This trending Florida vacation destination and growing cruise homeport offers memorable activities and adventures for families and multigenerational groups
The greater Tampa Bay area is located on Florida’s Gulf Coast and offers attractions for all ages and interests. These include exciting theme parks, beautiful beaches, historic places, superb museums and an attractive waterfront. The region comprises three popular vacation destinations: Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg. With such extensive appeal, it’s no surprise that Kayak data shows Tampa travel searches have increased 85 percent over last year.
In addition to being a popular family vacation destination, Tampa also serves as a homeport for multiple cruise lines. Tampa’s cruise scene continues to expand, and Port Tampa Bay has announced plans to add a fourth terminal to accommodate increased demand. Port Tampa Bay offers over 200 cruise departures annually, and sailings on the Margaritaville at Sea Islander and other ships are available year-round. Families and groups often stay in the area before or after their multigenerational cruise vacations to enjoy the beaches and Tampa’s many attractions.
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Tampa is a pet-friendly city, so reuniting groups can travel with their furry four-legged family members when visiting the region. Popular dog beaches in the area include Fort De Soto Park, Pass-A-Grille Dog Beach, Davis Island Dog Beach and Honeymoon Island. Some Tampa area hotels and resorts also welcome pets.
Here are 12 exciting things to do in the greater Tampa Bay area on your next family trip.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Iron Gwazi is the world’s fastest and steepest hybrid coaster. Photo credit: Keir Magoulas and Visit Tampa Bay
Play Together At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Newsweek and USA Today readers have named Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as one of the top ten amusement parks in the United States. The 335-acre theme park is an excellent choice for families seeking an adrenaline rush, featuring a wealth of exciting coasters and thrilling rides. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay recently unveiled a $40 million park transformation, including “Wild Oasis” at Jungala and other immersive attractions.
Thrill seekers will want to ride Iron Gwazi, the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster on the planet. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay also offers nine more heart-pumping coasters along with water attractions, live entertainment, cable car and train rides, a Sesame Street play area for kids, and other attractions. In addition, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is home to over 200 species of animals.
Families wishing to cool off can head to Adventure Island water park for an exciting aquatic adventure. For those with more time, Walt Disney World is about an hour’s drive away.
Check Out Tampa’s Museums
The greater Tampa area has a wealth of museums for all interests. Family members interested in history and antiques can visit the Henry B. Plant Museum in the former Tampa Bay Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. History buffs will also appreciate the Tampa Bay History Center’s interactive exhibits and the opulent Tampa Theatre.
Families with children aged ten and younger may want to check out Tampa’s Glazer Children’s Museum. Other notable spots include the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and Tampa Museum of Art.
Clearwater Beach is renowned for its stunning white-sand beach, superb accommodations and spectacular sunsets. Photo credit: Nancy Schretter
Head To The Beach
Families often plan to spend several days on the Tampa area’s stunning beaches on their vacations. Beach resorts are popular options for pre- and post-cruise stays as well. Some of America’s most beautiful beaches, featuring white sand and calm waters, are just a short drive from downtown Tampa.
Clearwater Beach is a fantastic choice for a quick getaway or a multi-day beach vacation. Voted the #1 Beach in the South in USA Today’s 10Best Awards, Clearwater Beach offers miles of sugar-white sandy beaches and outstanding family-friendly resorts. The beachfront JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa is a top choice for family groups, offering multi-bedroom residences and the JW Kids Club for little ones. Set on a wide section of beach, the beautifully renovated Sandpearl Resort is another good option.
Families also enjoy spending several nights at a family-friendly beachfront resort in St. Pete Beach, named by Parents magazine as “One of America’s Top 10 Best Beach Towns.”
Explore Ybor City
This vibrant Tampa neighborhood offers a unique historic experience filled with rich Cuban culture. Founded in 1886, Ybor City provides attractions to please many interests. Ybor City was once filled with cigar factories and known as the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Today, Ybor City is an established National Historic Landmark District with only one surviving cigar factory, the J.C. Newman Cigar Company, where tours are available.
Families will enjoy riding the TECO Line Streetcar System and eating a traditional Cuban sandwich at one of the neighborhood’s many eateries. Visitors interested in Ybor City’s history can visit the Ybor City Museum State Park to learn more about the area’s heritage and culture. The Tampa Bay Brewing Company’s microbrewery and the Tampa Baseball Museum are in Ybor City. Art galleries and live music venues are plentiful in Ybor City as well.
The Tampa Riverwalk offers a wide variety of activities and beautiful views. Photo credit: Keir Magoulas and Visit Tampa Bay
Stroll Along The Tampa Riverwalk
Tampa’s 2.6-mile Riverwalk is an excellent location for walking, jogging, biking, and simply enjoying the views. Along the Tampa Riverwalk, you’ll find artwork, waterfront parks, playgrounds and splash parks for kids, many museums and galleries, Tampa’s Center for the Performing Arts, restaurants, shops and so much more. The Port Tampa Bay cruise ship terminals are also nearby, making exploring the Riverwalk easy for those sailing away from Tampa.
Families can bike along the Riverwalk, and bicycle and e-bike rentals are available from a variety of locations. Tampa’s paved Suncoast Trail and Upper Tampa Bay Trail are also excellent for families.
Sample Tampa’s Delicious Cuisine
The Tampa Bay area is known for its vibrant culinary scene. While strolling along Tampa’s Riverwalk, stop at dynamic Sparkman Wharf or Ulele to taste a variety of the best food the region has to offer. Armature Works is another great spot where you can sample multiple dining options as well.
If your family would like to enjoy more of Tampa’s famed restaurants, head to Bern’s Steak House, Columbia Restaurant or Rooster & The Till, which has received numerous prestigious awards over the last few years. Hyde Park Village is another good choice for families that wish to combine sophisticated shopping with dining at chic cafes.
Known for its Cuban heritage, Tampa has some of the best Cuban sandwiches found in Florida. Visit Ybor City’s La Segunda Bakery or the Columbia Restaurant, which is said to be Florida’s oldest restaurant, to try out their authentic fare.
Families can enjoy memorable animal experiences at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Photo credit: Keir Magoulas and Visit Tampa Bay
Talk To The Animals
Tampa is an excellent vacation destination for animal lovers. Visitors can choose from zoos, sanctuaries and unique places to see wildlife. ZooTampa at Lowry Park is home to over 1,300 animals, including African elephants, tigers, koalas and penguins.
The park offers a wide variety of educational shows, encounters and experiences for families to enjoy. Visitors ages five and older can also tour the world-renowned Manatee Critical Care Center at ZooTampa as well.
Additional spots for animal-loving families include Croc Encounters and HorsePower for Kids, a family fun farm and outdoor animal sanctuary offering tours and interactive experiences.
Enjoy Tampa From The Water
Tampa’s Hillsborough River is a wonderful place for kayaking, particularly for nature lovers. While paddling along the river, kayakers can spot turtles, hawks and more.
Kayaking along the Hillsborough River is fun for beginners and experienced paddlers alike. Check out the Hillsborough River Paddling Trail Map for more information on the best route. Additional options for paddlers in the Tampa area include kayaking in Weedon Island Preserve and Shell Key Preserve clear kayak tours.
Groups also have other stress-free ways to view the Tampa skyline from the water. Families can explore Tampa together on a hop-on, hop-off Pirate Water Taxi tour, which offers 14 convenient stops throughout the city. Groups can also join the pirate crew of the Lost Pearl for a fun-filled cruise around Tampa Bay.
The popular Gasparilla Pirate Festival takes place in Tampa each year. Photo credit: Keir Magoulas and Visit Tampa Bay
Experience The Fun-Filled Gasparilla Pirate Festival
Held annually in January, the Gasparilla Pirate Festival is a much-anticipated Tampa event filled with themed activities and plenty of family fun. Inspired by the legendary life of Jose Gaspar, the festival celebrates Tampa’s maritime history, culture and pirate lore. The Gasparilla Pirate Festival draws about 300,000 people yearly with attractions including a flotilla, parades, music, and pirate-themed spectacles.
Gasparilla has been held in Tampa since 1904. Two major highlights are the dramatic invasion by the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship and the massive Parade of Pirates featuring thousands of costumed revelers and hundreds of elaborate floats. Special children’s parades and activities are featured as well.
Picnic In The Parks
The Tampa Bay area is home to several parks that are ideal for picnics, outdoor activities and low-key family fun. Riverside Lettuce Lake Regional Park features 240 acres of scenic land with wooded picnic areas, two large playgrounds, canoe and kayak rentals, an observation tower, a boardwalk and hiking trails.
Tampa’s eight-acre Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is another lovely spot for a family picnic. The park offers interactive splash pads where kids can play, a wide sloping lawn, and a children’s playground.
If ballparks are of more interest to your family, you’ll want to visit George M. Steinbrenner Field. The stadium is home to the Tampa Tarpons and serves as the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
The Florida Aquarium’s largest habitat, Coral Reef, is home to inquisitive sea turtles. Photo credit: Keir Magoulas and Visit Tampa Bay
Visit The Florida Aquarium
Easily accessible from Tampa’s Riverwalk, the Florida Aquarium houses over 7,000 aquatic animals and plants. It has been ranked as one of the nation’s top 10 aquariums by USA Today for the past five consecutive years. There’s so much to see at this attraction, so plan to spend at least three to four hours here. Guests can dive with sharks, swim with the fish, interact with African penguins and get up close with friendly critters of all kinds.
As families stroll through the aquarium, they’ll journey through different habitats filled with fish, turtles, lemurs, alligators, otters, pythons, and other creatures. The Florida Aquarium also features the 4-D Theater and outdoor Splash Pad water play area for kids. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is another great option if you can take a drive.
See The Manatees
Families interested in manatees should visit Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center. The Tampa utility’s Big Bend Power Station in nearby Apollo Beach flows warm water into Tampa Bay, providing a designated sanctuary for manatees during cold weather. The discharge canal offers much-needed protection for the manatees, which must have access to water temperatures of 68 degrees or higher to survive. The Manatee Viewing Center is open daily from November 1 through April 15, and admission is free.
Families with access to a car may also wish to visit Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River to visit with the manatees, which congregate in large numbers during the winter months. A wide variety of tours are offered. Plan a stop at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to see the live mermaids along the way. Weeki Wachee, Florida’s oldest roadside attraction, has been enchanting families since 1947.
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By Nancy Schretter, Contributing Editor
Header Photo Credit: Keir Magoulas and Visit Tampa Bay
