Tampa Bay has plenty of family friendly activities that will keep young ones amused and occupied, while providing fun for everyone. When visiting the Tampa Bay region make sure to add a few of these adventures to your list.
Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman Road
Apollo Beach, FL 33572
(813) 228-4289
Price: Free
http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/
Hours: Sun to Sat – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving at 3.00 p.m., Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Easter
The Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center opens annually on November 1 and closes on April 15. The warm waters from the electric and solar plant attract manatees during the brief, but colder months. Manatees seek the warmth of the plant’s waters when Tampa’s rivers and estuaries drop below 68 degrees. In addition to the numerous manatees that you may watch from the visitors’ platform, the Viewing Center features butterfly gardens, games, and a hurricane simulator.
Glazer Children’s Museum
110 West Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, Fl 33602
(813) 443-3861
Price: $15.00 adults/$9.50 children 2 and over; children 1 and under are free/$12.50 for seniors and military with valid ID/Free admission for members
http://glazermuseum.org/
Hours: Mon to Friday- 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday- 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s
A family friendly event, the Glazer Children’s Museum features numerous hands on and creative learning experiences. The museum boasts a generous 53,000 square foot design that features activities, programs, and exhibits. As a children’s museum, adults are not allowed entrance unless children accompany them. Likewise, children under the age of 18 must be in the accompaniment of an adult at all times.
Lowry Park Zoo
1101 W Sligh Ave Tahoe
Tampa, FL 33604
(813) 935-8552
Price: $23.95 adults/$18.93 children 3 – 11years old; children 2 and under free/$21.95 seniors
http://www.lowryparkzoo.com
Hours: Sun to Sat – 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rated the top zoo in the nation by Parent’s Magazine, Lowry Park Zoo combines the excitement of wild and exotic animals with hands on activities. Children can feed giraffes, enjoy a camel or llama ride, and pet stingrays. Younger children may enjoy the petting zoo, water play area, and exploring the animal habitats. The Zoo will hold their annual $5.00 day, where everyone enters the zoo at the low price on Sunday, February 19, 2012.
Manatee Tours
2880 N. Seabreeze Point
Crystal river, Fl 34429
(866) 466-2848
Price: $35.00 per person/$10.00 rental wet suit/ $10.00 rental snorkel gear/ Children under 2 free/ Only 6 people allowed per trip
http://www.nativevacations.com/manatee_tours.html
Hours: Sun to Sat – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m 3 hour tour.; 11:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. 3 hour tour (tours may run over or start late)
Numerous manatees call the waters of Florida home and the Manatee Tours of Crystal River allows visitors to swim with these friendly giants. You may rent snorkel equipment and scuba gear or stay on the boat and watch manatees frolic in the water along with dolphins. Native Vacations hosts the three hour manatee tours and provides additional offers as well. Other activities include scalloping airboat rides, dolphin watching, private manatee tours, kayaking and fishing trips, and golfing activities.
Fossil Hunting
4202 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, Fl 33620
(772) 539-7005
Price: $85.00 adults/$60.00 children
http://www.paleodiscoveries.com/
Hours: Vary you must call ahead
Florida is a haven for fossil hunting and children can get their hands in archaeology by participating in a professionally guided fossil hunt. Expeditions travel to some of Florida’s hot spots for fossisl digs including Peace River, Vero Beach, Aracadia, Zolfo Springs, and Gainesville. Fossil hunting tours are approximately 5-6 hours, not including travel time. Paleo Discoveries provides the equipment for those fossil hunting. Children are allowed to keep the fossils they find.