What’s new at Tampa Bay-area attractions this summer?
Local attractions around Tampa Bay also have new play areas and special parties planned this summer.
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Adventure Island
The water park across the street from Busch Gardens is spread across 30 acres, with a family-friendly lazy river, kids’ play areas and lots of slides. This summer brings back the Island Nights sunset party, but families can no longer bring coolers and picnic supplies into the park. Outside picnic pavilions are available near the front gate for cooler use. Island Nights will run Thursdays through Saturdays June 16-Aug. 6 with tropical entertainment, games on the beach and a live DJ. The park recently added a waterproof wristband that you can load money on and any unused cash is refunded at the end of the day.
ADMISSION $54.99. (Weekday deal: $54.99 for unlimited admission on weekdays through Sept. 4.) 10001 N McKinley Drive, Tampa. Toll-free 1-888-800-5447. adventureisland.com.
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Lowry Park Zoo
The zoo has a special Dinos Alive! exhibit running through Aug. 13 with lifelike, life-size dinosaurs that move, blink and roar. Activity areas include a “Fossil Fun” dig site, a live show and special food and drinks at the recently renovated Dino Grille. Included with admission. The zoo also will bring back its Summer Sunset Celebration for family time or a date night, running from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights June 23-July 29. There will be live music, special dining options, drinks and a light show finale.
Admission: $32.95, $24.95 ages 3-11, 2 and younger free. 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. (813) 935-8552. lowryparkzoo.org.
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Florida Aquarium
The kid-friendly aquarium in downtown Tampa showcases the aquatic animals and ecosystems of Florida and the world. Earlier this month it unveiled the Mosaic Center, a new event venue that boasts beautiful views of Harbor Island and the river. If you go there on July 4, they promise a stunning perch to watch the fireworks. The Splash Pad outdoor children’s play area is under renovation, but is expected to reopen by mid-June, giving toddlers a way to beat the heat in the aquarium’s outdoor plaza. On June 8-12, the aquarium will celebrate World Oceans Weekend with special activities and presentations. The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week returns July 17, and the aquarium plans to show off its six species of sharks with shark-themed activities.
Admission: $24.95, $22.95 seniors, $19.95 ages 3-11, 2 and younger free. Prices are generally about $2 cheaper if you buy tickets online. 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. (813) 273-4000. flaquarium.org.
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Museum of Science and Industry
The hands-on science museum will be heading to downtown Tampa in a few years and will be closing off half the building this fall — but MOSI’s summer camps and other programs will continue without interruption. The special event this summer is Cardboard Space Adventures open Saturday through Aug. 13. Using only ordinary cardboard, families will build space vehicles and learn engineering. There’s even a crowdfunding effort at crowdrise.com/cardboard to raise the money needed to break the Guinness World Record for largest cardboard sculpture. A large portion of MOSI is scheduled to close in the fall, a money-saving move in advance of the museum's eventual move to downtown Tampa.
Admission: $26.95, $25.95 seniors, $20.95 ages 3-12; 2 and younger free. Separate pricing for IMAX-only admission. It’s $15 for the zip line only, or $10 with admission. Ropes course is $10 by itself, or $7 with admission. Parking is $5. 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. (813) 987-6000. mosi.org.
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Glazer Children’s Museum
The interactive children’s museum’s new 5,000-square-foot exhibit called MathAlive! opens this weekend and runs through July 9. It teaches math through robotics, sports, video gaming, fashion and more to spark imaginations. The museum also has a new climbing playground called Free Play that is inside the sweet air-conditioning on the second floor. Another new permanent exhibit is Forts, with loads of sheets, pillows and furniture set out so kids can build their own pillow forts. And coming in June is an augmented reality sandbox. The table-top sandbox will have a projector overhead that uses motion capture technology to react to the movement of the sand and add layers of images. Coming July 17 through the end of the summer is the Pop Art Studio where kids will learn about pop art techniques and collaborate with an artist. The museum’s hours will be extended until 8 p.m. through July 9 and until 6 p.m. for the rest of the summer.
Admission: $15, $12.50 military/seniors, $9.50 children, younger than 1 free. 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa. (813) 443-3861. glazermuseum.org.
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Great Explorations Children’s Museum
The children’s museum partnered with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to create an interactive zone focusing on health and nutrition where they can examine baby dolls in the nursery and play a fun game of Operation. There are also a number of summer activities planned.
Admission: $10, $9 seniors, ages 1 and younger free. 1925 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 821-8992. greatex.org.
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Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The aquarium near Clearwater Beach doubles as a working animal hospital and is home to perhaps one of the world’s most famous dolphins, Winter, whose story was told in Dolphin Tale. A new exhibit, Mavis’ Rescue Hideaway, that opened last year features the resident green sea turtle named Harold (but called Mavis in Dolphin Tale 2). All summer, kids ages 12 and under will receive free collectible posters of some of the animals the aquarium has rescued.
Admission: $21.95, $19.95 seniors, $16.95 ages 3-12, 2 and younger free. 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater. (727) 441-1790. seewinter.com.
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Tampa Bay History Center
A special exhibit called Gateway to the Caribbean: Mapping the Tampa-Cuba Connection opens June 3 and runs through January. Speaking of history, you can celebrate the Fourth of July at the History Center with $5 admission. Meet costumed re-enactors representing several eras of American military history. Interpreters will share hands-on displays of artifacts, uniforms, crafts and music. It’s also a good spot to see the Channelside fireworks after the museum closes.
Admission: $12.95, $10.95 seniors/students with ID, $7.95 ages 4-12, 3 and younger free. 801 Old Water St., Tampa. (813) 228-0097. tampabayhistorycenter.org.
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Weeki Wachee Spring
Florida’s only spring-fed water park has a live mermaid show that will mark its 70th birthday in September. The area’s oldest attraction has embraced the newest technology because the park often reaches capacity before noon in the summer. You can sign up for alerts by texting the keyword “Weeki” to 51660. The park also updates its Facebook and Twitter pages. Considering what a bargain it is to get a sandy beach, flume rides, volleyball, river rides, a kiddie pool area and mermaid shows for one admission, there are often cars lined up by 8 a.m. waiting for it open at 9, so get there early.
Admission: $13, $8 ages 6-12, 5 and younger free. 6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee. (352) 592-5656. weekiwachee.com.
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Dinosaur World
The kid-friendly dino play park has all the kitsch you would expect from an old-time attraction, except it’s only been around since 1998. Sprinkled throughout the outdoor attraction’s pine trees and palmettos are 150 life-sized statues of dinosaurs, a Skeleton Garden, a museum and play area. Pets and picnic supplies are welcome.
Admission: $16.95, $14.95 seniors, $11.95 ages 3-12, 2 and younger free. 5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City. (813) 717-9865. dinosaurworld.com/florida.
Contact Sharon Kennedy Wynne at [email protected]. Follow @SharonKWn. Designed by Lyra Solochek and Lauren Flannery.