While the kids haven’t been out of school for long, they may already be bored and looking for things to do. Below are some fun things to do in Tampa you that will get your kids moving!
The options are endless at Busch Gardens from rides to animals to live entertainment.
For the young ones, the park has many kid-friendly attractions like Sesame Street Safari of Fun and Treetop Trails, a three-story play area with climbing nets and mazes.
Among the 16 thrilling theme park rides is the newest launch coaster, the Tigris, with speeds more than 60 miles per hour. For animal enthusiasts, there are more than 200 species to watch and learn about, among them sloths, rhinos, giraffes, and gorillas. Animal feed experiences are offered as well as up-close encounters and insider tours.
During Summer Nights at dusk now through August 11, do some night riding and get down to music provided by DJs in the Stanleyville and Cheetah Hunt areas of the park. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, there will be fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m.
Purchase tickets online or onsite.
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Beat the heat at Adventure Island waterpark! Take on 10 different water attractions, including the raft-style Calypso Coaster, Aruba Tuba, and the six-story, 700-foot Key West Rapids. Get your slide on with Adventure Island’s newest attraction Vanish Point or the triple-tube thriller Water Moccasin.
The kids are sure to enjoy the Endless Surf and Paradise Lagoon pools and the half-mile tube trip down the relaxing Rambling Bayou. There are plenty of tasty spots to eat, beach areas to catch some rays, and a sand volleyball court.
Riders must be between 42-48" tall to participate, depending on the attraction. Tickets can be purchased online or onsite.
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The kids will have loads of fun playing and exploring at Glazer Children's Museum with innovate and educational programs and exhibits available daily. Children are invited to tinker, build, and create during the Summer of Making through July 24, and enjoy fun activities of the autism-friendly Make a Masterpiece summer camp through July 19.
Farm, Firehouse, and Forts highlight more than 20 exhibits at the children’s museum. There’s something for kids of all ages to encourage teamwork and creativity and spark brain power.
General admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children up to age 12. Teachers receive a discounted admission rate of $12.50. Click here to buy tickets.
We all know it rains a lot in the summer time. Don’t keep the kiddos cooped up in the house; take them to the Tampa Theatre! It hosts an annual Summer Classics series that is sure to excite. Among the showings are Jurassic Park (PG-13) and The Wizard of Oz (PG).
Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park is about a theme park that experiences a major power breakdown, which allows the dinosaurs in its exhibits to come alive and take over the park. This 1993 film is part of the theatre’s CinemaSTEM crossover, which pairs science and cinema with a post-show film talk. The audience will enjoy a Q&A session with Anthony Pelaez, senior director of exhibits and innovation at Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry. According to Tampa Theatre’s website, Pelaez will discuss where the movie got the science right, and where filmmakers may have taken a few liberties with how DNA works. He’s also promised to perform some “dinosaur calls.”
The Wizard of Oz (Sunday, July 28 at 3 p.m.) takes its audience on an adventure with Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion along the Yellow Brick Road.
General admission is $10 and $7 for Tampa Theatre members. Tickets can be purchased at the online box office or at the theatre box office.
For history buffs, consider the Balcony to Backstage Tour on Saturday, July 20 at 11:30 a.m. During the 90-minute tour, attendees can learn secrets, stories, art, and architecture of this historic landmark, which opened in 1926.
Tour general admission is $10 for adults and $8 for ages 2-12. Tampa Theatre members are admitted for free. Doors open at 11:15 a.m.
To become a member of the Tampa Theatre, click here.
There's no excuse for the kids to be sluggish this summer with these fun things to do in Tampa! If you're looking lower-budget outing, take the kids to one of many like Lettuce Lake Park and Ben T. Davis Beach for a day of fun in the sun.
For more things to do in Tampa, register on 813area for your free local guide to everything in Tampa Bay.
Cover photo courtesy of Adobe Stock Images
