Gasparilla, a 165-foot-long pirate ship built in 1954.

5. MOSI

The Tampa Bay Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) touts itself as a “scientific playground” with interactive hands-on activities for both children and adults. It’s what I call a fantastic Tampa family activity! The objective of MOSI is to make science accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds by emphasising STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).

The land of Tampa is well connected with Spirit Airlines Manage Booking so you can book your tickets now.

6. Adventure Island

This 3-acre aquatic theme park, located across from Busch Gardens, is part of a collaboration between SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. You can enjoy two, three, or all four parks for bundled ticket pricing, and all of them provide a lot of entertainment. Water elements on Adventure Island include slides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and more. Solar Vortex, America’s first dual-tailspin water slide, will open in 2020.

7. TECO Streetcar Trolleys

In 2018, the Florida Department of Transportation awarded the Tampa Electric Company a $2.7 million grant. Allowing the organisation that operates the TECO streetcars to operate fare-free. The streetcars carried passengers all throughout town during their heyday in the late 1800s.

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The vintage cars now go from Hyde Park to the Florida Aquarium or the historic district of Ybor City. I’ve never met somebody who doesn’t smile on a streetcar trip, so get on board and enjoy the journey.

8. The Florida Aquarium

Sharks, alligators, penguins, fish, and dolphins abound in the Florida Aquarium. If you like sea creatures, the Florida Aquarium in Tampa is an all-day adventure in a massive 220,000-square-foot complex. A world-class aquarium in Florida makes sense, but this one blew me away. After you’ve seen all the sea life you can stand, take a rest at the new water play area with the kids.

9. Paleo Discoveries

In both number and quality, Florida is one of the richest sources of fossil material known. Paleo Discoveries has something for everyone, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned fossil collector. We enjoyed that we could sift sand and fossils through a screen or dive in one of Florida’s shallow rivers or streams to see prehistoric sharks, whales, dolphins, saber-tooth cats, jaguars, mammoths, mastodons, camels, tapirs, sloths, enormous armadillos, and other creatures. This will be a dream come true for your tiny dinosaur hunter.

10. Baseball Spring Training Camps 

Want to see a Yankees game in a smaller, more intimate setting? Spring training is held at Tampa’s George M. Steinbrenner Field in February and March. Spring training games are a lot of fun for families and far less expensive than home park games.

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You might even take home a commemorative ball! If you’re a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies or the Toronto Blue Jays, the parks in Clearwater and Dunedin are less than an hour apart.