If you're looking for breathtaking views of Florida then Big Red Balloon Sightseeing Adventures is for you. Taking off daily at sunrise you'll be able to get a bird's eye view of alligators lazing in the sun, deer scampering in the early morning, or any one of the amazing sights that make Florida beautiful. Champagne and breakfast are a complementary part of the trip. If you're looking for a romantic ride, be sure to book the Sweetheart Flight which guarantees a private ride with your loved one. Check the website for details and pricing. Reservations are recommended.
Contact Information: 8710 West Hillsborough Avenue, Suite 189, Tampa, FL 33615, United States +1 813 969 1518
St. Petersburg Yacht Club is often referred to as the sailing capital of the south. It is the premier sailing club in Tampa Bay. Apart from world class facilities, the club has a lot of prestige associated with it. Besides housing several splendid facilities available to members and guests like restaurants, banquet halls, the sailing center and many more attractions. This social venue hosts some very exclusive parties which attract all the movers and shakers of town.
Contact Information: 11 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States +1 727 822 3873
For a good way to beat the heat and get some exercise at the same time, think ice-skating. For those who aren't accustomed to Florida's heat and humidity, a day at Clearwater Ice Arena may be just the answer to heat exhaustion. Open skating to music is the usual routine, but instruction is available at "Learn to Skate" classes. There is a snack bar here. So put o your skating accessories and have a blast at this skating rink!
Contact Information: 13940 Icot Boulevard, Clearwater, FL 33760, United States +1 727 536 5843
Jump! That is it in a nutshell. You go up in a plane, jump out with a certified instructor and free fall for what is likely to seem a very long time before you pull the cord and open that parachute. Folks have been skydiving out here in the Zephyrhills area since the 1960s, and Skydive has been leaping into the air since 1989. After a short instructional course, you dive in tandem with an instructor, free falling for 60 seconds as you drop at 120mph from 13,500 feet. Charge for the dive plus pictures and a video is USD280. Check the website for details.
Contact Information: 4241 Skydive Lane, Zephyrhills, FL 33540, United States +1 813 783 9399
This casual marina offers an assortment of marine-style activities. The Friendly Fisherman is a waterfront seafood restaurant open for all three meals daily. Sightseeing tours available from here include two-hour trips to watch dolphins, a six-hour snorkeling trip to Egmont Key and a six-hour barbecue feast on Shell Island. Deep sea fishing charters can be arranged here, too, for half-day, full-day or overnight trips. A boardwalk 1,100 feet long has more than 100 shops, offering still more diversions here.
Contact Information: 150 John's Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, United States +1 727 393 1947
First exhibited in 1995, the Treasures of the Czars collection, established this museum as a major player in the world of history and culture museums. Dedicated to showcasing some of the world's finest traveling exhibits, the museum is conveniently located in the heart of downtown, with art galleries, antique shops and restaurants within walking distance.
Contact Information: 100 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg College Downtown Center, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States +1 727 341 7900
Sixty miles east of Tampa on the highest point of land on the peninsula lies the Historic Bok Sanctuary. Named a National Historic Landmark, the gardens offer a wildlife observatory, endangered plant exhibit, woodland garden and butterfly and bird watching. The highlight of this magnificent cultivated area is the bell tower, housing one of the world's great carillons. Fifty-seven bronze bells entertain visitors with daily concerts. The lush gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Contact Information: 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853, United States +1 863 676 1408
This pleasant park offers varied wilderness habitats sandwiched between a golf course, subdivisions and St. Pete skyline. You can bike through pine flatwoods dominating acres of palmetto or stroll a boardwalk through a willow marsh bordering Lake Maggiore. Swamp woodlands are richly diverse in trees, shrubs and what's hidden under and over. Butterflies abound. And you can check out the gopher tortoise, protected by area scrubland. Guided tours are available, although some cost money, so it's best to bring cash. Rest stops along the way provide cold drinks. Admission: Adults $2, Children (3-16) $1; Under 3 free
Contact Information: 1101 Country Club Way South, St. Petersburg, FL 33705, United States +1 727 893 7041
Yuengling likes to say its famed Pottsville, Pennsylvania brewery is the oldest in America, but it's comparatively new to Tampa. Yuengling arrived here not long ago as an intriguing attraction where you can tour a brewery in action. At the end of the tour comes the best part: a little sampling of the product so laboriously created. For that sampling event, there's a Yuengling Biergarten and a gift shop devoted to things that go hop. Tours are free.
Contact Information: 11111 North 30th Street, Tampa, FL 33612, United States +1 813 972 8529
Tampa's Ybor City, began its intriguing history when cigar makers settled here after a disastrous fire that drove the industry north from Key West. Today it is a National Historic Landmark District lined with old buildings and historic sites. Today's Ybor is a lively and popular shopping, dining and entertainment district featuring everything from museums to flamenco dancing and of course, plenty of cigars. The area really comes alive when the sun sets with a bevy of nightlife options. Do not miss the annual Halloween Parade, known as the Mama Guava Stumble or Guava-ween!
Contact Information: 1800 East Ninth Avenue, Visitor Information Centre, Tampa, FL 33605, United States +1 813 241 8838
Located right across the street from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island’s 30 acres of water-drenched fun in the sun features the ultimate combination of high-speed thrills and tropical, tranquil surroundings for guests of all ages. Within a soothing Key West atmosphere await slides, corkscrews, water falls, a wave pool, children’s water playground and other family attractions.
Contact Information: 1001 Malcolm McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States +1 888 800 5447
Extending a mile out into the silvery waters of Tampa Bay, this five-story upside-down pyramid at the end of the city's famed Pier shimmers in the sun. Here, you will find a variety of stores, restaurants, evening entertainment spots and the city's aquarium plus a hands-on museum. You can sail off on a sightseeing cruise or a pirate adventure. On the ground floor is a replica of the HMS Bounty with galleries and boutiques. Top floors have an aquarium, Hands-On exhibits from the Great Explorations Children's Museum, and an observation area.
Contact Information: 800 Second Avenue Northeast, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States +1 727 821 6443
There's a popular fishing and boating area at St. Petersburg and a boardwalk over the tangled roots of mangroves. This nature lover's recluse is the Weedon Island Preserve. Here, from the top of an observation tower, there's a great view of Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg's pretty skyline. While you're looking, you're likely to spot a heron or egret, and glimpse black crabs darting along mangrove branches. There's a fishing pier, picnic tables with charcoal grills, a canoe/kayak trail and historical markers pointing out an Indian mound and an early airport ruin.
Contact Information: 1800 Weedon Drive Northeast, St. Petersburg, FL 33702, United States +1 727 453 6500
The Holocaust Museum chronicles one of the grimmest segments of the world's history. The terrible story unfolds in photos, letters, and objects related to the Holocaust experience, including an authentic boxcar used to transport prisoners. An Anne Frank exhibit is one of the most touching and not to be missed. Exhibits of art that are genocide-related can be viewed as well, and exhibits change frequently. Admission is $8 adults, $7 for college students and seniors and $4 for students under the age of 18.
Contact Information: 55 Fifth Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, United States +1 727 820 0100
Owned and operated by the city's Leisure Services Department, this "botanical experience" of tropical splendor, orchids and bromeliads features streams and pools adorned with colorful pink flamingos. There are special activities for children and wildlife presentations for everyone. Horticultural displays occur seasonally. A Rainforest Information Center here has exhibits of some of the eerier critters, including snakes and other reptiles, spiders, and scorpions. In the Garden you'll also find a captivating butterfly aviary.
Contact Information: 1825 4th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33704, United States +1 727 551 3102
At Celebration Station there's plenty of fun activities for the whole family from gaming at their arcade area with more than 100 video games, to batting cages, where beginners and experts can practice their swing. Take off on the quarter-mile Go-Kart track for some hot races, then cool off with the Bumper Boats as you splash around the pool. You can play a round of 18-hole Miniature Golf or try your luck at the Laser Tag Arena. For the littlest visitors, there's plenty of rides and entertainment at Playland. Their restaurant offers pizzas, sandwiches, appetizers and desserts to satiate hungry souls after an exciting experience at this amazing place!
Contact Information: 24546 US 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33763, United States +1 727 791 1799
Dolphins frolic in these waters, and you can get a look at them on one of three cruises. As you sail the waters of the Gulf, you see dolphins at play and perhaps spot some other sea creatures as well. Cruises are called Dolphin Encounter, Caladesi Island Adventure and Tarpon Springs Excursion and are focused accordingly on dolphin spotting, a visit to the seductive sands and environmental treasures of Caladesi Island and the sponge-fisherman's village of Tarpon Springs. Call for prices and hours of operation, which vary seasonally.
Contact Information: 25 Causeway Boulevard, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767, United States +1 727 442 7433
One hundred and twenty acres of lush gardens, natural wetlands and woods make the Florida Botanical Gardens a unique place to spend the day. Themed gardens, such as the Patio Garden with waterfall, Herb Garden with its fragrant scents, and Sculpture Gardens are a delight to visit. Stop by the peaceful Butterfly Garden, stroll along the Tropical Walk, then cool off in the shady Bromeliad Gardens. Observe wildlife such as raccoons, turtles, great herons and bald eagles along with numerous species, many of which are endangered. Enjoy works of art displayed throughout the gardens provided by the Gulf Coast Museum of Art.
Contact Information: 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774, United States +1 727 582 2100
If you're looking to get away from the standard vacation spots of Florida, be sure to check out Canoe Escape. Once there you can experience an exciting outdoor adventure or explore the quiet scenery of the Hillsborough River, all from the safety of your kayak or canoe. As you drift downstream you might glimpse a wandering deer, a wild hog, or even a sunbathing aligator. Leisurely independent tours can be booked, as well as guided tours, where an experienced staff member will show you the ins and outs of the swamp reserve. So whether you're going it alone or having a family outing you'll be sure to have an experience you'll never forget. Various trips are offered so check out the website for details.
Contact Information: 9335 East Fowler Avenue, Thonotosassa, FL 33592, United States +1 813 986 2067
The natural beauty of Caladesi is breathtaking with its pristine water and sugar white sand providing the ideal spot for swimming, shell collecting and sunbathing. Numerous birds and wildlife call the island home and can be observed while hiking the three mile nature trail. Kayaks are available for rent for exploring the three mile waterway through the mangroves. There is a marina for boaters along with a snack bar, picnic tables, shelters and gift shop. The island is accessible only by private boat or by using the Caladesi Connection ferry service located at Honeymoon Island State Park. Visitors are allowed four hours on the island. No pets are allowed on the ferry.
Contact Information: 1 Causeway Boulevard, Dunedin, FL 34698, United States +1 727 469 5918
At Busch Gardens, animals roam free and you are the outsider. You can see the park by monorail, cable car or train. Roller coasters, wild animals, entertaining shows, rides, food, shopping, sightseeing, bird shows, exotic flowers, train rides, Serengeti adventures, river rapids...the list goes merrily on. Wear comfy walking shoes and spend the day at this 300-acre park. You can even taste the Anheuser Busch brew that started it all. Busch Gardens is open year-round with varying schedules. Call or see Web site for details.
Contact Information: 3000 East Busch Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, United States +1 813 987 5000
In business since 1932, Whaley's is synonymous with fresh produce and superior meats. Selected daily from wholesale markets, local growers and imports, fruits and vegetables here are of the highest quality. Meat selections include homemade sausages, chicken, pork, lamb and fresh seafood that's delivered daily, with such delicacies as shrimp, stone crabs, salmon and tuna. A deli area abounds with salad selections, fresh fruit, assorted sandwiches, homemade soups and ready-to-go entrees.
Contact Information: 533 South Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606, United States +1 813 254 2904
Located 25 miles southeast of St Petersburg and 48 miles from Tampa, the Prime Outlets at Ellenton offers upscale outlet shopping with an impressive collection of 130 designer and name brand outlet stores. Enjoy savings of 25% to 65% every day. Stores include Banana Republic, Coach, Bath & Body Works, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks 5th Avenue Off 5th, Adidas, Brooks Brothers and many more. Visit their website for coupons and the complete list of stores, sales & events, hours and more.
Contact Information: 5461 Factory Shops Boulevard, Ellenton, FL 34222, United States +1 941 723 1150
Warehouse is the key word when describing this store. This huge shop houses thousands of silk flowers and dried flowers, as well as multiple types and styles of wreath bases, pottery, silk arrangements, dried arrangements, an assortment of every type, size and color of basket, flower containers, and gift items. If you like making your own dried or silk arrangements, or if you're looking for an unusual gift, head for Val's to shop your way through a very large, reasonably priced selection of craft items.
Contact Information: 3920 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL 33618, United States +1 813 963 6717
