Tampa Bay Area Attractions
One thing is for sure, the Tampa Bay area has an abundance of different things to do for
individuals, families, sports fans, outdoor lovers, and more. Theme parks, museums, theaters,
and other places that are open daily for your enjoyment open up a variety of opportunities for fun,
learning and entertainment. Keeping up on the changing area calendars of events can provide a new
and exciting change from the ordinary with shows, musical venues, special performances and local
gatherings. From downtown to the beaches and all the local areas in between, you are sure
to find something to spark your interest. Here are just a few places and links you may want
to explore and add to your list of ongoing “things to see and do”, but please be aware, you
may find that your list grows faster than the time it will take to visit them all!
Theme parks have been growing not only in popularity, but in size too, offering more than just thrill rides
and great food. Shows of all proportions and zoo-like atmospheres with lush landscaping open up an entire
array of activities and awe for the not-so-thrill-seeker as well. This means an entire family or group of friends
can enjoy a day together with more things to do and see for everyone in the group. Annual passes will allow
you to come back and enjoy yourself all year.
Busch Gardens: http://www.buschgardens.com
Weeki Wachee Springs: www.weekiwachee.com
Cypress Gardens: www.cypressgardens.com
Water parks are a great way beat the summer heat and offer thrill rides with a splash as well as relaxing lazy rivers
and wading pools that will cool you off just the same. It is like a beach with a twist... or two or three. And like
the theme parks, water parks sell season passes that are available during their operating months for you to come
day after day if you wish.
Adventure Island: http://www.4adventure.com
Buccaneer Bay: www.weekiwachee.com
Beaches and Parks provide many opportunities for family gatherings, relaxation, viewing wildlife and water sports. Many beaches,
such as Clearwater's Pier 60 and the St. Pete Pier, have evening entertainment each night, spectacular restaurants, as well as
annual events that residents look forward to taking part in year after year.
Clearwater Beach Pier 60: http://www.sunsetsatpier60.com/
St. Petersburg Pier: http://www.stpete-pier.com/
Museums, Zoos and Aquariums are a great way to expand your mind and get out of the Florida heat into some cool
air conditioning as well! History, art, aquatics, and science are explored through a variety of genres and provide some
situations to view remarkable works of art, explore the lives of interesting fish and wildlife, and experience some hands
on opportunities for those young and old.
The Florida Aquarium: http://www.flaquarium.org/
The Lowry Park Zoo: http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/
Museum of Science and Industry: www.mosi.org/
Tampa Bay History Center: www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/
Florida International Museum: http://www.floridamuseum.org/
Salvador Dali Museum: http://www.salvadordalimuseum.org/
Florida Holocaust Museum: http://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/
Museum of Fine Arts: http://www.fine-arts.org/
Dinosaur World: http://www.dinoworld.net/
Great Explorations: The Children's Museum: http://www.greatexplorations.org/
If you are a sports fan, well, Tampa Bay may be considered paradise to you. With Major League Baseball, an NFL Football
team with Super Bowl rings, Arena football, a Stanley Cup Champion Ice Hockey team, and much much more, you
may be finding yourself with more sports events than one can handle.
Check out the sports available in the Tampa Bay area:
http://www.lipplyrealestate.com/resources11.php
If a matinée or evening live performance is your idea of a good time, then you have a variety of plays, concerts, musicals,
and other venues to choose from. The Tampa Bay Area, being a major city in the state of Florida, sees most performances
come through the area as they do other major cities in the U.S. So if there is a specific concert or performance you are
hoping to catch, you can be rest assured that they will make a stop in the Tampa area. Local performances are also very
popular and can be seen not only at the major venue halls, but also local restaurants and dinner theaters throughout Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center: http://www.tbpac.org/
St. Pete Times Forum: http://www.sptimesforum.com/
Ford Amphitheatre: http://www.livenation.com/venue/getVenue/venueId/2651
Ruth Eckerd Hall: http://www.rutheckerdhall.com/
Nightlife in Tampa Bay is not just great dining and an evening movie. It is so much more! Channelside and Ybor City
do offer both dining and movies, but there is more than just meets the eye. Whether your evening consists of dancing
the night away, shopping unique stores, or singing along in a piano bar, both of these hot spots have something for you.
A trolley connects Channelside with Ybor City so that you can enjoy both places without having to find a new place to
park. Channelside also provides Tampa with a convenient port with major cruise lines departing each week for an easy
vacation getaway without having to travel hours in the car.
Channelside: http://www.channelside.com/
Ybor City, Centro Ybor: http://www.centroybor.com/
