Tampa For Kidsby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 31 Aug 2007 06:50 PM Another one bites the dust. As is often the case in the fluid business of TV news yet another one of my former co-workers/friends is moving on. She just accepted a reporting job at station in the Tampa/St. Petersburg market. So off she goes... her ticket out of the frozen tundra sign, sealed and delivered. Whereas I am sad to see her go, I am trying to look on the bright side---now I have someone to stay with down in Florida. In fact, I've already planned out my entire first trip to see her--just kidding. Seriously, I will admit I did some research on the Tampa area and found that it has a number of family-friendly attractions that my 3-year-old would thoroughly enjoy. Here are a few stops we plan to make during our next trip to Tampa (sometime in February when the wind chill is 50 below and we're digging out from a 17-inch snowfall): Lowry Park Zoo My daughter was thrilled to hear that the Lowry Park Zoo just unveiled a brand new penguin exhibit to go along with their "Safari Africa" exhibit. The latter is the zoo's 5.6-acre tribute to wild beasts. It is a combination rainforest and savanna where you can walk or ride a camel to see the elephants, giraffes, zebras and wart hogs. The 24-acre zoo is also home to endangered manatees, Persian leopards and rare red pandas. If you have money left over after you make your way through the gift shop you should consider dropping a few dollars to view the birds-of-prey show, take a tour of the hands-on discovery area, or ride the endangered-species carousel. The zoo is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The best part: Parking is free. Tickets are $16.95 for adults, $12.50 for kids 3-11. Dinosaur World There is no way we could fly all the way to Tampa without visiting Dinosaur World. My dino loving 3-year-old will be right at home with the attraction's towering reproductions of prehistoric creatures. If your kid dreams of crossing paths with a brachiosaurus, triceratops or T-Rex (or at least of taking a picture with one) than Dinosaur World is where you want to be. And the fun doesn't stop there. Kids also get to dig for (and keep) three fossils in the hands-on exploration area. Admission is $12.75 for adults and $9.75 for kids 3-12. It's open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Great Explorations Great Explorations is located in St. Petersburg and is a hands-on children's museum with exhibits that let your kids feel, touch, and learn about everything from sailboats to sound waves. The building also boasts a music area equipped with a laser harp. After your children try their hands at making music they can explore the science behind air pressure by balancing balls between streams of moving air. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors. Children under 11 months get in for free. Open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Related Articles: Family Friendly Attractions In Miami Family-Friendly Attractions In Charlotte, North Carolina Wisconsin: Family Friendly Parks Summer Travel: Family Friendly Shows Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags children's museums, dinosaur, florida, Tampa, zoo Discuss this article
|
Travel categories |
