Looking to get away..but not too far? We’ve got a Central Florida Family Guide, this time we’re headed to Tampa Bay. Jump on I-4 (pray for no traffic) and cruise to the beach. Tampa’s got a rich history as the Cigar Capital and full of Cuban roots. There’s a lot for your family to explore. You can do it in a day or stay for the weekend.
What’s a Quick Trip? After one too many days without a clue of how to keep the kids occupied and ourselves sane, we devised a plan. And Quick Trips were born! We’d hop in the car and find some local Central Florida fun. Each time we’d take a drive to somewhere new (or sometimes not so new!) make a few stops, have lunch, and head home. Adventures could be all day long or just for the morning until nap. Use our local Orlando family guide to fit your schedule and needs.
Central Florida Family Guide: Quick Trip Tampa Bay
The Florida Aquarium 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
Half of our visits to Tampa are so we can visit the aquarium. I love marine life and it’s so special to share this with my kids. The aquarium mimics all of Florida’s aquatic habitats: wetlands, bays, beaches, the coral reef, and more. Plan to spend a few hours exploring the exhibits, seeing the shows, and visiting with the penguins. The Florida Aquarium also recently opened a fantastic splash pad for you to enjoy, weather permitting. Did I mention penguins? Visit the penguin show.
Glazer Children’s Museum 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602
This museum is full of wonders for kids to play with purpose in an interactive learning environment. More than 15 exhibits are waiting for your children including a bank, Publix, cruise ship, firehouse and so much more. Very Florida, and very fun. Your kids will love exploring the museum!
Museum of Science and Industry 4801 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617
Called MOSI for short, this interactive museum is a wonderland for kiddos. A planetarium, NASA mission launch, rollercoaster simulator, and ropes course, are just a few of the more than 100 hands-on exhibits for your family to explore. MOSI is a place for your family to explore and ask questions of our great big world.
Visit Ybor City
Ybor City is a historic district in Tampa, northeast of downtown. It was founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar manufacturers and was populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Cuba, Spain, and Italy. The main plaza in the center of Ybor City, is named “Centro Ybor.” It houses a movie theatre, comedy club, brewery, and many shops and restaurants surround the plaza. Spend the afternoon exploring, shopping, and eating cuban sandwiches.
Arggh Matey, Tampa’s Pirate Culture
Tampa kicks off the year with more parties than you can count. And none larger than Gasparilla, a large pirate festival and parade. The main parade is a bit raucous so a special Children’s parade is held the week before. Gasparilla season runs through April 1. Check out this full line-up of events.
Photo Spots
Historic Central Avenue Postcard Mural 1001 N. Jefferson Street Tampa, FL 33602
Hyde Park Village Roll Doors 744 S Village Cir, Tampa, FL 33606
Eat all the things
If you don’t think more than half the reason we travel is to eat new things…well than I’m not sure you’re catching the vibe of this site. There is so much to eat in Tampa. Here are a few of our suggestions:
Columbia Restaurant: Crazy delicious Cuban food (Yes we know there are multiple locations including Celebration,FL but this is the original yall!) 2117 E. 7th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605
Goody Goody Burgers: Old fashioned style burger and milkshake joint (The wait can be long, place yourself on the waitlist before you go.) 1601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
Mini Doughnut Factory: Customized delicious mini donuts 2109 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33629
Oxford Exchange: Great for coffee, instagram pics, and definitely yummy food (This place is a little upscale and you need a reservation before you go) 420 West Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606
We love bringing you fun local Orlando family guides for you to explore Central Florida. Have an idea for where to go next? Let us know in the comments below. Looking for more adventures? Take a look at all of our Quick Trips.
