Cheap Fun Activities in East Tampa Bay Area

Perhaps you're not planning to go away on a vacation, or maybe, you just want to find something to do that doesn't cost very much, but still feels special.Here are a few opportunities to explore. The first option is seasonal
but the others are available all year round.

The Florida Strawberry Festival
March 4-14, 2010
W Reynolds St
Plant City, Florida

You can enjoy free exhibits in agriculture, commerce, industry,
livestock, fine arts, horticulture, and crafts for the price of the entrance ticket.You will also find competitions, youth programs,parades,the midway,Kiddie Corral,Free Entertainment -a variety of musical groups,performance groups, such as racing/swimming pigs,championship lumberjack demonstrations, BMX bike/inline skate and
skateboard exhibitions,Major recording performers mainly,Country Western with other musical genre's.The prices of the performances range from free for the limited bleacher seats up to $45, for the stadium seats,
depending upon the artist and the demand for them.This is actually, an international event. We have talked to people from all over the world, who have specifically come to Florida to be at this festival.And of course,there are plenty of strawberry shortcake booths hosted by various community organizations all over the fair. They each serve differing versions of the dish.

Ybor City Museum State Park

1818 Ninth Ave.
Tampa, Florida 33605
Phone: 813-247-6323

Admission Fees - $3.00 for everyone 6 and older, children under 5 Free.
Patio/Garden available for rental, call for fees.
Open daily from 9am - 5pm, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
The museum is in the historic Ferlita Bakery. It displays the cultural history of Ybor City and the cigar making industry. "The museum has self-guided exhibits, with written and audio information, and a video presentation. La Casita, a restored cigar worker's house, is open for viewing 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m." Guided tours can be taken Monday through Saturday. The garden is available for rent for events after park hours. http://www.floridastateparks.org/Yborcity/default.cfm

Hillsborough River State Park

15402 U.S. 301 North
Thonotosassa, Florida 33592
Phone: 813-987-6771

Admission Fees
$4.00 for up to 8 people per car.
Camping Fees:$20.00 + tax
Park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset all year round.
Fort Foster is a replica of an 1837 fort from the Second Seminole War, it is located on the park grounds, next to the river. Tours are available on the weekends or by reservation. The river is open for fishing, canoing, and kayaking. A canoe/kayak launch is on the river. Canoes can be rented at the park´s concession, which also
carries food, drinks, picnic supplies, and souvenirs. Hikers can enjoy over seven miles of four nature trails.The Wetlands Restoration Trail is open to bicyclists and hikers. When the weather allows, visitors are welcome to swim in the park´s swimming pool. The park offers full-facility camping and a youth or group tent campground. A primitive campsite is accessible by trail; reservations are recommended."(Note, pool is under repair, currently, and renovation is taking place on park roads until Dec 1, but park is open with possible detours.)
http://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/default.cfm

Alafia River State Park

14326 South County Road 39
Lithia, Florida 33547
Phone: 813-672-5320

Admission Fees - Vehicles with 2 to 8 people-$4.00
Vehicle with one person-$3.00
Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Extra Passengers, Passengers in a vehicle with an owner of an Annual Individual Entrance Permit-$1.00

Daily Equestrian Fees: - $6.00 - per horse, up to two horses - per day, plus tax, or $14.00 - per vehicle & trailer, 8 person maximum - per day, plus tax

Camping Fees - $18.00 a night, plus tax
(The daily equestrian fees are NOT included in the camping rates.)
Park open from 8 a.m. until sunset year-round.
This park has some of the most difficult off-road bicycling trails in Florida. This was once the location of a phosphate mine, the reclaimed land has a unique terrain that offers some of the most extreme elevation changes in Florida. Equestrians and hikers can enjoy 20 miles of trails that wander through mixed hardwoods, pines, and over hilly wild areas. There are a wide variety of birds and wildlife along the trails. The neighboring lakes and the Alafia River present plenty of opportunities for canoing and fishing. The park also has covered picnic areas, a playground, horseshoe pit, and volleyball court. The park also has a full-facility campground and horse friendly campsites. It is located 10 miles southeast of Tampa on County Road 39.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/alafiariver/default.cfm

Lithia Springs Park
3932 Lithia Springs Road
Lithia FL 33547
(813) 744-5572
$1 per person
Park hours-
Spring 8 am - 6 pm (M-F) 8 am - 7 pm (Sat, Sun)
Summer 8 am - 7 pm (M-F) 8 am - 8 pm (Sat, Sun)
Fall/Winter 8 am - 6 pm

This park has a natural, crystal clear spring that is a constant 72 degrees year around. The park offers swimming, a bath house,playground,picnic areas and camping with 40 sites and showers.This park is very popular with the local residents, for both swimming and picnicking.

Local movie theaters:

Premiere 8 at Lake Walden Square
220 West Alexander Street, Plant City, FL 33566
(813) 719-7600
Ticket prices are-Adult: $8.00,Senior: $6.00,Child: $6.00
http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/theaters/1055-premiere-8-at-lake-walden-square/

AMC The Regency 20
2496 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511
(888) AMC-4FUN
Ticket prices are-Adult: $9.50,Senior: $8.50,Child: $6.50
http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/theaters/1028-amc-the-regency-20/

IMAX Dome Theater at MOSI
4801 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617
handicap accessible.
(813) 987-6100
Ticket prices are-Adult: $10.95,Senior: $9.95,Child: $8.95
http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/theaters/1095-imax-dome-theatre-at-mosi/

Rent or buy videos

Locations in the area:
Blockbuster Video(813) 752-466 9102 Henry Ave, Plant City, FL 33563
Electronics Boutique the(813) 689-1466671 Brandon Town Center, Brandon, FL 33511Dist: 9.8 milesVideo Rental and Retail
CMoviestop(813) 657-916610955 Causeway Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511
Blockbuster Video(813) 651-93442016 State Road 60 E, Valrico, FL 33594
Blockbuster Video(813) 655-46683307 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Valrico, FL 33596
Play N Trade Video Games(813) 681-752911200 E Dr Martin Luther Kin, Seffner, FL 33584

You can buy videos for as little as $5 at Wal-Mart. Most first run videos are usually priced at $19.95.

Plant City Antique and Junk shops

There are quite a few antique and junk shops located in the historical downtown area of Plant City, especially in the Reynolds, Collins and Evers St areas.Just park your car, and walk. They're all close to each other. Most of downtown Plant City closes around 5 pm and is closed on Sundays.With careful digging through the various displays, one can come home with some really good deals, or that one-of-a-kind treasure you've been looking
for.Best source for locating these is the local phone book, since most of these stores don't have a website. They're also easy to find when you drive around down town.

Here is a current listing of the shops:
One of the oldest and best known is Frenchman's Market at 102 Evers ST S, 754 8388
Antioch Bills Antiques and Collectible, 115 W Reynolds St, 707 1090
Antiques and More, 105 Evers St S, 719 6336
Antiques and Treasures of Plant City Inc,107 Collins St N, 752 4626
Collins Street Junction, 117 N Collins St, 659 2585
Mama's Memories, 111 S Collins St,754 2106
Pieces of Olde, 113 W Reynolds St,717 7731
The Old Floridian Antique Shopp, 203 S Collins,754 3625

Denny's
2001 Frontage RD S
Plant City
813 752 3338

Denny's
1301 Brandon Blvd
Brandon,Fl
813 685 1176

These restaurants are open around the clock, all week long. For the price of a refillable coffee or decaf, you can hang out in one of their booths, for hours, with your friends or your significant other in a friendly environment. when you order your coffee, you can also ask for whipped cream on it.The desserts or ala cart items are also inexpensive.

Sources:

http://www.plantcity.org/?page=Attractions

http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/

http://www.floridastateparks.org/Yborcity/default.cfm

http://www.floridastateparks.org/hillsboroughriver/default.cfm

http://www.floridastateparks.org/alafiariver/default.cfm

http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks/parkservices/regionalsites.cfm?facilitydetailid=525&selparks=525&selcategory=-1&zipcode=&First=1&Last=5

http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/all/

http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/theaters/1095-imax-dome-theatre-at-mosi/

http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/theaters/1028-amc-the-regency-20/

http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes-tickets/theaters/1055-premiere-8-at-lake-walden-square/

http://www.dennys.com/en/cms/Restaurant+Locator/43.html

http://directory.tbo.com/FL-Tampa?s=Plant+City+video+rentals+

http://directory.tbo.com/FL-Tampa?s=Brandon+video+rentals

http://directory.tbo.com/FL-Tampa?s=Valrico+video+rentals

http://directory.tbo.com/FL-Tampa?s=Seffner+video+rentals