Fun For Older Children

(Up to Age 18)

Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
4801 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33617
813/987-6000
MOSI is the largest science center in the Southeastern US, with a big planetarium and its own zip line and ropes course outside. Focused on bringing a love of science to tweens and teens, the museum takes advantage of more than 450 hands-on exhibits to provide hours of “edutainment.” Kids can get engaged in science by pedaling a bike across a cable high up in the air, or laying on a bed of nails. A fun rainy day getaway with school-age children.

Big Cat Rescue
12802 Easy Street
Tampa, FL 33625
813/920-4130
This animal rescue park has been in operation since 1992 and has launched into an educational mission to provide rehabilitation to more than 100 “lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars, servals and other species — most of whom have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, saved from being turned into fur coats, or retired from performing acts,” according to their website. BCR has two-hour-guided tours of their fantastic collection of large and exotic cats. There are even Feeding Tours on which visitors can help feed the animals. Cabins are also available for overnight rental, to experience the nightly howling of the residents. Due to the “up close and personal” nature of these safari tours, children under 10 are not permitted on the regular tours, though there are 9am kids tours on weekends.

Big Red Balloon
Meeting Place: 11702 N. Dale, Mabry Highway
Tampa, FL
813/969-1518
This sightseeing company takes you on a panoramic view of Tampa’s bays, backyards, birdlife and beaches. A three-and-a-half hot air balloon flight, available only to kids 5 years and older (kids rates for ages 5-10); it’s an unforgettable experience. Note that a minimum height of 48″ (to see over the sides of the basket) is required of all. Explore Northern Hillsborough and Southern Pasco Counties from above and if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to count alligators among your finds.

Fun For the Whole Family

Exploring Tampa on Land and Sea

Electric vehicles from eBoats Tampa are based at the marina next to the convention center, and it’s a fun way to explore the Hillsborough River and motor quietly past the onion domes of the historic Plant Hotel, now part of the University of Tampa. The tourist office can connect you with mini-speedboats that seat a family of three; stand-up paddleboard rentals, loaner bikes from CityBike Tampa, a rental Harley-Davidson or even a Segway.

Busch Gardens Tampa
10165 N McKinley Dr
Tampa, FL 33612
813/987-5000
This popular attraction has many distinct themed areas that bring a little of Africa to the Tampa area. Almost more impressive than the pretty, heavily shaded and landscaped amusement park, is the fascinating collection of more than 12,000 animals. An Animal Care Center welcomes visitors to watch the in-house vet staff do animal wellness exams and even surgery, while exhibits there and throughout the park allow all ages to learn more about African animals and their habitats. Of course, the park is best known for 335 acres of family entertainment including the Gwazi “dueling” wooden roller coasters and Falcon’s Fury, a terrifying looking tower with a 300-foot-plus freefall. Grandparents and parents with toddlers will find smoother rides, waterplay coasters, a Sesame Street Safari of Fun play area, as a well as a fun carousel in the North African/Arab “Pantopia” section. Teens will love the VR and motion control rides, and other thrilling coasters. Busch Gardens definitely warrants a two-day visit so you can take little ones on a stream train or bigger kids on a behind-the-scenes Safari Encounter with giraffes and ostrich. Adventure Island has 30 acres provide water-soaked excitement for guests of all ages, making it a great combo with sister Busch Gardens Tampa on hot, sultry summer days. From mid-June to mid-August, the waterpark remains open till 9pm for evening fun, with live music and a Caribbean theming.

The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
813/273-4000
At Florida Aquarium, visitors get the chance to be up and close with 20,000 aquatic creatures from frogs to sharks in natural habitats that help bring the outdoors inside. Follow the Florida Wetlands Trail to meet alligators and frolicking otters, or head the Beaches section to admire pet-able stingrays, sea turtles and a 300lbs. grouper you won’t find on a local menu. Visitors can join an interactive Swim with the Fishes program or a Dive with the Sharks activity for an extra fee. Outside, there are daily cruises to meet dolphins in Tampa Bay.  It is one of the country’s best designed marine life habitats, with several family sleepovers annually and an active day camp program during summer.

George M. Steinbrenner Field
1 Steinbrenner Drive
Tampa, FL 33614
813/875-7753
The Yankees’ other field, this it the on-again, off-again World Champions’ spot for spring training. Come here to get your autographs and get a first-hand look at what it takes to be a baseball champion: the Inside Experience Spring Training program takes your family behind the scenes for a photo and autograph opportunity with former and current Yankee players, but just watching a game in this relaxed venue is fun too. At other times of year, this field hosts popular music concerts.

Tampa Area Summer & School Break Camps

Are you thinking about spending some extra time in central Florida? The city of Tampa takes full advantage of every local attraction to create summer-long and drop-in day camps for local and visiting children, based on each attraction’s educational mission. Here are some examples of the top family schoolbreak programs, with contact information.

Busch Gardens Adventure Camps 877/BGT-CAMP – Animal-loving kids from around the world come to sleep over at Busch Gardens Tampa where they can cook up animal treats in a Nutrition Kitchen, follow vets and trainers to get a sense of their careers, enjoy animal interactions, do art projects inspired by the park’s Africa theming, and even have fun on the thrill rides. Camps are divided into age-appropriate programs for kids in 5-12th grade, as well as college students interested in veterinary science. Kids spend more time outdoors here than at other local camps, and dorm facilities are right at the park. Weeklong day camps are available for K-12th graders, too.

Museum of Science and Industry Summer Science Camp (813/987-6000) – A supervised day camp designed for K-5th graders, these summer and school break sessions encourage kids in STEM studies by allowing them to design video games, cook up concoctions, get creative with lasers, dig for fossils and use DNA to solve crimes, among much more fun.  Even preschoolers from ages 2+ can take short classes at the museum on certain days, at no extra charge.

Florida Aquarium (813/273-4015) – The Aquacamps are geared to ages 3-18 with a variety of programs that range from studying the aquarium’s unusual habitats, to interactions with marinelife in the touch tanks, to learning time with vets and trainers to better understand the marinelife. With carefully selected age-appropriate programs, your kids can study reptiles, count shark’s teeth and get to know the lemurs of Madagascar.

For more information about the Tampa area and a list of local accommodations, contact the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800/44-TAMPA.