Tampa Things to do

With two action-packed theme parks, and a 30-acre dining, shopping and entertainment complex, Universal Orlando® Resort offers a universe of adventure themed around some of the most popular TV shows, movies and comic books to date. Guests can go beyond the screen with rides, attractions and interactive shows that include character favorites like Harry Potter, Shrek, Spider-Man and many more. Details

Featuring thrilling rides, upbeat shows, interactive exhibits and more, SeaWorld® Orlando offers the perfect destination to experience exciting aquatic adventures in Orlando, Florida. Guests can choose from exclusive guided tours, one-on-one dolphin encounters, exhilarating roller coaster rides, mesmerizing aquarium explorations and many other attractions, ideal for many ages. Details

The NASA facility supporting Launch Complex 39, the John F. Kennedy Space Center is the largest operational launch to date. Its visitor complex offers exhibits, displays, attractions and artifacts from past spaceflights, as well as information about the future of human and robotic missions. Visitors can witness a rocket launch in person, meet a veteran astronaut, and watch a 3-D IMAX® space film. Details

Spend your day getting up close with your favorite marine life animals. Families can swim with bottlenose dolphins, feed tropical birds, play alongside a family of otters, and so much more. Don’t forget to spend some time relaxing on Wind-Away River. Seaventure, Discovery Cove’s innovative new attraction should not be missed — it’s fun for the entire family! Details

Home to more than 12,000 animals, this world-class theme park is one of the largest zoos in North America. Busch Gardens® Tampa is one of Florida’s leaders in thrill rides and family entertainment, offering state-of-the-art shows, animal habitats, bird gardens, water rides, zookeeper-for-a-day experiences, behind-the-scenes tours, safari-themed dining and shopping, and more. Details

Featuring four exciting theme parks, two water parks, an entertainment complex and much more in Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney World® Resort is a world-renowned attraction themed around classic Disney fairytales and newly popular Disney stories. The resort is home to Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom® Park—the Most Magical Place on Earth—and is ideal for guests of all ages and group sizes. Details

This 150-acre family theme park, designed for families with children ages 2–12, offers more than 50 kid-friendly rides, shows and attractions themed around the legendary toy building brick—the LEGO®. LEGOLAND® Florida Resort also features an adjacent water park, themed dining, shopping, botanical gardens, and The LEGO® World of Chima with an interactive water ride, 4-D movie experience and more. Details

This critically acclaimed live show located in Universal Orlando Resort offers a completely unique experience that’s ideal for guests of all ages. Blue Man Group is a high-energy performance featuring three talented men wearing bright blue paint, upbeat music, mesmerizing special effects and more, and has attracted more than 25 million people from around the globe since its opening in 2006. Details

Located on iconic International Drive, Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows features three intimate theaters showcasing a variety of interactive two and a half-hour comedy mystery shows. Guests of all ages can enjoy taking on the role of detective while solving a mysterious crime filled with outrageous characters, hidden clues, a delicious meal and lots of side-splitting laughter. Details

A 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, Gatorland is an affordable family attraction that lets guests see thousands of real alligators and crocodiles—including four very rare leucistic (white) alligators up close. The park also features a free-flight aviary, a petting zoo, a zipline ride, rookie gator wrestling, “trainer for a day” gator training lessons, live shows and more. Details

Situated in scenic Port Canaveral, the iconic Exploration Tower is a breathtaking landmark that’s both entertaining and educational to experience. Featuring seven floors of interactive activities, the tower offers indoor and outdoor observation decks, 5,550 square feet of exhibit space, an auditorium, a gift store and more, guests can create unforgettable memories at this special attraction. Details

Take a break from Florida’s theme parks and discover the state’s wild side. Snorkel, swim, paddleboard, or kayak in the Crystal River, home to Florida’s gentle giant, the manatee. If you’re fortunate, you may have the chance to swim alongside these majestic animals. Afterward, explore Homosassa State Wildlife Park and embark on an exhilarating airboat ride, all while learning more about Florida’s wildlife and natural areas. Details

See a whole world of alligators from the comfort of your car, rain or shine. At the end of the drive-through alligator park, you can feed a gator, take your picture with Big Al, and even hold an alligator. Plus, a petting zoo is onsite for guests looking for a tamer activity in Central Florida. Remember to bring your camera for this one-of-a-kind gator experience. Details

Head to I-Drive Indoor Kart Racing for an epic, state-of-the-art racing experience. Boasting eco-friendly electric karts, the I-Drive NASCAR facility allows you to compete with others as you race up to speeds of 45 mph. The track features 12 turns and 3 hairpins, along with other features, to keep you entertained and challenged throughout your race. The venue also offers bowling, games, and more. Details

One of Orlando’s top-rated attractions, WonderWorks in Orlando, Florida, features thrills and excitement for all ages. Visitors will find action-packed entertainment, including a glow-in-the-dark indoor ropes course, an exciting backlit laser-tag arena, a 4-D XD motion theater, plus six incredible wonder zones that feature a variety of interactive exhibits and activities. Details

An award-winning interactive dinner show featured at the WonderWorks attraction on International Drive, The Outta Control Dinner Show is a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience the whole family can enjoy. Guests can enjoy non-stop comedy and audience participation while dining on unlimited pizza, salad, popcorn, beer, wine, soda and dessert. Nightly shows are performed at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Details

From high-speed water slides and exhilarating wave pools to tranquil beaches, Aquatica, voted USA’s #1 waterpark, delights all ages. Featuring 43 slides, rivers and lagoons and 84,000 square feet of sparkling white, sandy beaches, Aquatica offers exclusive attractions that promise unlimited fun and amazing undersea adventures. New in 2019 is KareKare Curl™. Details

Central Florida’s only attraction dedicated solely to prehistoric giants, Dinosaur World Florida offers 20 acres of land for guests of all ages to explore. The iconic family attraction features more than 200 life-size dinosaurs, ancient artifact exhibits, children’s fossil digs, a 5,000 square-foot learning facility, paleontologist question-and-answer sessions, and more. Details

Offering a variety of water sport equipment rentals for visitors all different ages and experience levels, the Key West-inspired Buena Vista Watersports facility features new Sea-Doo® Jet Skis, two- to three-seat kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and much more. Guests can take advantage of a complimentary lesson, as well as free beach access with each rental. Details

ZooTampa at Lowry Park is home to more than 1,300 animals and famous for having one of the most beautiful, tropical zoological settings in the world. The Zoo brings together animals and visitors to create unforgettable, natural connections. Get closer to wildlife than ever before by touching a giant tortoise, feeding a giraffe, getting nose-to-horn with an Indian rhino, hand-to-fin with slippery stingrays and more! Families can also splash in water play areas, feel thrills on rides and take in educational shows. Details

Located on International Drive in bustling Orlando, Florida, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium offers a variety of exhibits the whole family can enjoy together. The aquarium features more than 5,000 sea creatures, a 360-degree ocean tunnel, an interactive rockpool experience and a children’s play area. Guests can see giant Pacific octopus, seahorses, blacktip reef sharks and more. Details

This highly entertaining dinner show in Kissimmee offers a fun experience for guests of all ages. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament features an 11th-century-style castle, a royal court, jousting with costumed knights, exceptional horsemanship and falconry and special effects. Guests can also enjoy full bar service before and after the show and a utensil-free four-course feast fit for any palate. Details

This exciting natural attraction with two locations in Kissimmee, Florida, offers incredible up-close views of some of Florida’s most breathtaking animals and scenery any time of year. Guests can enjoy gliding across the water at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on the One-Hour or 1/2-Hour Scenic Nature Tours, the One-Hour Night Expedition Tour, and more. Details

Presented by Skulls Unlimited International Inc., SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology offers a one-of-a-kind Orlando museum located at the I-Drive 360 complex. The museum is ideal for guests of all ages and features more than 40 exhibits with 400 real animal skeletons, which each have taken more than 500 hours to piece together and prepare for this unique attraction. Details

One of the top-rated aquariums in the U.S., The Florida Aquarium offers exciting exhibits, water adventure zones, live shows and more for guests of all ages. The aquarium features interactive programs like Swim with the Fishes; behind-the-scenes experiences like Penguins: Backstage Pass; and exploratory journeys like Journey to Madagascar, featuring ring-tailed lemurs and colorful chameleons. Details

Orlando’s exciting airboat and wildlife park experience, Wild Florida Airboats offers scenic tours during the day, breathtaking tours at sunset and exciting tours at night. Guests of all ages can enjoy guided tours through the protected swamps and rivers in the 100,000 acres of beautiful Central Florida wetlands to find alligators, birds, eagles, tropical plants and more. Details

Voted “Best Course in Florida” by Orlando Magazine, Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf offers cleverly designed hole designs, lush landscaping and fun pirate theming. Guests can admire the many 18th-century buccaneer-inspired additions throughout the attraction, including pirate dungeons, cascading waterfalls, sunken pirate ships, shooting cannons, old rafts, skeleton bones, and more. Details

See Orlando, Florida like never before on the tallest observation wheel in North America at The Wheel. Hop on and enjoy unparalleled views, 400 feet in the sky, as you point out your favorite Orlando theme parks, attractions, and destinations. The 15-person, air-conditioned capsules guarantee a great time for all ages. Ride The Wheel at night for color changing lights and fun! Details

Performing nightly with two shows on Fridays and Saturdays, Mango’s famous “Dinner & Show” is jam-packed with riveting live performances including a Michael Jackson tribute. In combination with the award-winning cuisine and exhilarating atmosphere, guests of Mango’s Tropical Cafe are treated to performances ranging from Cuban Conga to Hip Hop and everything in between. Details

Home to “Dolphin Tale” movie star, Winter—a rescued dolphin that uses a prosthetic tail—Clearwater Marine Aquarium is the perfect family-friendly attraction to visit in sunny Clearwater, Florida. The marine life rescue center is dedicated to the rescue, rehab and release of dolphins, sea turtles, river otters and more. Guests will be inspired and educated by their work through up-close and interactive educational and fun activities and presentations. Details

Looking to save money during your Orlando vacation? The Go Orlando® Multi-Attraction Card is exactly what you need. Save up to 55% on top attractions and activities while skipping the ticket line. Choose from over 25 Orlando attractions, including LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland, the Florida Aquarium, WonderWorks, and more. Details

This adventure-filled nature park and zoo located in Christmas, Florida, offers a variety of attractions and experiences ideal for the whole family, plus a natural habitat for animals like black bears, panthers, tropical birds and more. Guests can learn how some of Florida’s first residents lived centuries ago, enjoy a hands-on experience with a baby alligator, watch a gator feeding, and more. Details

Located in bustling Orlando, Florida, Madame Tussauds Orlando offers a unique experience featuring a wide assortment of detailed and realistic wax figures of A-list celebrities from film, TV and pop culture. Guests can interact and take photos with wax replicas of stars, including Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Will Smith, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Albert Einstein, Barack Obama, and more. Details

Voted “Best Dinner Show in Central Florida,” Pirate’s Dinner Adventure offers a unique interactive dining experience for guests of all ages. The show features 18th-century Spanish galleon replicas with 40-foot masts anchored in a 300,000-gallon indoor lagoon, accompanied by actors, singers, stunt artists, cannon blasts and explosive special effects, pyrotechnics, and more. Details

Las Vegas quality entertainment comes to the International Drive for the Rock Dinner Show. Combining an exquisite three-course meal with the high-caliber musicality of the top rock and pop artists of all time, the Rock Dinner Show, well, rocks! On top of the food and fun, the show utilizes world-class visual effects for a mystifying and electric performance each and every night. Details

A fully interactive factory adventure tour, Chocolate Kingdom offers an immersive experience that explores the making of chocolate from bean to bar. The Factory Adventure Tours let guests journey along with a handsome prince and his dragon through the Cacao Tree Greenhouse, the Mystical River of Chocolate, a fascinating chocolate museum and a micro chocolate factory that uses old-world machinery. Details

Presented at the Florida Mall in Orlando, Florida, Crayola Experience Orlando offers a fun family attraction that’s ideally located among top Central Florida attractions and lodging options. The experience is designed for guests to enjoy a full day of hands-on interaction with 25 exciting attractions, including Melt & Mold, Drip Art, Wrap It Up!, Toddler Town, Crayon Factory and more. Details

Featuring 600 exhibits and artifacts, 16 themed galleries, and one very upside-down building, this Orlando hotspot is ideal attraction for children and adults alike. Guests can explore the 10,000-square-foot Odditorium at their leisure to find a variety of strange items, including shrunken heads, an authentic vampire-killing kit, a shooting gallery, a spinning vortex and more, 365 days a year. Details

Ideal for guests of many ages, Buena Vista Watersports’ wakeboarding, water skiing and tube rides offers an exhilarating experience for up to eight people to enjoy together over a 450-acre private lake. Rentals include a driver/instructor, water skis, wakeboards, tubes, kneeboards, lifejackets, gasoline and state-of-the-art equipment. Guests can also enjoy free beach access with each rental. Details

With more than 230 acres of off-road tracks and trails to ride on in the Florida countryside, Revolution Off Road’s ATV Experience lets guests enjoy a unique 75-minute driving experience on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)—a four-wheeled, single-seat vehicle. Guests of all experience levels are welcome, as all safety equipment and instructions are included. Details

Offering a completely unique experience for guests ages 7 and older, Escapology is an exciting Orlando attraction for groups of up to five people at once. This real-life escape game locks guests in a themed game room, where they must work together to reveal hidden objects, uncover clues, solve puzzles and riddles, and more in order to escape before the allotted 60 minutes is up. Details

An adrenaline-rushing indoor skydiving experience ideal for many ages (including most children and seniors), iFly offers true free-fall conditions inside a flight chamber without the use of airplanes. iFly Orlando experiences last approximately one hour using a 1,000 horsepower vertical wind tunnel to create a wall-to-wall air cushion for participants to float upon safely. Details

Machine Gun America offers a wide selection of family friendly simulation or themed live-fire experiences and one of the largest selections of unique and elite firearms available in the country today. Bring your kids, your parents, your favorite gamer and your friends into Machine Gun America to level up your virtual experience! When you’re looking for a world-class, family-friendly Simulation Experience that still packs a punch, Machine Gun America delivers one of the most realistic virtual realms you’ll find anywhere. Details

Race around the two-level track at high-speed or put your skills to the test in the high-tech arcade at Andretti Indoor Karting in Orlando, Florida. As the area’s premier entertainment destination, Andretti Indoor Karting offers exhilarating fun for everyone. Plus, with a ropes course, VR racing simulators, a laser tag arena, bowling, and a motion theater, you’re all set for a day full of thrills in Orlando. Details

Tampa Bay Aviation offers a variety of tours with breathtaking views of Clearwater! Choose from 5 different flight packages to see a beautiful panorama of Clearwater Beach, Pier 60, Sand Key, the Dunedin Causeway, Tarpon Springs, and so much more! These scenic tours are an ideal way to make your beach vacation even better. Details

Sawgrass Recreation Park’s exciting Everglades tours in Weston, Florida offer the perfect family outing to experience while visiting Orlando. Guests can choose from daytime, nighttime and special adventures to discover a variety of local wildlife, including alligators, Florida panthers, and more. Animal exhibit areas are also available for visiting, featuring more than 100 rescued creatures. Details

Let children learn about and explore the five sense in this hands-on, interactive museum. With 3 full floors of kid-powered exhibits, children learn all about music, art, science, math, history, and more. From reporting the news as a television anchor to learning about the human skeletal system, Explorations V is perfect for every curious and playful child. Details

Home to the largest and second-tallest SkyCoaster in the world, Fun Spot America in Orlando features a variety of thrilling attraction and family-friendly rides everyone can enjoy. This exciting amusement park offers a 10,000-square-foot arcade with ticket prizes, multi-leveled go-karts, roller coasters, bumper cars, a swinging mechanical-arm ride, a 40-foot slide and much more. Details

Guests of this exciting nighttime adventure can experience up-close encounters with Florida alligators, crocodiles and other aquatic creatures while armed with nothing but a flashlight and some alligator food. Gatorland Night Shine Tour is an after-hours special event ideal for all ages that lasts about an hour and a half and is restricted to Gatorland’s Breeding Marsh. Details

This convenient combo deal lets guests enjoy all-day admission to the iconic Gatorland attraction plus access to the on-site Screamin’ Gator Zip Line—an all-new attraction towering at 65 feet in the air. Guests can take part in a two-hour zip line experience that begins with a safety and orientation session and ends with soaring over the park’s dozens of massive gators and crocodiles. Details

Experience Orlando like never before on a trail riding journey through untouched land. You’ll develop a close connection with your horse as you go for a one-hour ride together along the trail. Located just 20 minutes from Walt Disney World resort and 30 minutes from I-Drive, visitors ages eight and older can enjoy a leisurely outdoor escape directly in Orlando, Florida. Details

Soar above sunny Orlando in the experience of a lifetime! Hop aboard a hot air balloon and get ready for an unparalleled adventure. Way above Orlando, you’ll be able to see all of the popular attractions, orange groves, forests, and more over the course of an hour flight. Be sure to bring your camera to remember this one-of-a-kind moment forever. Details

Explore Orlando the way YOU want to with the Orlando Explorer Pass. Choose either 3 or 5 attractions to visit from a total of 15 options. From Madame Tussauds to WonderWorks, Ripley’s Believe It or Not to the Orlando Eye, you’ll have so much to choose from! Each pass is valid for 30 days and includes a free 3-day I-Ride Trolley ticket. Details

An exciting experience for guests of all ages to enjoy together, Buena Vista Watersports Pontoon Rentals offers a great way to spend the day out on the water under the warm Florida sun. The first hour starts at $125, with each additional hour at a rate of $75. Half-day pricing (for four hours) starts at $300. Guests are also welcome to bring food, drinks and fishing poles while visiting. Details

Featured at Revolution Off Road, this trophy bass fishing experience lets guests use the site’s private 60-acre lake, ideal for catching a trophy bass, croppy, snook, bowfin and more. First-time and seasoned fishermen alike can enjoy this experience to the fullest with guides to the best hotspots, life jackets and drinking water (provided), and photos of the experience for a small additional fee. Details

Tampa Bay Aviation offers a variety of tours with breathtaking views of St. Petersburg! Choose from 5 different flight packages to see a beautiful panorama of St. Pete's Beach, Treasure Island, Tropicana Field, John's Pass, St. Pete Pier and so much more! These scenic tours are an ideal way to make your beach vacation even better. Details

Get ready for an exhilarating time at Suhls Rodeo. Featuring bull riding, barrel racing, bronco riding, and more, Suhls Rodeo will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Don’t forget to visit the concession stand while you’re there for all-American BBQ! Located 30 minutes from International Drive and 20 minutes from Walt Disney World resort, Suhls Rodeo is a short drive from most Orlando area hotels. Details

Offering a unique guided and narrated tour of the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay areas, the Speed Boat Adventure Tour lets guests be the captains of their very own speed boats, allowing them to navigate themselves under the guidance of professionally trained guides. The tours include hilarious educational narration, as well as up-close views of dolphins, manatees, sea birds and more. Details

This popular Orlando attraction is a true tribute to the world-renowned Titanic, featuring a full tour with realistic recreations of the ship’s most iconic features and spaces, such as the Grand Staircase, a First-Class Parlor Suite, the Verdana Cafe, and the Promenade Deck. Visitors can even see a real iceberg up close, as well as take on roles of actual passengers on the ship during the tour. Details

Join the most famous dinner party about the Titanic! Guests will join Margaret “Molly” Brown and renowned 1st class guests as they celebrate the well-deserved retirement of captain, Edward John Smith. Tickets include a tour of the Artifact Exhibition Galleries, dinner, re-enactments of April 14th, and a cocktail party. Dinner parties offered on Friday and Saturday nights only. Details