Located on the Gulf Coast, Tampa is one of the best destinations for family vacations. 500,000 international visitors can’t be wrong. Whatever type of vacation you are looking for, there are so many things to do in Tampa, it suits everyone. Here are just five of the most thrilling items to put on your Tampa itinerary.
1. The Most Fun of all Tampa Attractions: Busch Gardens
Florida has plenty of theme parks and Busch Gardens ranks up there with the best of them. As well as a set of exciting rides, there are some wonderful animal attractions, namely:
- Edge of Africa
- Bird Gardens
- Cheetah Run
- Jambo Junction
The best of the animal attractions can be seen on Guided Adventure Tours and a Serengeti Safari.
Of course, there is everything to make your visit to the park special with plenty of fun activities, live entertainments, and exclusive park experiences as well as the all-important cafes, restaurants, and bars.
There’s so much to do that you can easily make several visits to the park during your vacation.
2. Spend a Day or Two, or Three, or … At the Beach
It’s Florida! Of course, the beaches are going to be stunning. If you love to sunbathe or swim, visiting the beach is easily one of the best things to do in Tampa. Here’s a selection of the best Tampa beaches:
- Ben T Davis Beach – sunbathe and swim at Tampa’s largest beach
- Apollo Beach Nature Reserve – relax and watch the wildlife
- Madeira Beach, Pinellas County – stroll the boardwalk and eat fresh seafood
- Archibald Beach Park – enjoy a game of volleyball
- Sand Key Park – collect seashells from the soft sand
The beaches are also the place for water sports and other on-the-water activities. Get out on a surfboard or in a kayak or enjoy one of the world’s best tours in a speedboat around Tampa Bay.
3. Cultural Things to Do in Tampa
Culture vultures will find it easy to assuage their thirst for knowledge and heritage in Tampa. The city has plenty of interesting museums and galleries for all tastes:
- Tampa Museum of Art
- Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
- Contemporary Art Museum
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Tampa Bay History Center
- Ybor City Museum State Park
- Glazer Children’s Museum
You can also get a culture fix at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
4. Commune with Nature
Animal attractions in Tampa aren’t limited to Busch Gardens. If you want to get up close and personal with some amazing wildlife, you can visit:
- Big Cat Rescue Animal sanctuary
- Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center
- Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
- The Florida Aquarium
- Horsepower for Kids
These fun things to do in Tampa offer unique experiences where you see and learn about all manner of fascinating creatures.
5. See Tampa From a Different Point of View
This beautiful city is a delight to explore on foot but you might want to see it from a different perspective.
Consider seeing it from the water. You might take a boat tour, hire your own boat, or even try a waterbike (a peddle-driven combination of a bicycle and kayak).
If you prefer dry land, riding a Segway is a fun way to get around.
The Vacation of a Lifetime
You can never run out of things to do in Tampa. Whether you stay a week, or two or three, there’s something new and exciting to do every day.
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