The Tampa Bay Area
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Tampa Bay Area - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Busch Gardens
Central TampaDrawing some 4½ million visitors each year, Busch Gardens Tampa is a major theme park, with its popular roller coasters being the biggest lure. The...
Drawing some 4½ million visitors each year, Busch Gardens Tampa is a major theme park, with its popular roller coasters being the biggest lure. The twisting Tigris, with a 50-foot skyward surge and thrilling drops, is Florida’s tallest coaster. The newest ride, Iron Gwazi, opens in 2021. At more than 200 feet tall, it's the tallest hybrid roller coaster in North America, as well as the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world. But this is also a world-class zoo, with more than 2,000 animals, and a live entertainment venue that provides a full day (or more) of fun for the whole family. The Jungala exhibit at Busch Gardens puts Bengal tigers center stage and at eye level—allowing you to view them from underground caves and underwater windows. If you want to beat the crowds, start in the back of the park and work your way around clockwise. The 335-acre adventure park's habitats offer views of some of the world's most endangered and exotic animals. For the best animal sightings, go to their habitats early, when it's cooler. Catering to the shorter set, the Sesame Street Safari of Fun is a 5-acre kids' playground with Sesame-themed rides, shows, and water adventures. The Air Grover Rollercoaster takes kids (and parents) on minidives and twisty turns over the Sahara, while Jungle Flyers gets them swinging and screeching. If you're looking to cool off, your best bets are Congo River Rapids, Stanleyville Falls (a flume ride), or Bert and Ernie's Water Hole—complete with bubblers, geysers, water jets, and dumping buckets. Character lunches are available (but you might want to wait until after your rides).
10165 N. McKinley Dr., Tampa, Florida, 33612, USA813-884–4386Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $90; parking $25, Daily 10–6 -
2. Caladesi Island State Park
Quiet, secluded, and still wild, this 3½-mile-long barrier island is one of the best shelling beaches on the Gulf Coast, second only to Sanibel. The...
Quiet, secluded, and still wild, this 3½-mile-long barrier island is one of the best shelling beaches on the Gulf Coast, second only to Sanibel. The park also has plenty of sights for birders—from common sandpipers to majestic blue herons to rare black skimmers—and miles of trails through scrub oaks, saw palmettos, and cacti (with tenants such as armadillos, rabbits, and raccoons). The landscape also features mangroves and dunes, and the gradual slope of the sea bottom makes this a good spot for novice swimmers and kids. You have to get to Caladesi Island by private boat (there's a 108-slip marina) or through its sister park, the Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area, where you take the hourly ferry ride across to Caladesi ($14 per person). You can also paddle yourself over in a kayak. Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming.
Dunedin Causeway, Dunedin, Florida, 34698, USA727-469–5918Sight Details
Rate Includes: $6 per boat, $2 per kayaker, Daily 8–sunset -
3. Chihuly Collection
DowntownAn electrifying 10,000-square-foot Albert Alfonso–designed building is home to world-renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly's work. Here, impossibly vibrant, larger-than-life pieces such as Float Boat and...
An electrifying 10,000-square-foot Albert Alfonso–designed building is home to world-renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly's work. Here, impossibly vibrant, larger-than-life pieces such as Float Boat and Ruby Red Icicle sit next to some of the famed sculptor's smaller and more under-the-radar works. You can tour the museum independently or with one of its volunteer docents (no added cost; tours are given hourly on the half hour during the week). Each display is perfectly lighted against a shade of gray paint handpicked by Chihuly himself, which adds to the drama of the designs. Don't miss Mille Fiori (Thousand Flowers), a spectacular, whimsical glass montage mimicking a wildflower patch, critters and all. Check out the gift shop at the end if you'd like to take some of the magic home with you. Your admission includes access to Morean Arts Center's glassblowing studio, where you can watch resident artists create a unique glass piece before your eyes.
720 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA727-896–4527Sight Details
Rate Includes: $20, Mon.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. noon–5 -
4. Clearwater Beach
On a narrow island between Clearwater Harbor and the Gulf is a stretch of sand with a widespread reputation for beach volleyball. Pier 60, which...
On a narrow island between Clearwater Harbor and the Gulf is a stretch of sand with a widespread reputation for beach volleyball. Pier 60, which extends from shore here, is the site of a nightly sunset celebration, complete with musicians and artisans. It's one of the area's nicest and busiest beaches, especially on weekends and during spring break, but it's also one of the costliest in terms of parking fees, which can reach $2 per hour. Traffic can get pretty gnarly here and parking spots scarce, especially approaching sunset, so get here early or opt for public or on-foot transportation as much as possible.Amenities: food and drink; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; walking.
View Tours and ActivitiesClearwater, Florida, 33767, USA -
5. Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sanctuary for the manatee. Kings Bay, around which manatees congregate in winter (generally from November to March),...
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sanctuary for the manatee. Kings Bay, around which manatees congregate in winter (generally from November to March), feeds crystal clear water into the river at 72°F year-round. This is one of the sure-bet places to see manatees in winter since hundreds congregate near this 90-acre refuge. The small visitor center has displays about the manatee and other refuge inhabitants. If you want to get an even closer look at these gentle giants, several dive companies provide opportunities for you to swim among them—if you don't mind shelling out some extra cash, donning a wet suit, and adhering to some strict interaction guidelines. In warmer months, when most manatees scatter, the main spring is fun for a swim or scuba diving.
1502 S.E. Kings Bay Dr., Crystal River, Florida, 34429, USA352-563–2088Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Daily 8–4 -
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6. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Here you can see many manatees and several species of fish through a floating glass observatory known as the Fish Bowl—except in this case the...
Here you can see many manatees and several species of fish through a floating glass observatory known as the Fish Bowl—except in this case the fish are outside the bowl and you are inside it. The park's wildlife walk trails lead you to excellent manatee, alligator, and other animal programs. Among the species are bobcats, a western cougar, white-tailed deer, a black bear, pelicans, herons, snowy egrets, river otters, whooping cranes, and even a hippopotamus named Lu, a keepsake from the park's days as an exotic-animal attraction. Boat cruises on Pepper Creek lead you to the Homosassa wildlife park (which takes its name from a Creek word meaning "place where wild peppers grow").
4150 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa Springs, Florida, 34446, USA352-628–5343Sight Details
Rate Includes: $13, Daily 9–5:30; last boat departs at 3:15 -
7. Fort De Soto Park
Spread over five small islands, 1,136-acre Fort De Soto Park lies at the mouth of Tampa Bay. It has 7 miles of waterfront (much of...
Spread over five small islands, 1,136-acre Fort De Soto Park lies at the mouth of Tampa Bay. It has 7 miles of waterfront (much of it beach), two fishing piers, a 4-mile hiking, cycling, and skating trail, picnic-and-camping grounds, and a historic fort that kids of any age can explore. For those traveling with their canine family members, there is a long and popular dog beach just north of the main fishing pier. Its namesake fort was built on the southern end of Mullet Key to protect sea lanes in the Gulf during the Spanish-American War. Roam the fort or wander the beaches of any of the islands within the park. Kayaks and beach cruisers are available for rental, and mementos can be found at a souvenir shop/grill on the park's north side.
3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, Florida, 33715, USA727-582–2100Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Beaches, daily sunrise–sunset; fishing and boat ramp, 24 hrs -
8. Giraffe Ranch
Rural Dade City is known mostly for its strawberries, but word is quickly spreading about something else that makes people flock here: giraffes. These graceful...
Rural Dade City is known mostly for its strawberries, but word is quickly spreading about something else that makes people flock here: giraffes. These graceful creatures are the headliners at this nearly 50-acre ranch. You can view them as part of a tour in a safari-style vehicle, on the back of a camel or flanked by a llama, or on a Segway; on any tour, you get to hand-feed them cabbage leaves. You'll also see tons of zebras, a pair of pygmy hippos, a giant porcupine, ostriches, and many other animal species roaming the grounds. Near the ranch's welcome center and gift shop is a corral of enclosures where you can watch guinea pigs chomp on sweet-potato chunks, hold a baby goat, (for a little extra cash) feed a flock of resident lemurs or bongo cattle, or watch a group of otters. You can also feed and help bathe a pair of rhinos. The ranch's proprietors have encyclopedic knowledge of the animal kingdom, and the overall experience is meant to impart a sense of connection to the animal world—and the environment—on those who visit. Tours, which start at 11 am and 2 pm, take about 1½ hours, and reservations are required. Credit cards are not accepted.
38650 Mickler Rd., Dade City, Florida, 33523, USA813-482–3400Sight Details
Rate Includes: $150 for tour in safari van; $239 for tour by camelback; $239 by Segway; $239 for a llama trek, Tues.–Sun. at 11 am and 2 pm, by reservation only -
9. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Administered by Florida State University, the museum encompasses the entire Ringling estate, far more than just the art museum; there's also the Tibbals Learning Center...
Administered by Florida State University, the museum encompasses the entire Ringling estate, far more than just the art museum; there's also the Tibbals Learning Center and Circus Museums as well as Ca' d'Zan Mansion, the original Ringling home, and its expansive gardens. The entire compound covers 20 waterfront acres and also has the Historic Asolo Theater, restaurants, and a research library. The Art Museum was a dream long in the making for John Ringling (of Ringling Brothers fame). Finally finished in 1931 after setbacks including a land bust and the death of his wife, Mable, this enormous museum was originally built to house Ringling's mind-blowingly expansive art collection. You'll find works ranging from Indian doorways elaborately carved with Jain deities to opalescent baroque paintings from the likes of Rubens. There seems to be an endless number of rooms, themselves decorated in an appropriately gorgeous manner, housing these masterpieces. Contemporary art—both visiting and permanent exhibits—has dedicated space here, as do rotating exhibits from the museum's permanent photography collection. A newer wing, with its facade of jade-tinged terra-cotta, houses ancient and contemporary works of Asian art. The museum's exit opens out into an enormous courtyard, over which a towering replica statue of David presides, flanked by royal palms. Circus magnate John Ringling's grand home, Ca' d'Zan, which was built along Sarasota Bay, was patterned after the Doge's Palace in Venice. This exquisite mansion of 32 rooms, 15 bathrooms, and a 61-foot Belvedere Tower was completed in 1925, and today is the crowning jewel at the site of the Ringling estate. Its 8,000-square-foot terrace overlooks the dock where Ringling's wife, Mable, moored her gondola. Mansion tours occur on the hour and last for a half hour. If you don't want a guided tour, show up on the half hour for a self-guided tour. Allot some extra time to wander around in Mable Ringling's Rose Garden, a lush labyrinth surrounded by towering banyans and full of rare roses and haunting statues. The Circus Museum offers a colorful glimpse into a most wondrous element of a bygone era: the traveling circus. The center focuses on the history of the American circus and the collection of Howard Tibbals, master model builder, who spent 40 years building the world's largest miniature circus. Perhaps the center's main attraction, this impressive to-scale replica of the circa 1920s and '30s Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an astonishingly accurate portrayal of a circus coming through town—the number of pancakes the circus cooks are flipping, the exact likenesses and costumes of the performers, the correct names of the animals marked on the miniature mess buckets—you name it. Tibbals's passion to re-create every exact detail continues in his on-site workshop, where kids can ask him questions and watch him carving animals and intricate wagons. If you're looking for clown noses, ringmaster hats, and circus-themed T-shirts, don't leave before checking out the Ringling Museum of Art Store. The Historic Asolo Theater is also on the estate grounds and is home to the Asolo Repertory Company.
5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, Florida, 34243, USA941-359–5700Sight Details
Rate Includes: $25 (art museum only free Mon.); $20 Ca d\'Zan docent tours, Grounds daily 9:30–6; museums and mansion daily 10–5 (until 8 Thurs.) -
10. Pass-a-Grille Beach
At the southern tip of St. Pete Beach (past the Don Cesar), this is the epitome of Old Florida. One of the most popular beaches...
At the southern tip of St. Pete Beach (past the Don Cesar), this is the epitome of Old Florida. One of the most popular beaches in the area, it skirts the west end of charming, historic Pass-a-Grille, a neighborhood that draws tourists and locals alike with its stylish yet low-key mom-and-pop motels and restaurants. There's a sunset celebration each night at a pavilion/snack shop on the stretch of beach between the ends of 9th and 10th Avenues. On weekends check out the Art Mart, an open-air market showcasing the work of local artists. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; windsurfing.
1000 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, Florida, 33706, USA -
11. Siesta Key Beach
With 40 acres of nature trails, this park is popular; you'll find tons of amenities. This beach has fine, powdery quartz sand that squeaks under...
With 40 acres of nature trails, this park is popular; you'll find tons of amenities. This beach has fine, powdery quartz sand that squeaks under your feet, very much like the sand along the state's northwestern coast. Don't forget to bring a volleyball—or a tennis racket. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; swimming; walking.
946 Beach Rd., Siesta Key, Florida, 34242, USA -
12. St. Pete Pier
DowntownDowntown St. Pete's waterfront is abuzz with activity now that its 26-acre entertainment district has opened, complete with a beach, walking trails, restaurants, a snazzy...
Downtown St. Pete's waterfront is abuzz with activity now that its 26-acre entertainment district has opened, complete with a beach, walking trails, restaurants, a snazzy rooftop bar, weekend marketplace, and plenty of family-friendly areas. Open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 11 pm, it's the perfect spot to end a day over drinks, bites, and a sunset, or start one with a stroll along the bay. It was a long-awaited addition that was millions of dollars and a decade in the making. Highlights include the Spa Beach (finally, no need to drive to the Gulf side!), shady Coastal Thicket path, the Marketplace showcasing locally crafted goods, Waterfront Walk, and Splash Pad water park for kids. Seek out the jawdropping art installation, the suspended, ever-changing "Bending Arc" by Tampa Bay native Janet Echelman, and learn about marine life at the hands-on Discovery Center. Dine at the fine restaurant Teak, which boasts views of Tampa Bay and the St. Pete skyline, and catch a sunset at Pier Teaki, a modern tiki bar on the roof. Best of all, it's all just a five-minute walk to the renowned Museum of Fine Arts.
600 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA -
13. Sunset Beach
A peninsula that's technically part of Treasure Island, this 2-mile-long outcrop is one of Tampa Bay's best-kept secrets. The northern end has a mixed crowd—from...
A peninsula that's technically part of Treasure Island, this 2-mile-long outcrop is one of Tampa Bay's best-kept secrets. The northern end has a mixed crowd—from bikers to spring breakers, the middle portion is good for families (there's a pavilion and playground at around 78th and West Gulf Boulevard), and the southern tip attracts the LGBTQ crowd. Surfers hit up Sunset Beach on the rare occasion that the Gulf has some swells to offer. Once you turn onto West Gulf, you can find multiple paid parking lots. There are several pay lots starting to your right just south of 82nd Avenue. But if you would rather take advantage of the abundant street parking on the neighborhood's side streets, make sure you park legally—it's all too easy to unwittingly get a parking ticket here. Amenities: parking; toilets. Best for: partiers; solitude; sunset.
9000 W. Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, Florida, USA -
14. The Dalí Museum
Inside and out, the waterfront Dalí Museum, which opened on 1/11/11 (Dalí is said to have been into numerology), is almost as remarkable as the...
Inside and out, the waterfront Dalí Museum, which opened on 1/11/11 (Dalí is said to have been into numerology), is almost as remarkable as the Spanish surrealist's work. The state-of-the-art building incorporates a surreal geodesic glass structure called the Enigma, as well as an outdoor labyrinth and a DNA-inspired spiral staircase leading up to the collection. And all this even before you've seen the collection, which is one of the most comprehensive of its kind—courtesy of Ohio magnate A. Reynolds Morse, a friend of Dalí's. Here you can scope out his early impressionistic works and see how the painter evolved into the visionary he's now seen to be. The mind-expanding paintings in this downtown headliner include Eggs on the Plate without the Plate, The Hallucinogenic Toreador, and more than 90 other oils. You'll also discover more than 2,000 additional works including watercolors, drawings, sculptures, photographs, and objets d'art. The museum also hosts temporary collections from the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. Free hour-long tours are led by well-informed docents.
1 Dalí Blvd., St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA727-823–3767Sight Details
Rate Includes: $25, parking $10, All days 10–5:30, except Thurs. 10–8 -
15. TreeUmph! Adventure Course
Daredevils of all ages will love this collection of aerial ropes courses and ziplines. Those who partake will traverse swinging bridges, Tarzan ropes, treacherous hanging...
Daredevils of all ages will love this collection of aerial ropes courses and ziplines. Those who partake will traverse swinging bridges, Tarzan ropes, treacherous hanging nets, and other obstacles suspended high in the air between the tall trees here, not to mention the many ziplines at the end of each set of obstacles. Adrenaline will flow more than once during this half-day adventure, but cautious parents need not worry; everyone is secured in a harness, and staff require everyone to demonstrate that they understand the park's many rules by watching a safety video and traversing a small demo course. There's a course that's just for small kids aged 7–12, but most can test their bravery on the five main courses, which get progressively more difficult (culminating in the ultratough Summit Course; most people don't get that far). At the end, everyone, regardless of whether they finished, can partake in a 650-foot-long zipline that starts at 60 feet high and offers spectacular views (the only way to get there is to climb a series of ladders). Check the weather before you go. If there's lightning within a small radius, staff has to ground you for at least half an hour, and the clock gets set back every time there's a nearby strike.
21805 E. State Rd. 70, Bradenton, Florida, 34211, USA941-322–2130Sight Details
Rate Includes: $56, Closed Tues. and Wed -
16. Adventure Island
Central TampaFrom spring until fall, Busch Gardens' water park promises heat relief with rides like Vanish Point, Aruba Tuba, and Caribbean Corkscrew. Tampa's most popular "wet"...
From spring until fall, Busch Gardens' water park promises heat relief with rides like Vanish Point, Aruba Tuba, and Caribbean Corkscrew. Tampa's most popular "wet" park features waterslides and artificial wave pools, along with tranquil "beaches" in a 30-acre package. Try Colossal Curl, a massive thrill ride that's the tallest waterslide in the park. Another of the attraction's headliners, Riptide, challenges you to race three other riders on a sliding mat through twisting tubes and hairpin turns. Planners of this park also took the younger kids into account, with offerings such as Fabian's Funport, which has a scaled-down pool and interactive water gym. Along with a volleyball complex and a rambling river, there are cafés, snack bars, picnic and sunbathing areas, changing rooms, and private cabanas. Good discounts are offered on the park's website.
10001 N. McKinley Dr., Tampa, Florida, 33612, USA813-884–4386Sight Details
Rate Includes: From $64 (online $43); parking $25, Closed Nov.–Feb., Mid-Mar.–Aug., daily 10–5; Sept. and Oct., weekends only 10–5 -
17. Anna Maria Bayfront Park
This narrow yet secluded beach fronts Tampa Bay at Passage Key Inlet and the Gulf of Mexico. It's also situated between two fishing piers. Don't...
This narrow yet secluded beach fronts Tampa Bay at Passage Key Inlet and the Gulf of Mexico. It's also situated between two fishing piers. Don't forget to bring the picnic gear to this unforgettably scenic stretch of shoreline. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunset.
310 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, Florida, 34216, USA941-742–5923 -
18. Beach Drive
Just a short stroll from the Vinoy, this upscale stretch along downtown's waterfront is the epicenter of St. Pete's cultural revival and serves as the...
Just a short stroll from the Vinoy, this upscale stretch along downtown's waterfront is the epicenter of St. Pete's cultural revival and serves as the city's restaurant row. Tons of pricey alfresco eateries and shops line the east side of this blocks-long promenade, giving it a European feel. Standouts include the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art and Bella Brava. Dazzling waterfront parks, which are often packed during the area's many weekend festivals, flank the drive's west side.
Beach Dr., St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701, USA -
19. Blind Pass Beach
This is a good beach for nature lovers and a great spot if you are looking for a tranquil stretch of beach. The park contains...
This is a good beach for nature lovers and a great spot if you are looking for a tranquil stretch of beach. The park contains about 60 acres of Gulf-to-bay land. If you're up for a hike, check out the short nature trail on-site, and keep an eye out for the Hermitage House, one of the oldest structures in the area. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming.
6725 Manasota Key Rd., Manasota Key, Florida, 34223, USA -
20. Bradenton Riverwalk
Overlooking the Manatee River, this 1.5-mile path connects downtown Bradenton attractions to the waterfront. The path spans the Green and Desoto bridges and offers various...
Overlooking the Manatee River, this 1.5-mile path connects downtown Bradenton attractions to the waterfront. The path spans the Green and Desoto bridges and offers various activities, including a splash fountain, a skate park, a canoe and kayak launch, a beach volleyball court, a fishing pier, outdoor seating, and a 20-slip day dock. Various groups use the outdoor amphitheater for special events, and musical and theatrical performances. An eastward expansion of the Bradenton Riverwalk is planned.
452 3rd Ave., Bradenton, Florida, 34206, USA
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