Charter Bus Rental Tampa

Florida’s spectacular Gulf Coast is where you’ll find the treasures of Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater. With St. Petersburg just 40 minutes south of Clearwater, both are close to Tampa, making them a wonderful stop on your stay in Florida. With stunning beaches, art, and fun for everyone, see what there is to discover when you head to this west coast paradise in the Sunshine State!

Busch Gardens 

In this iconic theme park, you get thrilling rides alongside a zoo full of fascinating creatures. Busch Gardens is the perfect way to entertain all ages with something for everyone in the family and plenty for just the adults to enjoy too. Hop onto the Kumba or Tigris, two roller coasters that are sure to thrill. Iron Gwazi is staking claim as the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world. But if that’s too much thrill, the animals plus other tamer attractions like bumper cars and water slides will surely keep you enthralled.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tampa

 Sure, it can be your place to stay when you visit Tampa. But even if you’re not a guest at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, you can find plenty to do there. If you’re of age, gambling is a natural choice with card tables and slots. Or stop in for live music and comedy shows to let the good times roll. There are bars, restaurants, and lounges to explore too, so while this might not be the ideal pitstop with kids unless you’ve booked a room to take advantage of all the amenities, it’s surely fun for adults!

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) 

When you’re traveling to Tampa with kids, a great place to beat the heat and learn something new is at the Museum of Science and Industry, or MOSI as the locals call it. This museum takes a hands-on approach to STEM learning with games, activities, exhibits, and interactive stations that even grownups will love. Learn about space, dinosaurs, and technology in the permanent exhibits. Other add-on exhibits cost a little extra but give you a deeper experience with a ropes course, planetarium, and plenty more that you can try out to get your ultimate MOSI experience.

International Plaza and Bay Street 

You can’t head back home without doing shopping. The International Plaza and Bay Street is the perfect place with over a million square feet of retail shopping pleasure. From clothes to shoes and toys to souvenirs, you’re bound to find everything you’re looking for here. Plus, there are countless places to eat, making it easy to satisfy any craving. With the airport across the street, it could even be your last stop before you leave Tampa!

Hillsborough River State Park 

So many of Florida’s best experiences are out in nature. Don’t miss out on Tampa’s gem, the Hillsborough River State Park. Get a chance to snap photos of gators wafting down the waterways and spotting other native Floridian species of animals in the marshy wetlands. Canoeing is a great way to do this, though you can bike or hike through the forest trails if you’d prefer to stay on dry land.

Ybor City 

This exclusive Tampa neighborhood has a rich history, once known as the “Cigar Capital of the World.” You’ll see old cigar mills from yesteryear, but the real draw are the boutiques, shops, microbreweries, restaurants, and clubs you’ll find in this legendary spot. The vibe is a fun one, so get ready to live it up for your nights out in Tampa.

Tampa Riverwalk 

For something more relaxed, you can head to the Tampa Riverwalk. This pedestrian trail spans nearly 3 full miles through the Hillsborough River. You can walk or bike it and enjoy the scenic views that make the perfect backdrop for your Tampa vacation photos.

Tampa Theater 

In 1926, the Tampa Theater was meant to be a movie palace. Today, it still has the old-fashioned booth in front of its brick exterior while the interior has plush red seats. While it’s still functioning, it’s not the place to see those summer blockbuster movies. This theater plays documentaries plus foreign and independent films, making a great throwback to the past that will keep you entertained.

Tampa Museum of Art 

Walk into this museum and you’ll be dazzled with the gorgeous entryway with fiber optics to lure you in. The Tampa Museum of Art has it all, from Roman sculptures to paintings. Plus, it also has art stations where the kids can try their hand at being the next Picasso. But there’s a secret to getting the most out of this museum: ahead of your travels, check the museum’s calendar, and you may get lucky with a fun event while you’re in town!

Tampa Bay History Center 

While theme parks, art, science, shopping, and dining can fill up your itinerary fast, don’t miss out on getting some history of the area. The Tampa Bay History Center is where you’ll learn about Tampa and the surrounding regions’ history, which goes back over 10,000 years. Relics and preserved texts are fascinating to discover while the informative videos keep this history lesson riveting with pirates and peaceful settlers alike.

Fairgrounds St. Pete 

This newer addition to the attractions for the area features art and technology in a fascinating format. You can choose your own immersive adventure experience with rooms designed by 60 local artists. Find your way around these unique spaces that fully capture Florida’s uniquely wacky vibe.

Sunken Gardens 

For a little history and nature rolled into one, you don’t want to miss the Sunken Gardens in St. Pete. Right in the middle of the city, these gardens have called the land home for well over 100 years. Wind your way through over 50,000 different tropical plants and flowers. Check out the beautiful waterfalls, and don’t forget to visit the flock of flamingos!

Hit the Beach 

St. Pete and Clearwater both are bustling with plenty of beachfront areas for you to stick your toes in the sand. St. Pete Beach is one of the best there is with calm waters and soft white sand. If you can book a room on the beach, you’ll be in pure bliss, but even if not, make sure you stop by the St. Pete Pier. That’s where you’ll find plenty of entertainment, dining, and leisure to make your trip phenomenal. The pier opened in July 2020, so forget your preconceived images of piers of the past... this ultra-modern place has it all!

As for Clearwater Beach, it also boasts those gorgeous white sands and welcomes couples, families, and friends alike to enjoy the Florida sunshine. Visit The Beachwalk, a seaside promenade filled with restaurants, attractions, and places to pick up souvenirs for everyone stuck in the snow back home. Pier 60 is a great place to try out fishing with everything you need to reel one in!

Dali Museum 

If you’re a fan of art, you won’t want to miss the Dali Museum, with an incredible collection of Salvador Dali’s works. The gorgeous building also features gardens and is right in the heart of downtown St. Pete, making it easy to stop and grab a bite on the water when you’ve worked up an appetite.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium 

Children will absolutely adore the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), but you will too. Rescued sea turtles, dolphins, otters, and other marine life rescue animals make this aquarium stand out from any other aquarium experience you’ve ever had. Not only do you get to see these amazing animals, but you also get to see all the efforts to save them and rehabilitate them. This place is definitely worth a stop while in Clearwater!

Fort DeSoto Park 

Florida’s gorgeous natural surroundings are an attraction all their own. Fort DeSoto Park is just one of the places you can escape to in the St. Pete/Clearwater area. You’ll find tons of nature trails that provide scenic backdrops for walking and biking, plus the swimming beach offers a place to cool off. See how many birds you can spot as over 320 species of them flock here. And if you’d like a more rustic experience on the Gulf Coast, you can reserve a campsite and sleep under the stars!

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve 

Another natural spot to see in St. Pete is this preserve, which resides on the shore of Lake Maggiore. It takes you from swampy woodlands and marshes to tall, shady pines as you walk through the boardwalk and walking trails. See beautiful birds and other wildlife while you enjoy a picnic on-site. The children’s playground area makes it a prime stop before you head to your next adventure in the St. Pete/Clearwater area.

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park 

On both the north and south sides of Tampa Bay, you’ll find this park that is based with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This amazing bridge joins St. Pete with Sarasota and is ideal for fishing. You’ll find deep water channels and shallow flats to cast out in and see if you can catch a redfish or spotted sea trout. In the warmer months, you may even snag a tarpon. Night fishing is a great idea here too, as the bridge is lighted, drawing in a variety of nocturnal fish to the area. If fishing is on your must-do list for visiting Florida, you will want to do it here!

Ride on the Calypso Queen. 

Celebrate while you’re on this side of Florida. In Clearwater, the Calypso Queen is legendary. This tropical-themed cruise features an all-you-can-eat buffet that you can enjoy while watching the sunset melt into the water. The Caribbean-themed party also features bottomless beer, wine, and rum punch, plus plenty of music to dance along to while you enjoy your vacation.

Take a Pirate Cruise

If you have kids along for the adventure, another way to enjoy a cruise on the water is to get onboard Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise. It’s fun for everyone on this classically styled pirate ship. The kids will adore the treasure hunt, water gun games, and face painting. And you’ll be glad you came too, for you’ll get to see dolphins swimming up to the boat, a splendid way to complete your day on the water.

As you can see visitors of all ages can enjoy a range of attractions in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Ckearwater. You have two options: make an active schedule or adopt a more laid-back strategy; it's up to you.