Below is a list of the top and leading Places to Visit in Tampa. To help you find the best Places to Visit located near you in Tampa, we put together our own list based on this rating points list.
Tampa’s Best Places to Visit:
The top rated Places to Visit in Tampa, FL are:
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – offers a variety of roller coasters and thrill rides
- The Florida Aquarium – provides world-class animal care to thousands of animals
- Tampa Bay History Center – is a historical institution in Tampa, Florida
- Henry B. Plant Museum – opened its doors on February 5, 1891
- Glazer Children’s Museum – began with the debut of Safety Village in Lowry Park in 1965
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is an animal theme park with environment and decor based on African and Asian themes that are situated in Tampa, Florida, in the United States. The park frequently places second among SeaWorld parks, after SeaWorld Orlando, with annual attendance exceeding 4 million.
They offer a variety of roller coasters and thrill rides, such as the Falcon’s Fury wood-steel hybrid hyper coaster, the Tigris launched roller coaster, the SheiKra dive coaster, the Cheetah Hunt “family-style” thrill ride, and Montu, which at its opening was the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster in the world. A number of rides and activities in the park are geared toward kids under the age of nine.
Products/Services:
Animal Theme Park
LOCATION:
Address: 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612
Phone: (813) 884-4386
Website: www.buschgardens.com
REVIEWS:
“Awesome theme park with lots of thrill rides and roller coasters! Each ride has an individual key element that makes the whole experience feel fresh and not repetitive like some other parks. I definitely recommend going on weekdays, before Summer since it’s less busy and you can have the chance to get on each roller coaster at least once. Tigris is a fun recently new addition to the catalog of coasters and Sheikra is breathtaking as always. Their animal exhibits add to the overall experience, especially when you need a break from the heat. My favorite was the penguins since they were so goofy and attentive to us park guests!” – Dylan C.
The Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is a non-profit organization that aggressively promotes environmental stewardship as a tourism-based conservation attraction. The Florida Aquarium encourages guests to encounter a wide variety of aquatic and terrestrial creatures with the aim of raising awareness and motivating action for species and habitat conservation. The Florida Aquarium places a strong emphasis on providing world-class animal care to thousands of animals.
In addition, visitors will engage with interactive exhibits and intricate ecosystems while looking for wild dolphins in Tampa Bay. The Florida Aquarium is more than just a must-see attraction through conservation initiatives, such as ground-breaking research and rescue initiatives that support the recovery of Florida’s coral and sea turtle populations, it is helping to conserve and restore their blue planet.
Products/Services:
Aquarium
LOCATION:
Address: 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 273-4000
Website: www.flaquarium.com
REVIEWS:
“Awesome experience at the aquarium! Great for young children. I would recommend that you purchase the annual pass if you’re a local. After paying for parking and tickets it’s only 20 dollars more to become an annual member. With the annual membership, you get free parking. You have to purchase your membership before you come and register your car so you can take advantage of the free parking. The facility is very well maintained with a splash zone for kids and lots of hands-on exhibits.” – Justin P.
Tampa Bay History Center
Tampa Bay History Center is a historical institution in Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Bay region’s first native inhabitants, Spanish conquistadors, and historical individuals who influenced the region’s history are covered in the exhibits, along with a recreation of a cigar shop from the 1920s. The museum is located in Tampa’s Channelside District at 801 Water Street. On January 17, 2009, it debuted.
The 60,000-square-foot History Center structure has 25,000 square feet of exhibit area. The three levels of permanent and temporary display space of the Tampa Bay History Center encompass 12,000 years of Florida history, with a focus on Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast. The History Center houses a museum shop, lecture halls, a display of maps, a conference room, and the Columbia Cafe.
Products/Services:
History Museum
LOCATION:
Address: 801 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 228-0097
Website: www.tampabayhistorycenter.com
REVIEWS:
“What a great museum! Tampa’s history certainly shines here! The exhibits are beautiful and the museum was so clean. I loved the videos on each floor and the interactive exhibits! Definitely, a good option for a rainy day activity, especially since they have their own restaurant, too! Parking was a bit tough since they had so much of the street parking blocked off, but should be easier once the work is done.” – Kaitlyn P.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Henry B. Plant Museum was initially constructed by Henry B. Plant as the 511-room Tampa Bay Hotel, which opened its doors on February 5, 1891. J.A. Architect was the designer of the Tampa Bay Hotel. Along with the Oglethorpe Hotel and the Mahoney-McGarvey House in Brunswick, Georgia, Wood also created the Old Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa, Florida, in 1892.
The American Alliance of Museums lists The Plant Museum as both a Core Documents Verified Museum and an Accredited Museum. The University of Tampa’s Plant Hall’s Henry B. Plant Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the United States.
Products/Services:
Museum
LOCATION:
Address: 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: (813) 254-1891
Website: www.plantmuseum.com
REVIEWS:
“Love the museum and staff a lot! This place is such a treasure to visit so many good histories here. You got to see a lot of beautiful antiques plus old photos! The museum is really well-maintained! The admission is so cheap compared to the things you can see! Highly recommend!” – Harry C.
Glazer Children’s Museum
Glazer Children’s Museum aims to provide a learning environment where kids can explore, play, and engage with their environment in order to become leaders and lifelong learners. Families of various backgrounds and abilities come together at the Glazer Children’s Museum in a hands-on learning setting that encourages kids to play intentionally.
The history of the Glazer Children’s Museum began with the debut of Safety Village in Lowry Park in 1965, and it has developed over time, just like children do. GCM has been a staple in Downtown Tampa since the launch of our facility in 2010, accommodating 230,000 visitors over 53,000 square feet. building of ft. GCM has developed into a crucial component of Tampa Bay’s cultural corridor, which includes museums, libraries, theaters, and performing arts facilities.
Products/Services:
Children’s Museum
LOCATION:
Address: 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 443-3861
Website: www.glazermuseum.com
REVIEWS:
“My little ones absolutely love this children’s museum. From the 0-3 newborn/toddler area to the waterways exhibit and from the arts & crafts corner to the play pizza-making area, and more, there is something for everyone. We especially appreciate the rotating exhibit space which keeps things fresh and the little cafe which provides several options to feed one’s hungry tykes. The place is kept very clean w/ hand sanitizing stations in front of every play section. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. And we love how at the end of the day, a staff member leads the kids in attendance for the day on a mini parade through the museum. If you either live in the Tampa area or are just visiting, we highly recommend this place for families, especially those with little ones.” – Kathleen M.
Sarah has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade having contributed to several large publications online. As a business expert, Sarah reviews local and national businesses.