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Traveling to Tampa?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Tampa.

Tampa travel provides an endless array of family-friendly activities. It is located about an hour from Disney World, so it is definitely a tourist hub! There is so much to do that you will likely be looking for an excuse to revisit this fun-filled city, just to check all of the exciting attractions off your list! You don’t need to wonder what to do in Tampa because we’ve got you covered! Start with some of our favorite family activities taking place in Downtown Tampa and the Tampa Bay area!

Tampa’s Glazer Children’s Museum

Boy Watching Ball At The Tampa Glazer Children'S Museum
image courtesy of Glazer Children’s Museum

You can never go wrong with a trip to the local children’s museum for a day guaranteed to please the little ones! Tampa’s Glazer Children’s Museum, is an interactive, family-friendly exploration paradise! Let your child’s imagination run wild at any of the amazing exhibits, such as the Engineers’ Workshop where they can tap into their inventor side, and create buildings with blocks and giant LEGOS. Check out the Firehouse where kids can dress up like firefighters, simulate driving a firetruck, and slide down the fireman’s pole.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Riding Roller Coaster At Busch Gardens
image courtesy of Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens is at the top of Tampa’s most popular tourist attractions, and with good reason! This Africa-Inspired theme park is spread over 335 acres and boasts 2000 animals, exhibits and rides galore. Hone in on the kid-friendly activities and attractions, such as Sesame Street Safari of Fun, where little ones can enjoy Sesame Street themed rides, a splash zone and even have lunch with their favorite Sesame Street characters! Let your little adventurer explore the Treetop Trails, a 3-story play area with climbing nets, crawl tubes and bridges.

Tampa’s Premier Waterpark: Adventure Island

Adventure Island Waterpark In Tampa
image courtesy of Adventure Island

Adventure Island (Tampa’s premier waterpark) is next to Busch Gardens and makes a great Tampa travel destination. Take advantage of the kid-friendly attractions that are more age appropriate and geared towards the little ones! Check out Endless Surf, which is a 17,000 square foot wave pool with a rolling surf. Splash around in Fabian’s Funport, which features a water-friendly playground, with bubbling springs and jumping jets.

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ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Woman Feeding Rhino At Zootampa
image courtesy of ZooTampa at Lowry Park

If your kids are animal crazy, and can’t get enough of their favorite wildlife friends, swing by ZooTampa at Lowry Park! It’s voted the #1 Family-Friendly Zoo in the country by Parents Magazine, and a five-time winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. This zoo is a must-see! With a focus on endangered and threatened wildlife there are so many incredible animals to see.

Tip: Try to plan your visit around the monthly Toddler Tuesdays where toddlers can enjoy “story time, games, sing-a-long, arts & crafts, and an animal mingle!”

Florida Aquarium in Tampa

Family Looking At Sea Turtle At Florida Aquarium
image courtesy of The Florida Aquarium

Once you’ve had your fill of wildlife, switch gears and head over to the Florida Aquarium where your whole family will marvel at this 250,000 square foot attraction. The kids will love the sea life “exhibits, where they can touch some of the underwater creatures. Don’t forget to pack swim clothes for the little ones and check out the Splash Pad, which features both wet and dry play elements, sandboxes and a designated water play area for toddlers. Grab a casual bite to eat at Cafe Ray, which offers tasty and healthy food selections.

Museum Of Science and Industry

Girl On Ropes Course At Mosi
image courtesy of MOSI

Museum of Science and Industry, known as MOSI, is a science based museum with over 100 interactive and hands-on activities. Check out the Idea Zone which has a new theme every month. It encourages kids to build projects in their makerspace and fab lab! Don’t miss out on the Dinovations Lab, a Jurassic-themed exhibit that explores the world of Paleontology. This is a must-visit Tampa travel experience!

St. Pete Beach

Asian Girl Playing In The Sand At St. Pete Beach

Relax with the family on the idyllic white sand at St. Pete Beach, located within the gulf coast city of St. Petersburg. Its pleasant weather earned it the nickname the “Sunshine City”. If you’re looking for a real Tampa travel treat, stay at one of the St. Petersburg beachfront hotels and you will be mere steps to the beach. Rent a Beach Package from a local Tampa Bay BabyQuip Provider, who will supply you with beach chairs, wagon and even sand toys for the little ones!

Tampa Pirate Water Taxi

Water Taxi

Don’t leave the city without taking a ride on the Pirate Water Taxi. This is a hop-on hop-off tour along the Hillsborough River and Tampa Riverwalk.  Daily tours offer 15 stops along the route at a variety of museums, attractions and restaurants. Guests receive a Pirate Water Taxi wristband which gives families the ability to hop on and off as they choose, and grants them unlimited trips throughout the day. Kids will get a kick out of the captains wearing pirate hats, and kids might even have an opportunity to help steer the boat through the channel. Ahoy matey!

Have you embarked on any fun Tampa travel adventures? If so, let us know your favorite family experiences in Tampa in the comments below! If you have any suggestions or reviews on family friendly hotels, we would love to hear about them too!

Traveling to Tampa?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Tampa.