Adventure Island:
When it is hot, hot, hot what could be better than a 30 acre water park? Adventure Island is affiliated with Busch Gardens and offers everything from giant slides and waterfalls to a wave pool, rambling river and mini beaches.
1001 N. McKinley Drive, Tampa
888-800-5447
www.adventureisland.com
Airheads Indoor Trampoline Arena
AirHeads Trampoline Arena is the premier destination for airborne amusement. Daily open-jump sessions require no reservations, allowing gravity-loathers to launch themselves skyward at the drop of a hat. Simply strap on the helmet and jumping shoes provided
by AirHeads and you're ready for an hour of aerial cardio action.
12401 Belcher Road, Largo
727-569-JUMP
www.airheadsusa.com
Amphibious Tour
Check out the wild and crazy ride on the ducks. This is the ultimate chitty-chitty-bang- bang tour! The tour will take you on a ride down the beaches of Madeira, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach. Once on St. Pete Beach you will SPLASH into the water and ride
back to Madeira Beach by water. You will spend about 30 minutes on land and almost an hour on the water. View waterfront homes, dolphins, birds and other wildlife.
727-391-7433
www.stpeteducktours.com
Busch Gardens
From heart-stopping roller coasters to water rides that promise to soak you head to toe, Busch Gardens is the place for thrill seekers. SheiKra drops 200 feet straight down. Gwazi is a blur at speeds up to 100 miles an hour. This wonderful park also features
amazing animal exhibits, a bird aviary, the park’s Skyride and more.
10165 North McKinley Drive, Tampa
888-800-5447
www.buschgardens.com
Caldesi Island
One of Florida’s few remaining undeveloped barrier islands, Caladesi Island State Park is rich with beauty and tranquility. Warm breezes rifle through lone palms and patches of sea oats. Shore birds call above the crystal waters. You get the picture.
1 Causeway Boulevard, Dunedin
727-469-5918
www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland
Chihuly Collection
The Chihuly Collection is a stunning permanent collection of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s unique artwork in a magnificent 10,000 square foot setting. The Collection is located on the city’s waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, within walking distance
to the Museum of Fine arts, a multitude of galleries, restaurants and shops, and the Dali Museum.
400 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg
727-822-7872
www.moreanartscenter.org
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Home of “Winter” the famous dolphin with a prosthetic tail whose story is told in Dolphin Tale, a movie starring harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. Visit the aquarium to see rescued dolphins and sea turtles.
249 Windward Passage, Clearwater
727-441-1790
www.seewinter.com
Dali Museum
The new Dali Museum is one of a kind. Dali’s art, at once classically-based and provocatively imaginative, resonates in the geometry of the concrete and astonishing flow of glass from the fractured center of the building. The Dali museum is iconic and a beacon
of the arts scene in downtown St. Petersburg.
One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg
727-823-3767
www.thedali.org
Dolphins
It doesn’t matter how many times you have seen dolphins, dolphin sightings always leave you in awe. Why take your chance on a random sighting when many local charters practically guarantee it. Take a walk to John’s Pass Village to catch a ride.
Florida Botanical Gardens
This 120 acre county owned park has 30 acres of botanical gardens and 90 acres left natural, where you can spot Bald Eagles and other wildlife. The gardens are both recreational and educational.
12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo
727-582-2100
www.flbg.com
Fort Desoto Park
America’s Number 1 beach in 2005 and 2009. Whether you are sitting on the beach, kayaking near the still water’s edge, bicycling or rollerblading on the trails, touring the fort you will find yourself absorbed in the abundance of natural beauty as far as the
eye can see. Shaded picnic areas and playgrounds. Watch out for the raccoons! This is a must see.
www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_Desorto.htm
Great Explorations’ Children’s Museum
This small children’s museum is the perfect outing for young children. They can dress up in child-size firefighter jackets and boots, sit in a big fire truck and slide down the fire pole. There is also a giant tree house for climbing and traveling exhibits
from other children’s museums around the country.
1925 4 Street N., St. Petersburg
727-821-8992
www.greatexplorations.org
John’s Pass Village
A Village of Delight. Located ½ mile north of Sunset Vista. Restaurants like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Hooters, Skulley’s and the Naked Tchsostik are just a few. Hubbard’s marina offers cruises to see dolphins and sunsets. If you want something more adventurous
like parasailing or Jet Ski rentals there are more places than we can list. Don’t forget about the Pirate Ship. During the two hour cruises on a replica pirate ship, kids can get their faces painted, search for treasure and engage in water-gun battles while
adults swill free drinks. There is a sunset cruise option.
www.johnspass.com
Lowry Park Zoo
Take a safari to one of the top zoos in the United States. There are 56 acres of natural habitat for elephants, leopards, hippos, tigers and primates. You can also see kookaburras, manatees, warthogs and koalas, pet the rays and watch as the toucans and other
colorful birds fly overhead in the rain forest aviary.
1101 W. Slight Ave, Tampa
813-935-8552
www.lowryparkzoo.com
Raymond James Stadium
Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of South Florida football team and the New Year’s Day college game, the Outback Bowl. The stadium has hosted the Super Bowl four times. One of its most striking features is the pirate ship with a cannon that fires
when the Buccaneers score a field goal or touchdown.
4201 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
813-350-6500
www.raymondjamesstadium.org
Shelling
Shell Key Preserve. Named one of the state’s most important birding sites by Audubon of Florida, this undeveloped barrier island is known for excellent shelling and bird watching. Shell Key Preserve was established to protect the island as a nesting site and
continues to allow its use as a recreational destination. Numerous boats offer sightseeing, sunbathing and dolphin watching.
www.shellkey.org
Steinbrenner Field
Formerly known as Legends Field, is the home of the New York Yankees spring training and the Tampa Yankees. The stadium can hold up to 11,000 fans and has 24 luxury suites. When the team is away, the stadium also host special events and concerts.
3802 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tampa
813-879-2244
www.steinbrennerfield.com
St. Pete Times Forum
Downtown Tampa’s arena is the place to see the Tampa Bay Lightning national hockey team, as well as college and professional basketball, concerts and special events.
401 Channelside Drive, Tampa
813-301-6500
www.stpetetimesforum.com
Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
Dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of injured birds, this prominent avian hospital sees thousands of “patients” annually. Various wild creatures, from son birds to raptors, are treated, most of which are released-yet hundreds of permanently injured birds
live in this beachfront sanctuary. As many as 500 patients can occupy the hospital at a time. Birds you may encounter include herons, egrets, cormorants, seagulls, and the like.
18328 Gulf Boulevard, Indian Shores
727-391-6211
Sunken Gardens
This historic, miniature botanical garden has four acres of 50,000 mature plants from around the world, along with an enclosed butterfly garden and a flamingo exhibit. Before the city acquired it, Sunken Gardens was a showpiece 1950-era quaint Florida road
side attraction.
1825 4 Street N, St. Petersburg
727-551-3102
www.stpete.org/sunken
The Florida Aquarium
Dive with the sharks, swim in the coral reef and watch the penguin parade. You’ll also see alligators, river otters, sea dragons, and an enormous 200 pound Goliath Grouper in the various galleries. Outside, kids can play in the water slides and geysers and
climb the pirate ship.
701 Channelside Drive
www.flaquarium.org
Tropicana Field
Home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The facility has many unique features, including an artificial surface and all-dirt base paths, and a 10,000 gallon tank with 30 live cownose rays that fans can reach in and touch. The city owned venue also features the Ted Williams
Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame and year round special events.
1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg
727-825-3250
www.mlb.mlb.com/tb/ballpark/index.jsp