50 Things To Do This Summer Around Tampa Bay

During summer time, there is SO much time for activities and if you have kids you probably feel like you can’t have enough stuff planned on the calendar to possibly keep them entertained the entire summer. At least not with their attention spans lasting about 90 seconds and the constant “what are we going to do next?!” question.

Well, good thing we live in Tampa, where the “Things To Do list” overflows!

1. Westfield Summer Series! — Get to meet Bob the Builder, The Little People, and Barbie at 3 different Westfield locations around Tampa. I uploaded the schedule to my FB page here
2.  Michael’s Passport to Imagination at Michael’s Craft Store every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10am – 12pm. ($5 per session or $12 for 3 sessions)
3. Chic-fil-A Summer Fun Flicks at AMC Brandon Regency 20, Every Thursday @ 10:00AM. $1/person; $4.07 AMC Kids Snack Pack available (Proceeds will benefit ECHO Emergency Help and the YMCA)
4. Muvico Summer Kids Series at Muvico Centro Ybor 20! Every Wednesday and Thursday @ 10:00AM. $3.00 includes admission, special drink, and popcorn
5. Sunset Cinema at Pier 60 at Clearwater Pier 60! Every Friday & Saturday at dusk. FREE! Bring blankets & chairs. Popcorn & beverages available for purchase.
6. Kids Golf Free at Ace Golf locations in Brandon & Riverview. Everyday all summer long kids under 15 years old get a FREE small bucket of balls.
7. Unlimited play! at Gator Fred’s every Tuesday for only $6.00 per child.
8. Beat the heat and go for a Bowl at AMF Locations (University Lanes & Lakeland Lanes) $26.95 is good for 3 games of bowling EVERY day of the summer. Must register HERE
9. Family Fun Days with the Rays at Sunday home games. Regular ticket price includes free parking for cars with four or more passengers, giveaways for kids 14 and under, and a variety of activities for kids on the concourse
10. Want  TWO FREE tickets to a Ray’s game? Read your way to the Ballpark!
11. Play, grill, swim, and bring your dogs to Sand Key Park!
12. Take in some sun, fun, history, and camping at Fort De soto Park
13.  Visit Glazer Chicldren’s Musuem. Don’t have a pass? Get in FREE on the first Tuesday of each month from 2pm – 7pm.
14. CityPass! Enjoy 5 iconic Tampa attractions and save 51%!
15. MOSI – Free for active-duty Service Members and up to 5 family members all summer long OR get $3 off admission just by “checking in” with your Facebook.
16. Take a nature hike or ride your scooters/bikes on their paved nature trail Alderman Ford Park
17. Bring your fishing poles, take a trail hike, or swim in the natural springs at Lithia Springs
18. Launch your canoes/kayaks at Alafia State Park and paddle down the Alafia river!
19. Enjoy the best park in Brandon! All Persons Rotary Park offers a separate play area for little kids plus a splash pad to cool off after playing.
20. Vacation Bible Schools – Check with your local churches for a free week of VBS. Age range is usually Pre-K through completed 5th grade.
21. Enjoy a large spacious field to release some energy at Curtis Hixon Park. Plus a playground and two spray fountains.
22. Take a bike ride and explore your city on the Tampa Riverwalk
23. Visit the oldest living museum at Sunken Gardens
24. A historic, beautiful , and color landmark at Bok Tower. Music fills the gardens daily at 1pm & 3pm.
25. Splash Pad & playground at Anderson Park.
26. Stroll through Hyde Park Village! Now you can get tacos (BarTaco), cupcakes (Sprinkles), coffee (Buddy Brew), and cotton candy (only in June!) all in the same spot! Newly renovated and more shops/restaurants opening this summer! Bonus event: Backyard BBQ for Father’s Day
27. Get drenched by a huge water bucket at Water Works Park and enjoy lunch at Ulelle!
28. See mermaids and the incredible blue spring water at Weeki Wachi Springs. It may be a drive for some but it’s well worth it for a day!
29. Explore the amazing grounds, gardens, and play space at John and Mable Ringling Museum . Check out their Family Friendly series here
30. Build things at Home Depot or Lowes weekly workshops on most Saturdays! Click the links to search workshops near you.
31. Busch Gardens – If you don’t have your FUN PASS it’s not too late. Buy one day and get in FREE for the rest of the year!
32. You can’t mention Busch Gardens without Adventure Island! Open for the summer to help you beat the heat! Get a game of volleyball going on their volleyball fields!
33. Al Lopez Park is wonderful shaded nature park to bring kids for a picnic and visit the touching Cancer Survivor memorial
34. Rock The Park Tampa every month at Curtis Hixon Park. A FREE music series for all ages.
35. Pick up fresh baked breads, plants to beautify your backyard, and much more at the Ybor City Saturday Market, every Saturday at 9am, rain or shine!
36. The Florida Aquarium has a NEW water play area! A rainforest themed, zero-depth water play area featuring all new water elements including water dump buckets, spray zones and a designated water play area for toddlers. In addition,The Splash Pad features dry elements for kids to climb and play on.
37. Hitch a ride on the Teco Streetcar system between Ybor and the Channelside.
38. See Lowry Park Zoo in a new light on select evenings in July at Sunset celebration! Live music, special experiences, and a dazzling light show!
39. Devour and enjoy a Doughnut Ice Cream Cone at Dough
40. Family Fun Days every Saturday at Salvador Dali Museum
41. St.Pete Crab & Music Festival is June 18th at Vinoy Park.
42. Discover downtown St.Petersburg! Tons of shopping and eats available!
43. Edward Medard park is one of my personal favorites! The trees make for amazing photo opps, there are hiking/biking trails, boating, camping, playgrounds, and fields for frisbee fun!
44. Grand Prix Tampa has major family fun and excitement! A family go-cart track, castle arcade, ropes course, batting cages, and more!
45. Looking for something different? HorsePower For Kids offers horseback riding and trail rides for kids ages 6+! Visit their unique petting farm and riding stables!
46. Pack a lunch, drive over to Lettuce Lake Park , walk through the gorgeous Florida park, and settle down under one of their many cabanas for a nature-filled picnic.
47. Bounce around Tampa at all the different ‘bouncy’ trampoline playgrounds. BOING, Playgrounds of Tampa, SkyZone, PumpItUp. Most have an open play schedule based on age. Playgrounds of Tampa offers a coffee bar for the parents!
48. Pirate Water Taxis can shuttle you to and from over 17 attractions & museums, 24 restauants, and 13 parks! They offer daily tours and discounted rates after 6pm!
49. Enter a unique Greek community at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. Restaurants, bakeries, shops, sightseeing cruises, and live entertainment make the Sponge Docks a perfect day trip!
50. Tour the Florida Orange groves, check out the Wildlife Refuge, stop at the Cafe to enjoy fresh squeezed Florida orange juice and/or a Cuban sandwiche, and relax in the butterfly garden all offered at Mixon Fruit Farms!
51. Catch a ride to paradise on the Caladesi Island Ferry ! The ferry departs every half hour starting at 10 am from Honeymoon. Island.
52. Whole Foods Kids Club offers a fun kid’s event each month!

We don’t want to forget to get some mommy time in this summer too, so check out the list of summer camps put together on Mommy Spot Tampa Bay! If summer camps aren’t on the calendar, it’s OK to hear the dreaded “I’m bored!” (like nails on a chalk board) from your kids sometimes too! 🙂

Happy & Safe Summer to all!

XOXO