Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around Tampa - 2020

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is a 63-acre nonprofit zoo located in Tampa, Florida.

Cracker Country is a rural Florida living history museum. You won't just see history, as your experiences unfold before you you'll feel like you've become part of the past. It's a great place to create memories that will last a lifetime with your children or grandchildren. Cracker Country is open during the Florida State Fair, selected Saturdays throughout the fall, and for school programs and private tours by reservation only.

Of course, the libraries in the Tampa area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them to the list of the best places to take kids this year!

Westchase Pump It Up is the premiere children's party facility in Tampa. Parties are private, w/packages for 10, 15 or 25 kids w/basic to all inclusive options. Kids have tons of fun on 7 different inflatables, 100 plus blocks, & digital floor w/35 games.

A non-profit marine animal hospital dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine animals. It is also home to Dolphin Tale stars, Winter and Hope!

As a top-rated 4-star charity, the Tampa YMCA is more than a place to work out — it’s a place of community. Members don’t just get unlimited use of wellness centers, heated pools & 50+ different group fitness classes, they get access to a Stay & Play for kids to learn & play; splash pads & water parks for the whole family; and free family events. The Y also offers camp, afterschool care, youth sports and swim lessons. The Tampa Y motivates kids and teens to succeed in school and in life, prevents drowning and helps community members get healthier. No other local organization offers the wide array of programs and services like the Tampa YMCA.

The Tampa Bay History Center includes three floors of permanent and temporary exhibition space focusing on 12,000 years of Florida history. It is one of Tampa’s premier cultural venues. The History Center’s hands-on, kid-friendly activities, together with cutting-edge interactive exhibits provide a unique educational experience.

A catapult for the imagination since 1926, the nonprofit Tampa Theatre is a passionately protected historic landmark and one of America’s best-preserved examples of grand movie palace architecture. Its mission is to protect, preserve and program the Theatre as a creative film and cultural center for our community.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village welcomes families and groups for self-guided tours or guided tours with advance notice. The museum has many buildings and displays mainly representing the 1800’s through 1945. Throughout the year, the museum puts on festivals and special events: Scarecrow Festival, Country Christmas & Vintage Market, Living History events, Raising Cane, A sweet and spicy event (Cane Syrup Competition and a Chili Cook-off), Farm Fest & Quilt Show, and a Jelly Bean Fling. The museum is dedicated to historic preservation and education. During each special event, museum buildings have docents in period clothing, traditional craft demonstrations, vendors, children’s activities, live entertainment and great food.

Great Explorations Children’s Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has served the children and families of the Tampa Bay area since 1987. Designed for children 10 and under, the 24,000 square foot museum is filled with exhibits and activities to stimulate learning through creativity, play and exploration. The museum is a learning playground where children can make a discovery, make a mess, and even make a new friend.

Located on the bank of the historic Hillsborough River, the Straz Center serves as a cultural crossroads, bringing innovative new artists and blockbuster commercial successes to the Tampa Bay community. With its award-winning outreach programs that take the arts to underserved school children and the only accredited performing arts school in the region, the Patel Conservatory, the Straz Center also nurtures the creative spark and transforms lives.