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Kids Stuff

The Tampa Bay Area is second to none when it comes to children. Kids love Tampa's museums, its two impressive zoos, its theme parks, its aquarium, its beaches, its year round fun in the sun and so much more.



Lowry Park was named the Number One Family Friendly Zoo in America by Child Magazine. Natural outdoor exhibits for more than 1,800 animals from Florida and similar habitats include a Florida wildlife center and manatee hospital, Asian Domain, Primate World, an aviary, an Australian-themed children's zoo, and Safari Africa. The Florida Environmental Education Center (The Zoo School) serves more than 100,000 children annually. Programs offered are summer and holiday camps, daycare, preschool, and kindergarten. http://www.lowryparkzoo.com



Busch Gardens is the ultimate family adventure park offering an array of fascinating attractions based on exotic encounters with the African continent. A unique blend of thrilling rides, one of the country's premier zoos featuring more than 2,700 animals, live shows, restaurants, shops and games, Busch Gardens provides unrivaled "real" excitement for guests of every age. http://www.buschgardens.com



More than 300 hands-on exhibits, an IMAX theater and a planetarium comprise the Museum of Science and Industry. http://www.mosi.org



Youngsters also like Adventure Island, the water wonderland next door to Busch Gardens. Adventure Island’s 30 acres of water-drenched fun features the ultimate combination of high-speed thrills and tropical, tranquil surroundings. Within a soothing Key West atmosphere awaits an unrivaled blend of slides, corkscrews, waterfalls, a wave pool. a children’s’ water playground and other family attractions such as outdoor cafes, picnic and sunbathing areas, gift shops and a championship white-sand volleyball complex. http://www.4adventure.com

Kids also enjoy the Children's Museum of Tampa, a hands-on bonanza with its own places to create art, blow bubbles, make paper or to visit one of 16 child sized exhibit buildings including a post office, grocery store and a bank. http://www.flachildrensmuseum.com



The Florida Aquarium impresses nearly everyone with its four major galleries: Florida Offshore, Florida Coral Reefs, Florida Bays and Beaches, and the Florida Wetlands. Explore-A-Shore provides interactive fun (and knowledge, too) for area young people. http://www.flaquarium.org

Sources: Why Tampa Bay - Bush Gardens – Lowry Park Zoo - Adventure Island – Florida Aquarium