Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre African-themed animal theme park. It offers many thrilling roller coasters, live entertainment shows, and exotic animal encounters. Visitors can explore the Serengeti Plain and see more than 2,000 animals from around the world.
Adventure Island is a water park with a Key West theme, featuring water slides, tube slides, a wave pool, and other water attractions. Visitors can rent a cabana for a comfortable resting or provide their own food for the picnic area.
The Florida Aquarium offers many exhibits that showcase Florida's aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, bays, lakes, and the ocean. Visitors can see sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, and many other sea creatures. The aquarium also provides opportunities for visitors to get closer to some of its animals through animal encounters and behind-the-scenes tours.
Clearwater Beach is a gorgeous beach with white sand, crystal-clear water, and a variety of activities for families. Visitors can swim, sunbathe, rent jet skis, go parasailing, or take a dolphin-watching cruise. There are also many restaurants and shops in the area.
The Salvador Dali Museum houses the world's largest collection of Dali's works outside Europe. Visitors can see more than 2,000 art pieces, including oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, sculptures, and holograms. The museum also provides guided tours, workshops, and special events.
Lowry Park Zoo is a 56-acre non-profit zoo home to over 1,300 animals and representing over 200 species. It houses popular attractions like a manatee hospital where visitors can learn about rescuing and rehabilitating injured manatees. Optionally, it also provides giraffe feeding experiences where giraffes come very close to visitors.
The Glazer Children's Museum is a Children's Museum with innovative exhibits and interactive activities. Their exhibits range from engineering to textiles to pretend grocery shopping, with several storytelling areas, and natural science exhibits. It welcomes the participation of all ages throughout the family.
Almost all the places can be reached by car, but it's essential to consider parking costs in some attractions. Using ride-hailing apps or public transportation via HART local services, such as the TECO Line Streetcar, might be the best option in some cases. Renting a car might not be a good idea if a person plans to explore specific areas since it might be costly and inconvenient.
Evidently, if a traveler has a hotel in the center, it is possible to use public transport to reach some places or walk around the town. For tight schedules, it may be wise to pre-book a means of transportation such as a taxi or a shuttle from the airport.
If visitors have more time, taking a day to visit St. Petersburg or Ybor City might be a good idea. St. Petersburg is known for its beautiful beaches, restaurants, art galleries, and historic landmarks like the iconic Don Cesar Hotel on St. Pete Beach. Ybor City is known for its Cuban culture, cigars, and murals, making it a perfect spot for a fun walking tour.
On the other hand, visitors might want to skip some of the oldest and tiniest northern areas of Tampa like Sulphur Springs or Forest Hills. People who enjoy museums or theatrical shows may want to look around for more opportunities since Tampa is abundant with galleries and performance centers.
Tampa International Airport with the airport code TPA serves Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. It is 9.8 miles east of downtown Tampa and roughly 18 minutes without traffic (depending on a visitor's accommodation location).