Explore Tampa
Tampa Riverwalk
Take in the beautiful waterfront views and feel the warm sun along the Tampa Riverwalk. This 2.6-mile walk runs along the Hillsborough River to the Garrison Channel. Start your journey at the bustling Heights Market at Armature Works, stop along at the vibrant Curtis Hixon Park and continue until you reach Sparkman Wharf. Visitors can walk, bike or take a scooter down the Riverwalk where they can stop at one of the many attractions, bars or restaurants. At night, witness the colorful lights that bring the Riverwalk to life.
The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
6-minute drive (1.3 miles)
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday
813.273.4000
Tickets are required
Fun is in the water at The Florida Aquarium, home to a variety of animals from dwarf seahorses to apex predators! Guests are invited on a journey to enjoy species ambassadors from Florida and beyond.
Located in downtown Tampa, there is easy access to Tampa's award-winning Riverwalk, historic Ybor City, Sparkman Wharf, restaurants and more.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa, FL 33604
18-minute drive (6.6 miles)
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday
813.935.8552
$47.95 per adult, $37.95 ages 3 to 11
ZooTampa encompasses 56 acres of naturalistic animal exhibits in a lush, tropical garden setting. The Zoo offers popular educational programming, fun recreational amenities, up-close animal encounters and engaging seasonal events for which it has won accolades as one of the country’s most family-friendly zoos.
Ybor City
10-minute drive (2.5 miles)
Ybor City, once the cigar capital of the world, is a vibrant neighborhood in Tampa boasting an exciting nightlife and delicious food. You can explore the historic district on a walking tour to learn more about the architecture and immigrant history or indulge in a food tour taking you to Latin and soul food restaurants. As the sun sets, the area transforms into a lively entertainment district where you can do a pub crawl, dance the night away or catch some live music.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
10165 McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612
25-minute drive (10.1 miles)
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday
10 a.m. to midnight Thursday
10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday
10 a.m. to midnight Sunday
813.884.4386
Tickets starting at $84.99
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, combining world-class thrill rides, live entertainment and more than 12,000 animals. Challenge a 335-foot drop tower, Falcon's Fury, or race like a cheetah on Cheetah Hunt. Busch Gardens' newest attraction, Cobra's Curse, puts a spin on family thrills with this one-of-a-kind spin coaster.
Henry B. Plant Museum
401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606
6-minute drive (1 Mile)
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
813.254.1891
Tickets start at $12
The Henry B. Plant Museum is housed in the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, the Victorian railroad resort that defined the elegant frontier, now a National Historic Landmark. Unlike most museums dedicated to lifestyles of the past, it contains the actual furnishings enjoyed by the first guests to visit here. The Museum accurately reflects the opulence of turn-of-the-century America and the vision of American transportation pioneer, Henry B. Plant.
Tampa Bay
History Center
801 Water St., Tampa, FL 33602
6-minute walk (0.3 Mile)
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday
813.228.0097
$16.95 per adult, $12.95 per child, children 6 and under are free
Set sail with explorers and pirates in the History Center's Treasure Seekers gallery, journey through the everglades with Florida Seminoles, ride along with a cattle drive and roam the brick streets of Ybor City with immigrant cigar rollers. Located on the Tampa Riverwalk, the Tampa Bay History Center features three floors of interactive exhibits, theaters and displays, a museum store and waterfront dining at the Columbia Cafe.