Originally the name of the water on the west coast of Florida, Tampa Bay has now come to represent a region comprising many distinct communities connected by the Bay waters, with exclusive places of interest and an endless variety of fun and entertainment found in few places on the globe. No matter if you only have a few hours to find adventure or a whole day to play, Tampa offers a myriad of wild-to-mild attractions sure to keep you enjoyed and entertained. So, head to Tampa and start creating your own experience – this is the place to be!
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
One of Florida’s largest theme parks, the 335-acre Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a family-friendly adventure getaway, open year-round, committed to providing enjoyment for all guests. The park is made up of 8 different regions, including one of the nation’s premier zoos with over 2,700 animals, along with fantastic thrill rides and award-winning Broadway-style live entertainment, superb shops and a 1,200-seat Moroccan Palace Theatre, where visitors can enjoy a wonderful ice-skating.
People will have the unique chance to come face-to-face with all those wild beasts they’ve watched on Animal Planet with better views of them. One of the highlights of the park is Congo River Rapids that can hardly be compared to anywhere else. The white water rafting expedition will send adventure junkies down a racing river, thrilling plunges and cascading waterfalls to a water cave packed with surprises.
Adventure Island
Right next to Busch Gardens one can find the awe-inspiring Adventure Island, offering water-themed amusement from Aruba Tuba to Calypso Coaster to Caribbean Corkscrew, and many more ‘heart-stopping’ rides for the whole family. Within a soothing Key West atmosphere awaits an impressive combination of slides, corkscrews, pristine lagoons, waterfalls, relaxing cabanas, a wave pool and kids’ water playground, as well as other family attractions, like picnic and sunbathing areas, fine cafes and gift shops. After you have tried some of the truly thrilling water rides in Florida, make sure to order Rambling Bayou with its half-mile of tropical falls, picture-perfect landscapes and lush colorful rainforest. Single-day admission tickets for this lively getaway are around $43 for adults and $39 for children ages 3 to 9. For those younger than 3, there is no entrance fee, but keep in mind that all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Lowry Park Zoo
Ranked the best family-friendly zoo in the U.S by Parents magazine (2009) and recognized as a center for Florida wildlife conservation and biodiversity, Tampa Lowry Zoo is an affordable leisure destination with more than 1,700 animals, add to this a range of rides, shows and hands-on interactive exhibits designed to give you a Wild and memorable experience. There are seven main exhibit areas in the zoo, including: Asian Gardens, Primate World, Florida Wildlife Center, Manatee and Aquatic Center, Safari Africa, free-Flight Aviary abd Walaroo Station Children’s Zoo. New to the Zoo is Reilly’s Reserve, where visitors can enjoy mouth-watering food varying from passion fruit-mango shrimp to bananas foster. Do not forget your cameras to take picturesque photos of amazing animals to show back home!
