Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around Tampa
Every summer, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. This page is where we showcase the 2024 list of winners for the area. (Click here for the full list of nominees.)
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area! After checking out the winners below: Explore KidsOutAndAbout's lists for lots more ideas: Check out our packed calendar of events, visit our Everything That's Free page, and sign up for our free weekly newsletter that will tell you everything you need to know so you can make plans to experience all of the Tampa area's family-friendly hidden gems.
2024's Top 20 ranking + category winners! Scroll down for more about each venue, with links!
| 1. ZooTampa at Lowry Park 2. Florida Aquarium 3. Busch Gardens 4. Glazer Children's Museum 5. Cracker Country Rural Florida Living History Museum 6. Pioneer Florida Museum and Village 7. Museum of Science and Industry 8. Bounce House Place 9. Adventure Island 10. Clearwater Marine Aquarium 11. My Local Library 12. Altitude Trampoline Park 13. Imagine Museum 14. Playgrounds of Tampa 15. Florida Railroad Museum 16. Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center 17. Seaside Seabird Sanctuary 18. Ruskin Family Drive-In 19. YMCA - Tampa Metropolitan Area 20. Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg |
Arts Education: Straz Center for the Performing Arts Sports Education: Premier Martial Arts - Seminole STEM Education: Florida Aquarium |
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1. ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo is a 63-acre nonprofit zoo located in Tampa, Florida.
2. Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)3 non-profit facility that aims to engage people through education, entertainment, conservation and research to inspire stewardship of our natural environment.
3. Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, offering over 300 acres of exploration including a unique blend of thrilling rides, one of the country's premier zoos and exciting seasonal events all year.
4. Glazer Children's Museum
There’s something new to discover with each visit to Glazer Children's Museum! Play pretend in your favorite signature exhibit and discover new worlds in visiting exhibits. Create and connect as a family with seasonal Family Play Projects, cozy up for storytime with Team GCM, get your giggles out during spontaneous play activities, and celebrate your day of play in the Ring Out the Day Parade.
5. Cracker Country Rural Florida Living History Museum
At Cracker Country, 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.
6. Pioneer Florida Museum and Village
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 (Cane Syrup Competition), Farm Fest & Quilt Show, Cracker Cowboy Day and a Jelly Bean Fling (Spring Festival). 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.
7. Museum of Science and Industry
Get hands-on in Tampa's iconic science center where curious minds can explore space science, weather, engineering, physics, the human body, and more. Become and aspiring astronaut in Mission Moonbase or let your creativity run wild in Idea Zone, where anyone can design and engineer hands-on STEAM projects. Learn about the Jurassic Period and see our 30-foot tall Diplodocus in Dinovations Lab. Immerse your senses on the Virtual Reality Simulator ride, discover the night sky in the Saunders Planetarium or head outside to experience an adrenaline rush like no other on the Sky Trail Ropes Course. Get "STEAMED" at MOSI, where Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math collide!
8. Bounce House Place
Bounce House Place is a spot where your kids would be known by their names. Children love bouncing and we love to make them happy by offering the best inflatable fun around! Bounce House Place is clean and fun full. We have 6 mega bounce rides, a jungle gym, video games, a party place, a play date place, open play times and even more.
9. Adventure Island
Located right across the street from Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, Adventure Island® is Tampa's island paradise, featuring a combination of exhilarating water rides and tropical, tranquil surroundings.
10. Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a non-profit marine animal hospital dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine life. It is the home to non-releasable animals including Hope the Dolphin, star of the Dolphin Tale movies. Each visit goes towards animal care and its conservation and research efforts.
11. My Local Library
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!
12. Altitude Trampoline Park
Altitude Trampoline Park in Tampa is the largest trampoline park in the bay area. It features high energy equipment such as trampolines, a foam pit, a rock climbing wall, and much more entertainment for families, groups, and individuals. Young or old, you're bound to enjoy yourself here at Altitude.
13. Imagine Museum
Our mission is to inspire, uplift, and educate students, professionals, and life-long learners. The Imagine Museum seeks funding to support its education programs and that provide children, families, and adults opportunities for creative expression and life-long learning. The education programs will allow those from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to participate, while instilling a lifelong love of learning.
14. Playgrounds of Tampa
Playgrounds of Tampa is South Tampa's only indoor bounce house park and coffee lounge catering to both children AND parents. Host a birthday party or enjoy free play during the week. Bounce house rentals are available too. Summer camps in the summer!
15. Florida Railroad Museum
Founded in 1982, the Florida Railroad Museum's mission is to acquire, preserve and operate historic examples of Florida's railroad history. Diesel train excursions operate on Saturdays and Sundays only. Train equipment is not available for public view during the week. Special events are scheduled throughout the year featuring themed train rides. Be sure to check our website before your visit for current train schedules.
16. Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center
The Manatee Viewing Center's mission is to educate the public about the Florida manatee and its habitat. The center is a state and federally designated manatee sanctuary. During the center's open season, Nov. 1 through April 15, displays, interactive exhibits and more teach visitors of all ages about the life cycle of the manatee and the challenges it faces
17. Seaside Seabird Sanctuary
The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and eventual release of sick and injured birds. Located on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida in Indian Shores, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is a Central Florida attraction, and is a destination for tourists from all over the world.
18. Ruskin Family Drive-In
The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre offers great movies, good food, and a family atmosphere. We have a 2,000 square foot screen, clean restrooms, snack bar and clean parking lot. We are open year round, rain or shine, hot or cold, including holidays!
20. Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg
The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida was founded by Margaret Acheson Stuart (1896-1980) and reflects her vision of providing outstanding examples of world art in an inviting, elegant setting.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in six categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Straz Center for the Performing Arts
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.
Top Sports Educator: Premier Martial Arts - Seminole
A fun, modern day, self defense, character development and mixed martial arts curriculum for kids, teens and adult 3 and up. We teach self defense and confidence for today's world! Our members learn goal setting, self defense and mixed martial arts including karate, krav maga, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and taekwondo! We focus each month on certain character traits to achieve "black belt excellence"! Check out how we differ from other mom and pop "dojos"! Your first class is always free!
Top STEM Educator: Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)3 non-profit facility that aims to engage people through education, entertainment, conservation and research to inspire stewardship of our natural environment.
