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Theme Parks, Zoos, and Tours in Family-Friendly Tampa

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Tampa's carefree style and sunny climate make it an ideal destination for a stress-free family vacation. You can swim with dolphins, have a picnic in the park, and enjoy heart-pounding roller coaster rides with your kids.

Fresh air and nature

 

Tampa’s enviable climate means that many of the best family activities take place outdoors. You can get up close and personal to all kinds of wildlife in world-class attractions like Busch Gardens and the Florida Aquarium - or simply enjoy a stroll and a picnic in one of the city’s many parks.

 

Busch Gardens Tampa

 

Experience top-notch roller coasters and encounters with nature at this famous theme park. Busch Gardens features state-of-the-art habitats for over 12,000 animals, and a number of thrilling rides.

 

10165 N Malcolm McKinley Dr, Tampa 33612Tel: +1 888 800 5447

 

Busch Gardens Tampa website

 

Florida Aquarium

 

Popular activities at this huge facility include swimming with sharks, touching the penguins, and an adventure cruise with wild dolphins.

 

701 Channelside Dr, Tampa 33602. Tel: +1 813 273 4000

 

Florida Aquarium website

Watery fun in Tampa

 

When the Florida sun is beating down, what could be better than to throw on a bathing suit and run to Tampa's famous water park, Adventure Island? There are numerous ways to get soaked to the skin, from refreshing in a wave pool to sliding solo or with a friend down a steep and twisting flume.

 

Adventure Island

 

Race family members on your own enclosed tube, hop on a floating toboggan, or simply chill out in Paradise Lagoon. If you feel like perfecting your spikes, you can practice on a volleyball court.

 

10001 N Malcolm McKinley Dr, Tampa 33612. Tel: +1 888 800 5447

 

Adventure Island website

 

Sailing in Tampa

 

Life in Tampa revolves around water, so why not spend some time sailing around Tampa Bay? You can sit back on a comfortable catamaran while admiring skylines, islands, and sweeping views with your family and friends. If it's your lucky day, you might even get to see some bottlenose dolphins frolicking in their natural habitat.

 

Tampa Bay Sailing Tours

 

Tampa Bay Sailing Tours offers excursions on a 36-foot catamaran for up to 6 guests. You can choose from half-day sails, full-day sails, or even a sunset cruise for 2, if you are looking for some romance.

 

518 North Tampa Street #300, Tampa 33602. Tel: +1 813 532 9530

 

Tampa Bay Sailing Tours website

 

Tour Tampa on a Segway

 

Most tours in Tampa offer the chance to see the city's key attractions, but there is something both quirky and refreshing about whizzing around on a Segway with a cool breeze in your face. You'll have a tour guide to point out important landmarks and ensure you don't get lost.

 

Magic Carpet Glide

 

Take your kids (12 and over) to appreciate Tampa's urban and natural beauty, all while riding a Segway. Tour stops include Bayshore Boulevard, Harbour Island, and Tampa Convention centre.

 

Tel: +1 813 490 7241

 

Magic Carpet Glide website

 

Beaches near Tampa

 

One of the best things about Tampa is the easy access to superb beaches. If you're an outdoor enthusiast with a car, you can drive a little farther to find the calm waters and soft beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, where your young ones can build sandcastles while you unwind.

 

Sand Key Park

 

A 45-minute drive west from Tampa, this popular attraction comprises a park with picnic shelters and a white-sand beach. Be on the lookout for endangered sea turtles: they land here to lay eggs on the sand.

 

1060 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater 33767.

 

Sand Key Park website

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