Family travel destinations attractions and things to do with kids in tampa

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

KID CITY: This is the ultimate kid museum! Among other fun exhibits, there are 15 model buildings set up like a mini-town, each with its own hands-on activities. Your kids can pretend to be a fire fighter, flip burgers in a restaurant, be a doctor or nurse in a hospital, or have a puppet show in the library. Small tots can explore the Under the Sea play area exhibit where they can expend their energy in a safe, padded environment and have fun. Wednesday mornings the museum offers great tot programs (at an additional charge), where a caring staff member guides parent and children through different weekly educational themes with stories and hands-on activities. If you are on a tight vacation budget, here is a little tip for you: the museum opens at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of every month and offers free admission on a first-come, first-serve basis.

DINOSAUR WORLD: The enchantment begins when you are driving down I-75 and the kids spy a giant, lifelike Tyrannosaurus Rex overlooking the highway. As you walk down the long wooden bridge and into Dinosaur World, you will feel as though you are being transported to another world. You are free to roam a suspended moment in the Jurassic era, where the dinosaurs are frozen in time. Life-sized, realistic looking dinosaur models arranged in natural poses and placed in lush, tropical settings really help the imagination wrap itself around the question, what was it like when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth? Stop at the Boneyard and help excavate a skeleton buried in the sand, or go to the fossil dig where you can find and take home up to three of your own real fossilsC if youre lucky, you might even find an actual dinosaur bone there. There is a wonderful gift shop, picnic areas all over the park, and a large, fenced-in playground with lots of jungle gyms.

HERITAGE VILLAGE: Located right across Tampa Bay in Largos Pinewood Cultural Park, Heritage Village is over 20 acres of history waiting to be explored. 28 historic buildings from the area (mostly from the 19th century) were picked up off their land and transported to this outdoor museum, where they are arranged like a village of times past. They are furnished with period pieces and antiques, and you can explore the homes, old school houses, church, train station, and general store (the most interesting of all!) on your visit. Contact the museum ahead of time to see if any special events or demonstrations will be going on during your stay, such as one of their regular antique shows or folk fair festivals that feature craft merchants and entertainment. Admission is free! There is also a walking path that leads from the village to the Florida Botanic Gardens (also free) and the Gulf Coast Museum of Art (free on Thursdays).

FUN-LAN DRIVE-IN: One of the few remaining operating drive-ins in the United States, Fun-Lan drive-in located in Tampa on East Hillsboro Avenue is open seven nights a week, all year round. There is a snack bar with picnic tables on the premises, or you can bring your own dinner in with you. Sit in your car, bring lawn chairs to lounge next to it, or let the kids take a blanket and climb on the car roof. The price is even better than a regular movieC just $4 per person, with children 9 and under free (and being able to bring your own dinner or snacks adds to the savings). Shows start just after nightfall. If you are movie-lover, but dont have a sitter for your infant or toddler while youre in town, do as my wife and I do: put them in their PJs, bring blankets, pillows, snacks, toys, and flashlights, and let the kids camp out and fall asleep in the back seat. You can sit in the front and watch your movie, the kids will be happy and comfortable, and you wont have to worry about the kids disturbing anyone during the show.

LOWRY PARK ZOO: Lowry Park was recently elected Child Magazines #1 zoo in the United States for kids. It houses more than 1,500 animals. There are several interactive exhibits in which you can get close enough to touch animals, from sting rays to kangaroos. Educational and entertaining shows are featured throughout the day. Dont miss the jungle carousel, where you can ride a model of your favorite zoo animal. Some animals not to miss: the playful otters, the exquisite Florida Panther, the funny chimps and the majestic Bald Eagles.

CELEBRATION STATION: Dont bother blowing a bundle on Bush Gardens, Universal Studios or Disney World. This fun family amusement park will satisfy any parent or child. Go-carts, lots of rides for children of all ages, and a fabulous arcade right in the heart of Tampa on Palm River Road. Youll also find Laser Tag and an 18-hole mini-golf course. If there is one ride you cant miss, its the Bumper Boats; you cant help but laugh when your little round tube boat gets knocked back and forth in good fun, sending you sloshing around the pool. For lunch there is a great pizza shop that offers meal deals with game tokens.

ADVENTURE ISLAND: This water park is excellent for cooling off in the hot Florida sun. Right next to Tampas Bush Gardens, Adventure Island offers a number of wet and wild attractions for visitors. For those who like to live life in the fast lane, dont mist the Gulf Stream ride. There is nothing between you and this massive slide but the slick water that speeds you down the way. For little ones, Fabians Fun Point offers a tyke-sized water park, with a mini wave wading pool, and jungle gyms to splash around in. There are several eateries to choose from right in the park. The Surfside Caf has great food, but is a little pricey, so if youre budget-conscious you might want to bring a cooler of your own and head for the picnic tables. This park is so huge that even when it is crowded there is plenty of room to splash around. The lines go pretty quickly, even during the park's busy season.

BOYD HILL NATURE PARK: This peaceful preserve is a way to get a glimpse of what Florida looked like before the land was paved over and the tropical forests were replaced by strip malls. It is located in St. Petersburg on the other side of Tampa Bay, over the Howard Franklin Bridge, and is worth the trip for nature lovers. The park contains miles of nature trails and is home to habitats of endangered species, such as the gopher tortoise. A bird watchers paradise, you can catch a glimpse of hawks, herons, egrets, jays, turkey vultures, eagles, and Ive even been luck enough to catch sight of and hear the mating call of a kingfisher. The park is also home to several injured birds of prey (owls, hawks, eagles) that were rescued from the wild and are being cared for and displayed for visitors. Boyd Hill is also a prime spot for butterfly sightings. You can even borrow a pair of binoculars from the visitors desk for your hike.