Tampa Bay Area Attractions and Events

From parades and festivals to concerts and beach parties, Tampa Bay offers a variety of activities for every type of person.

Adventure Island
Adventure Island is a 30-acre family water park featuring lagoons, waterfalls, white sand beaches and wild rides.
4500 Bougainvillea Avenue, Tampa
813-987-5660

Bay Area Renaissance Festival
This month-long event features jugglers, magicians, fire-eaters and other specialty acts including live jousting and human chess matches.

Busch Gardens
This African Continent-themed park, run by Anheuser-Busch, features one of the country's premier zoos, as well as thrilling rides and family fun.
3000 East Busch Blvd.
813-987-5082

Centro Ybor
Located in the heart of Tampa's historic Latin Quarter, Centro Ybor is one of the city's newest entertainment destinations. With unique shops, restaurants and attractions, the beautiful plaza is host to a variety of free family-oriented events, as well as exciting night life and entertainment.
1600 East 8th Avenue, Tampa
813-242-4660

The Florida Aquarium
One of the largest and most modern aquariums in the country, the Florida Aquarium was the first to focus exclusively on Florida's water habitats. It features more than 10,000 aquatic plants and animals from all over the world.
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa
813-273-4000

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Sponsored by Raymond James, the show is considered one of the country's premier outdoor art events. With exhibits from more than 300 artists, the displays range from paintings and drawings to ceramics and photography.

Gasparilla Pirate Invasion
Similar to Mardi Gras, this fun-filled event celebrates Tampa's history. Hundreds of colorfully costumed pirates sail into downtown Tampa on their pirate ship, accompanied by hundreds of smaller boats. The pirates then capture the city and share their wealth of trinkets and doubloons with the enthusiastic crowd along the parade route. Gasparilla attracts hundreds of thousands of festival onlookers each year.

Lowry Park Zoo
Recognized as one of the top three mid-sized zoos in the country, Lowry Park Zoo features 41 acres of exotic wildlife, including the Raymond James Sumatra tiger exhibit.
1101 West Sligh Avenue, Tampa
813-935-8552

Mainsail Arts Festival
A leading cultural event in St. Petersburg, visitors flock to the waterfront to purchase quality art and listen to top-notch entertainment. More than 200 artists from across the country participate in the event.

The St. Petersburg Pier
A unique attraction, this upside-down pyramid on St. Petersburg's waterfront features shops, restaurants and family entertainment. From the observation deck, visitors get a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding area.
Second Avenue North, St. Petersburg
727-821-6164

Within Driving Distance
If Tampa's leading attractions don't keep you busy, take a short drive to Orlando. World-renowned for family-oriented entertainment, the city is home to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Sea World.