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July 20, 2021
Let’s start busting the boredom and head out to explore all of the FUN things to do in Tampa Bay as a family!
There are so many things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend with the kids–as usual, the hard part will be deciding WHICH events to attend.
We’re sharing some of our top picks of things to do along with these favorite trending stories:
There’s a lot on our list of things to do, so keep scrolling! It starts with this weekend’s top picks and then we’re sharing even more categories like What’s NEW in Tampa Bay, Water Parks, and more ideas!
Root, root, root for the home team! The Tampa Bay Rays have several home games at Tropicana Field. There are home games on schedule this week July 19, 20, and 21. You can purchase single game tickets here.
Kick off the 2021 Summer Olympics by playing in the Kid Olympics at Great Ex! On Friday 7/23, Saturday 7/24, and Sunday 7/25, kids can participate in a variety of games and activities, including flamingo ring toss, a hula hoop contest, and more! Included with the cost of admission. Learn more here.
If you’re family is a fan of anime, Metro Con might be a fun spot to visit this weekend! There will be celebrity guests, a human chess match, cosplay to people watch, video games and more. Explore what else to expect at this year’s event here.
Get face-to-face with Florida history during Living History Saturdays! Each month, a living historian will tell stories, show artifacts and give a short presentation on a different Florida-related theme. tampabayhistorycenter.org
Daniel Tiger will be making special appearances throughout the day at Glazer Children’s Museum so it’s a great time to play in the immersive exhibit, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A GRRific exhibit. If you haven’t played yet, this is a great day to go! You can see our Inside Look here!
In partnership between MOSI and TT Art Collective we have taken the initiative to support local artists and geared that towards S.T.E.A.M. education. Through Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics we encourage you to Keep Discovering! Learn more and book tickets here for this fun date night!
There’s no place like home and there’s no place better place to view a classics like ‘Jurassic Park’ on July 25 & 29 than at the historic Tampa Theatre. The presentation is part of its Summer Classics and this year they’re celebrating 30 Years of Summer Classics on the Big Screen! You can purchase your tickets here.
It’s the season of the outdoor market and there are several throughout Tampa Bay! Tampa Bay Markets is one of the area’s largest event planners for markets, so head to their page for the latest updates to find a market near you!
Get ready to walk through history of the beloved video game from a replica of the very first video game ever built in the 1940s–then journey through Pong, Nintendo NES to today’s growing popularity of esports. This is an exhibit that will bring back memories of your own childhood to share with your kids! It’s a must see! mosi.org
Related: INSIDE LOOK: What to expect when you experience the NEW Video Game Revolution art MOSI
Be among the first kids to explore the new temporary exhibit on the second floor of the museum featuring the beloved Daniel Tiger! The exhibit is included with museum admission. You and your child will be able to step inside Daniel Tiger’s world as you learn, play and problem solve. glazermuseum.org
Related: INSIDE LOOK: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood at Glazer Children’s Museum
DON’T MISS: Minecraft Mania at MOSI | Saturdays from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
If your kids love Minecraft, they will think Minecraft Mania at MOSI is totally awesome! Your child can play Minecraft while learning new skills to become Minecraft Designer, Adventurer or even Master! While you’re there, stay and play at the beloved science museum! mosi.org You can also arrive early or stay later to check out the Idea Zone.
Tusks to Tails: A Fossil History of Florida at the Tampa Bay History Center | NOW OPEN
If you love the National Geographic series Secrets of the Zoo: ZooTampa, you’ll definitely want to add this 90-minute walking tour to your weekend line up! You’ll be guided by one of the stars of the show as you get to know all the new additions to the Zoo, including Gronk the baby rhino! The ticket includes coffee or juice before the tour and admission to the zoo after. Learn more here.
Photo from A Land of Delight Natural Farm and Nursery
2514 Learning Pine Ln, Plant City 33565 www.alandofdelight.com A Land of Delight Natural Farm hosts a regular farmers market and u-pick. Only on select days those which have been on Thursdays through Saturdays. U-picks are mostly greens which are great for smoothies and salads! The market has plenty of fresh produce, honey, and soooo much more. Check their Facebook page here for updates.
Keep your cool as the temps heat up at Adventure Island in Tampa! Like last season, they’re operating at limited capacity, so you’ll need to book a reservation in advance along with having your ticket or annual pass. If you haven’t experienced the new Solar Vortex, plan on a ride down!! It’s a perfect water slide for the entire family (must be 42 inches or taller to ride) with rafts that take up to 4 riders. It’s America’s first dual tail spin waterslide with super cool effects from the Aqualucents! adventureisland.com
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is reopening daily on March 18 from 9am-5:30pm. The Mermaid Shows are also returning with limited assigned seating, so you’ll want to sign up when you arrive and make sure to bring your face mask since you’ll need to wear it. Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs is a a must-visit as Florida’s only natural spring water park with waterslides, kiddie area and lazy river. weekiwachee.com
Blizzard Beach is about an hour’s drive from the Tampa area, so it’s earning a spot on our list! There are plenty of shaded spots to park your beach towels and all your stuff so you can check out the waterslides, one of America’s longest lazy rivers, Florida’s only ‘ski’ lift, and even the fastest waterslide where you can reach speeds up to 65 miles per hour as you slide on down. The kiddie area called Tike’s Peak is adorable for littles who want to safely splash in a wading pool and head down a mini waterslide that’s just their size. It’s Disney, so there’s something for everyone in the family! DisneyWorld.co
We recently got a peek at this year’s EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! If you’ve been before, you’ll want to go again because 50% of the food and beverage offerings this year are BRAND NEW! Read more here. Disney is currently offering a Summer Fun deal for Florida residents too with tickets as low as $54 per day (plus tax) for a four day pass!
It’s basically an underwater Easter egg hunt with a delicious finish! Book a tour with a trusted company like the Adventure Center on Plantation on Crystal River for this unforgettable experience! We’re sharing everything you need to know before you go here.
Get Up and Go Kayaking in St. Pete is offering a new kayaking tour designed just for kids and their families called Paddle Pals. The tour is an educational adventure with tour guide Hannah as you explore the mangroves and Shell Key Preserve. See what the experience is like here!
Upgrade your day at ZooTampa with an animal encounter! If you’re planning a day at ZooTampa, we love upgrading our experience with the kids with an animal encounter like feeding the giraffes or rhinos. We recently booked a time to feed a Jamie the Indian White Rhino with our 5 year old and he had a great time. Baby rhino Gronk even hung out for snacks! You do have to wear a face mask during the encounter, but you can remove it for a photo. Learn more here.
Head over to Armature Works to check out the NEW mural on the north end of the property created to promote the Glazer Vision Foundation’s “Glasses For All Children” campaign. All you have to do is share a photo of the mural, a selfie in front of the mural, or selfie wearing any type of glasses, tag @glazervisionfdn, hashtag #OneShareOnePair and the foundation will give a local child a free eye exam and pair of glasses! Easy peasy! Learn more.
Check out the NEW St. Pete PierEat, drink, shop and play at the new St. Pete Pier. The new playground area is quickly becoming a family favorite in Tampa Bay, just make sure to bring plenty of hand sanitizer and/or hand sanitizing wipes with you. Stay late and look up to see the Bending Arc light up in a spectacular display. You will need to wear a mask inside the stores, restaurants and Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. The Glazer Vision Foundation just announced it is contributing $1.5 million to the Glazer Family Playground at the Pier to support the space for years to come! Learn more.
Best Spots to Go Tubing in Tampa Bay:
The program provides parents and caregivers and their children an opportunity to participate in parent/child developmental playgroups, developmental screenings, and health and safety education classes at no cost. In addition, pediatric well-child visits, immunizations and hearing or vision screenings are provided for qualifying families. To sign up for programs and services, and to find your neighborhood Children’s Board Family Resource Center visit familysupporthc.org.
The program provides quality early learning experiences at no cost at the seven children’s Board Family Resource Centers and other designated Hillsborough County sites. The program also delivers weekly in-person and online virtual developmental classes and provides take home activities that promote early learning and school readiness at no cost. Glazermuseum.org/learnplaytampabay
Masks are now optional for guests, but staff will still be wearing masks, and doors propped open to reduce touch points, more frequent cleaning of exhibits, and more. Learn more here. You can also see what it’s like during this new normal! Be sure to check out the new Video Game Revolution.
The Zoo is ready to welcome guests back with masks being optional for guests, but you’ll still want to make an online reservation or purchase your tickets online to make sure you secure your spot. We got an INSIDE LOOK to show you what you can expect! The Dinos Alive exhibit will still be on display, so be sure to check it out! Book here.
Like most attractions and keeping in line with CDC guidance and masks will be optional for guests. Cleaning measures are continuing. Difficult to clean exhibits will be closed while others will be sanitized more frequently throughout the day. glazermuseum.org
Great Ex reopened to families with new exhibits earlier this year. Masks are encouraged but not required. A ticketed reservation is also strongly encouraged to make sure you have time to play. Learn more here.
The museum is ready to welcome you back and masks are now optional for vaccinated guests. This is a great time to check out the new Tusks to Tails fossil exhibit! Book your ticket and learn more about the plans to reopen here.
The Florida Aquarium andClearwater Marine Aquariumare both open, but you’ll want to make an online reservation. Guests over the age of 2 will be asked to wear a mask at the Florida Aquarium and they are optional for vaccinated guests. If you do not have one, a mask will be provided for you. Masks are encouraged at CMA.
This is a great weekend to cool off with dad and check out the NEW Solar Vortex waterslide at Adventure Island! Learn more here.
The theme park and its hotels, including the new Pirate Island Hotel are ready to welcome back guests, Social distancing will be encouraged with brick themed markers and signage. You’ll also see more hand sanitizing stations-there are more than 200 of them throughout the park! Legoland staff will be wearing face coverings. Masks are optional for guests. If you do not have one and want one, a mask will be provided for you. The reopening plan included guidance from AdventHealth. Learn more here.
