Attractions in the Tampa Bay Area

Summer vacations are just around the corner, and the children's attractions in the Tampa Bay area are worth checking out. Besides, these are some pretty cool places, and there's nothing like checking out what's happening in your own backyard before you go exploring in someone else's.

There are a host of fun places to visit in this area of the state, and the best part is that they can all be day trips. This means you get to visit a new place everyday for at least a week, if you want.

These attractions are for the entire family. Regardless of their ages, or if they are a boy or girl. Everyone will have fun and enjoy themselves.

Why not make plans now for the summer. Set aside a week or two to spend with the kids. Day trips are the best, because you will be back home before dark, so you can barbecue dinner that evening.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates
2350 McGregor Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 334-7419

This would be a wonderful and educational trip to make. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is an exciting experience back in time. At least touring through the homes and laboratory makes you feel that way.

But I can't forget the garden, which is a delight. You can wander around on your own, or have an extensive guided tour, that can answer all your questions. Bring a picnic lunch with you, or go to one of the restaurants in the area. There are no gift shops at this attraction, but they do have an on line shop.

The estates are opened Sunday through Saturday, from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Botanical Tours are on Thursday and Saturday at 9:00am.

Admission Rates: (Homes and Gardens Tour)

Includes Lab and Museum
Adult - $20.00
Child (6 to 12) - $11.00

Botanical Tour
Adult - $24.00
Child (6 to 12) - $10.00

Laboratory and Museum Only
Adult - $12.00
Child (6 to 12) - $ 5.00

Holiday Nights
Adult - $12.00
Child (6 to 12) - $ 1.00

* Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Lowry Park Zoo
1101 W. Sligh Avenue
Tampa, FL 33604
Phone: (813) 935-8552

Lowry Park Zoo is an amazing place for you and the kids to visit. There is so much more to do and see since I last went there. They have rides, an ECO cruise, a water play area and playground, you can interact with the animals, and they also have animal shows and talks.

When you get tired and hunger, you can try the Safari Lodge, Reilly's Reserve or the Garden Grille. They all serve delicious food, snacks and desserts. The zoo is open Sunday through Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm and the parking is free.

Admission Rates:

One Day Pass
Adults - $19.95
Seniors (60 and Up) - $17.95
Children (3 to 11) - $14.95

River Odyssey Ecotour
Adults - $14.00
Seniors (60 and Up) - $13.00
Children (3 to 11) - $10.00

Zoo & Ecotour Combo Ticket
Adults - $29.95
Seniors (60 and Up) - $26.95
Children (3 to 11) - $20.95

Unlimited Ride Wristbands
Zoo Pass Members - $14.00
Non-Zoo Pass Members - $18.00

Museum of Science & Industry
4801 E. Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33617
Phone: (813) 987-6100

What can I say about the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI). This museum is a fun place to visit. There are so many exhibits, displays and programs for your child to participate in, and interact with.

You should plan to spend at least 4 hours if you visit The Children's Science Center, Kids In Charge, the IMAX® Dome Theater, take a tour of Disasterville and see a Science Works Theater presentation. The MOSI Cafe serves snacks or lunch, and the museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday and
Sunday from 9:00am to 6:00pm, every day of the year.

Admission Rates:

General Admission ticket for MOSI, one standard IMAX Dome Theater film, one Saunders Planetarium show, and Kids In Charge.

Adults (13-59) $20.95
Seniors (60 plus) - $18.95
Child (2-12) - $16.95

Body Worlds Ticket for MOSI, Body Worlds & The Story of the Heart, 1 Saunders Planetarium show, and 1 standard IMAX Dome Theater film.

Adults (13-59) $29.95
Seniors (60 plus) - $26.45
Child (2-12) - $23.95

Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 273-4030

This is a place where you can explore to you heart's content. It is 200,000 square feet of aquarium, and children of all ages will love it. Visit the Penguin Promenade, explore a shore or take a behind the scenes tour. There is a lot to do here.

The aquarium is open every day from 9:30am to 5:00pm, but they are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. They don't allow food and drink inside, but Channelside is loaded with nice restaurants where you can eat. While you're at the Florida Aquarium, why not take the family on a trolley ride to Ybor City.

Admission Rates:

General Admission
Adults - $19.95
Seniors (60 plus)- $16.95
Children (12 and under) - $14.95
Children (2 and under) - Free

Ecotours
Adults - $21.95
Seniors (60 plus)- $19.95
Children (12 and under) - $17.95
Children (2 and under) - Free

Aquarium/Ecotour Combo
Adults - $35.95
Seniors (60 plus)- $31.95
Children (12 and under) - $27.95
Children (2 and under) - Free

Dinosaur World
5145 Harvey Tew Road
Plant City, FL 33565
Phone: (813) 717-9865

What a unique and wonderful place for you and the kids to visit. Imagine walking along a paved walk way through a wooded area where you get to meet 150 life sized dinosaurs with signs that explain what there.

But there's so much more! There is the Fossil Dig, the museum, the Boneyard, the Skeleton Garden, a playground, a gift shop, a picnic area, a video theater, and more. The parking is free, you can bring your own picnic or have pizza delivered, and Dinosaur World is open everyday from 9:00am to 6:00pm. In December and January, however, they are opened from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Admission Rates:

Adults - $12.75
Seniors (over 60) - $10.75
Children (3 to 12) - $9.75
Friendly Pets (on leashes) - free

Fantasy of Flight
1400 Broadway Blvd. S.E.
Polk City, FL. 33868
Phone: (863)984-3500

I think the girls will love this just as much as the boys. Especially climbing inside the cockpit of a Corsair fighter, or being in a hang gliding simulator. Take a tour and see their collection of restored airplanes. Check out the exhibits of balloons and biplanes, and their gift shop.

And when you get hunger, stop by the Compass Rose restaurant and enjoy a hamburger and fries. Fantasy of Flight is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm everyday. The Compass Rose restaurant is opened from 11:00am to 3:00pm for lunch. They are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Admission Rates:

General Admission - $28.95
Children (6 to 15) - $14.95 *
Toddlers (5 and under) - Free **

* Discounted admissions not valid with any other discounts or coupons.

** Free admission is not valid for groups.

Bok Tower Gardens
1151 Tower Blvd.
Lake Wales, FL 33853
Phone: (863) 676-1408

Visiting Bok Tower Gardens is not only for the Singing Tower carillon bells, that can be heard every half-hour or the half hour concerts that take place at 1:00pm and 3:00pm everyday.

But you and the family can also enjoy workshops, classes and excursions. If you want to, you can even take a guided walk around the grounds (this is seasonally only), for an additional fee however. They also offer free strollers and wheelchairs, and if necessary, you can also rent a mobility cart (first come-first served).

You can dine at The Blue Palmetto Café, that is located in the Visitor Center, and this café has sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, fruit, desserts, drinks, as well as beer and wines. You also have your choice of eating indoors or outdoors.

Admission Rates:

Adults - $10
Children (5 to 12) - $3
Children (under 5) - Free
Members - Free

* General admission tickets are good for one day only and do not include specially ticketed events.

Holyland Experience Ministries
4655 Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 32811
Phone: (407) 872-2272

The Holy Land Experience is a wonderful way to experience the bible in real life. You and your family will enjoy this living biblical museum.

Travel 2000 years back to Biblical times and relive the sounds, the sights and the sense of actually being there. The actors and actresses are amazing. It feels like you are actually taking part in what's going on around you.

You can shop at either The Shofar Shop, Ex Libris Book Shoppe or The Old Scroll Shop. These shops offer everything postcards, DVDs, olive wood for Israel, pottery, books and clothes - to sculptures, art prints, CDs, posters and lithographs.

And you can eat at either Oasis Palms Café, the Royal Portico, Simeon's Corner, The Centurion Cart or The Sycamore Tree. Here you can dine with your family on anything from cappuccino and breakfast pastries to foot-long hot dogs and soda.

It's worth the drive to Orlando. Why not make this a two-day trip instead. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and they are closed on Sunday, unless there is a special event happening.

Admission: (One Day Pass)

Price On Line
Adult - $30.00
Child: (6-12) - $15.00
Senior: (55 plus) - $25.00
Children: (5 and under) - Free

Price At Gate
Adult - $35.00
Child: (6-12) - $20.00
Senior: (55 plus) - $30.00
Children: (5 and under) - Free

Weeki Wachee Springs
6131 Commercial Way
Weeki Wachee, FL 34606
Phone: (352) 596-2062

Mermaids swimming in crystal clear water and putting on a show for the audience. How neat is that! Your family will be in awe of these beautiful mermaids, while they perform "The Little Mermaid at 11:00am and 3:00pm, and "Fish Tails" at 1:30pm.

That's not all however. You can enjoy a day at Buccaneer Bay and take a river boat cruise, take in the animal show or flume rides, go diving, canoing and kayaking. Weeki Wachee is generally open from Monday to Sunday, from 10:00am to either 3:00pm or 4:00pm. Please check with them, because their hours and days closed change monthly.

Rates: (Buccaneer Bay is only open on the weekends)

Daily rate if Buccaneer Bay is closed
Adult - $14.68
Children (6 to 10) - $11.66
Children (5 and under) - Free

Daily rate if Buccaneer Bay is open

Adult - $26.57
Children (6 to 10 - $18.05
Children (5 and under) - Free

Parking Fee:

Family vehicle / Motorcycle - $3.00
Over sized vehicles (buses / RVs) - $10.00

Silver Springs Nature Park
5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
Silver Springs, FL 34488
Phone: (352) 236-2121

Start out early to enjoy this Florida attraction, and when you get there, take a river cruise, or discover the wildlife exhibits, walk through the botanical gardens, or the ferris wheel, the crawl tubes, fireman's poles, slides, cargo climb with net bridge and more!

When you get too tired, then take a ride on one of the trams and visit the Wilderness Trail, where you close up views of the wildlife. But the most enjoyable thing you and the kids may love, is the glass bottom boat rides.

After your tram ride, go eat a sandwich, or an ice cream cone. You have your choice of the Springs Pizzeria, the Springside Cafe, the Deli or the Ice Cream & Fudge Shop, and if you want to, you can buy a snack from one of the snack bars and food carts that's located throughout the park.

Silver Springs is open Sunday through Saturday, from 10:00am to 5:00pm, but check with them, because there may be some days they are closed. If you need a stroller, a wheelchair or a motorized wheelchair, you can rent them, but please check with Silver Springs about the rental fees and deposits.

Rates:

General Admission - $34.99
Seniors (55 plus) -$30.99
Children (3 to 10) - $24.99
Children (0 to 2) - Free

Tax Not Included