Attractions

When it’s time to go wild, be sure to visit Big Cat Rescue in Tampa. One of the largest accredited sanctuaries for exotic cats in the world, this is home to numerous lions, tigers, bobcats and cougars that have been rescued and are now cared for by loving staff and volunteers.

Another place to enjoy close encounters with animals is ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Spend a day with the animals, learning about their habitats and how to protect them, and you’ll easily see why it is highly-rated.

Busch Gardens is a 300-acre African-themed animal theme park located in Tampa. For the ride of your life, try the park’s latest addition, The Serengeti Flyer. The world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind, this screaming swing ride soars 135 feet high then plunges back to Earth experiencing multiple negative G-moments.

Located right across the street from Busch Gardens, Adventure Island is the ultimate combination of high-speed thrills and tropical, tranquil surroundings for guests of all ages. With over 40 rides, among them are Rapids Racer Wahoo and Wahoo Remix, visitors are promised even more exciting attractions. Watch for the debut of Castaway Falls, a new multi-level water-play experience of pure wet waves. Think massive water buckets and loopy water slides. 

Downtown, discover all of the wonders that lie beneath the water’s surface at The Florida Aquarium. Meet penguins, cruise out onto the waters of Tampa Bay to watch for dolphins or youngsters can enjoy the splash pad.

The Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores (located between St. Petersburg and Clearwater) is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and hopeful release of sick, injured and orphaned birds.

North of Indian Shores, plenty of other marine life live at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Besides the majestic dolphins, including resident sea turtles, otters, stingrays, sharks, pelicans and clownfish you can enjoy seeing and learning about the resident marine animal rescues. Prepare to head out on the water here, too, on board the aquarium’s 90-minute Sea Life Safari Boat Tour.

Take another look beneath the water and you’ll find mermaids in the crystal-clear waters at Weeki Wachee Springs. More amusement is found winding down the Weeki Wachee River on a wilderness river cruise, cooling off in the indoor ice rink at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, creating art at the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa, indoor skydiving at iFLY Tampa, and walking among life-size dinosaurs at Dinosaur World in Plant City.

Beaches And Outdoor Gems

West Central Florida’s stretches of sugar-white, powder-soft sandy beaches, found along the Gulf of Mexico, are perfect playgrounds for all ages.

For a quiet, more natural beach day without high-rises towering behind you, consider Fort De Soto Park, south of St. Pete Beach, or Anclote Key Preserve State Park to the north. Caladesi Island State Park is a perfect destination not only for beaches, but also for its four-mile kayaking trail and its three-mile nature trail. Honeymoon Island State Park, once a popular honeymoon destination in the 1940s and 1950s, is now a favorite among birdwatchers and a real gem for beach lovers.

Not only Floridians think the beaches here are fantastic. A couple of local beaches have made it onto TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice “Top 25 Beaches in the U.S.” list over the years. Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach have held high rankings and remain a coastal favorite for all ages. And at the end of the day, there’s no better place than a beach in West Central Florida to watch spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.

When water temperatures dip below 72ºF in Florida, West Central Florida’s natural springs are terrific spots to see manatees, thought to be mermaids by sailors too long at sea. Popular manatee viewing spots include Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River and the TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, just south of Tampa.

Entertainment

When it comes to nightlife, West Central Florida likes to have a good time. And there are plenty of spots to do just that.

Ybor City’s thriving nightlife ranges from dance clubs and live music venues to quiet pubs, while Tampa’s South Howard Avenue, or SoHo, is filled with restaurants. However, this hip strip really comes alive after dinner when the drinks begin to pour.

Professional sports take hold of West Central Florida on the ice, on the field and on the pitch. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup championship in both 2020 and 2021. 

Take the family out to the ball game during spring training, or during the regular season for that matter. Beginning in March, the Toronto Blue Jays take their swings at the TD Ballpark in Dunedin, while the New York Yankees play spring ball in Tampa and the Philadelphia Phillies step up to the plate in Clearwater. The Jolley Trolley travels from Clearwater to Dunedin and on to Tarpon Springs, making it easy to catch a few spring training games along the route. During the regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays play their opponents at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

In downtown St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team begins its pre-season matches in February, and the regular schedule takes them through the summer and late into the fall.

Road Trips

Greek cuisine, art and culture—it’s all found in the small fishing village of Tarpon Springs. The area was first settled in 1876 by Greek immigrants, and today it is the city with the highest percentage of Greek-Americans in Florida. What was once “the sponge capital of the world” is a popular day-trip destination from Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Dunedin and Pasco County.

Park the car and walk, run, cycle or rollerblade along the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, a 50-mile protected, multi-use green space created along an abandoned railroad corridor that extends from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

For a truly unique experience you won’t soon forget, head over to Crystal River where various tour operators provide the equipment and let you swim among West Indian manatees in super clear waters. Visitors who prefer to stay at arm’s length from the gentle giants can rent a kayak (with or without a guide) to observe them as they swim and play below in the warm waters. If this option is still too close for comfort, you can watch manatees any day of the year from the underwater observatory at the nearby Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The park also showcases other native Florida wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, American alligators and crocodiles, and river otters.  It also offers Wildlife Encounter programs and a children’s education center.

Shopping

Pull out your credit cards and get ready to fill your bags at the International Plaza and Bay Street in Tampa, the city’s luxe shopping emporium. It features Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, as well as all-time favorites, Dillard’s, RH Gallery, J. Crew, H&M, and over a dozen sit down restaurants. Just down the road, WestShore Plaza counts Macy’s, Old Navy and Dick’s Sporting Goods among its storefronts, so there are plenty of shopping opportunities here, too.

Tree-lined streets, historical homes and shopping à la European village make Hyde Park Village one of Tampa’s hot retail spots. It’s easy to spend the day here. Shop for a bit in the morning at brand-name stores, such as west elm, Sur la Table, lululemon and others. Later, enjoy a bite to eat at Goody Goody, nibble on a cupcake at Sprinkles or sip wine at the Wine Exchange. For more outdoor shopping, slip over to The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, where boutiques and department stores entice shoppers with their wares, or Tampa Premium Outlets in Lutz for savings on designer brands.

St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District is popular among shoppers. Spend a day strolling along the avenue lined with fine art galleries, vintage clothing shops and antique stores. There are plenty of restaurants and bars along the way, too.

Souvenir shopping is perfected at John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk in Madeira Beach. Drop by any of the 50-plus shops for everything from T-shirts and shells to artwork and more.

If you admire arts and crafts, don’t miss the Annual Downtown Dunedin Craft Festival in February, or the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in downtown Tampa in March.