Tampa Bay Recreation

Amusement Parks

Lowry Park Zoo of Tampa Bay houses over 1,600 animals in lush habitats that you and your friends and family can enjoy. The zoo also features rides, water play areas, shows, and restaurants. Lowry Park has been rated as the #1 Zoo in the United States by Child magazine.

Tampa Bay, Florida is blessed with great bodies of water making countless water sports available for any enthusiast. Renting a boat or jet ski on Tierra Verde; riding on the Starlight Dinner Cruise from the Garrison Seaport Center in Tampa; fishing excursions; taking a nature cruise and watching dolphins swim; viewing the sailing club as they depart and arrive at the Davis Islands Yacht Club, and more.

Quartz crystals washing into the Gulf of Mexico from the Appalachian Mountains have created the beautiful white sand beaches that Tampa Bay is known for. The beaches of the Tampa Bay area are unique because they include some twenty barrier islands. These unspoiled stretches of white sand include popular destinations such as Egmont Key, and Shell Key where you can see Florida’s sea life and birds in their natural habitat.

In the most recent Best Beaches survey compiled by Dr. Beach, Ft. DeSoto was ranked the number one beach in America, and Caladesi Island was ranked fourth in America. Warm Gulf sunsets, a vast array of sporting and recreational activities, fresh seafood, and great shopping are all reasons why the beaches in the Tampa Bay area are popular destinations.

Check out Florida’s Beach Finder for a complete list of beaches and activities in the Tampa Bay, Florida area.

Biking/Jogging/Relaxing

Bayshore Boulevard, a popular destination for many of Tampa’s residents, is a great place to exercise. Individuals, families, and friends can enjoy walking, running, strolling, rollerblading, or biking on this 4.5-mile stretch of sidewalk along the scenic waterfront. Occasionally, you will see the Blue Sharks Runners Club of Downtown Tampa or the Bayshore Runners Club training on Bayshore as well as some of the residents from MacDill Air Force Base. Friendship TrailBridge previously known as the “old” Gandy Bridge is approximately 2.6 miles in length and is the perfect place to run, bike, or rollerblade. Pinellas Trail is a 34-mile path suitable for biking, walking, jogging or rollerblading. Coachman Park at 301 Drew Street in Clearwater is another great place to enjoy the outdoors and is equipped with a bike trail. For more up-to-date events, Click here.

The Tampa Bay area has implemented and facilitated over 160 parks and recreational areas. Depending on what you are looking for, (walking trails, picnic/cookout areas, dog runs, tennis facilities, etc…) you can find them all on the Tampa Parks & Recreation website which allows you to filter through amenities of each park in the Tampa Bay area.

Entertainment

In Tampa, there are several areas of interest to vacationers as well as the local population. The diverse activities that are Tampa’s culture bring a vibrant mix of people together in this beautiful City by the bay. The Museum of Science & Industry and Imax (the largest science center in the Southeast), The Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Museum of Art, Historic Ybor City, and other enlightening places can be found in the heart of Tampa as well.

There is more to do than relaxing on the white sandy beaches and shoreline in the Tampa Bay area. You can also visit the Salvador Dali Museum, the Mahaffey Theater for a Broadway show, or shop and enjoy the restaurants and nightly entertainment at Baywalk and on the St. Petersburg Pier. John’s Pass Village encompasses shopping, dining, and entertainment on this historic fishing pier. Over one hundred merchants reside in the Village with exclusive retail shopping, a variety of restaurants, the local fishing fleet, cruise lines, boat rentals, jetskiing and parasailing. The Village is located on Gulf Boulevard on Treasure Island.

This area is also known for its holiday celebrations and weekend events. The Gasparilla Pirate Fest and parade is one example of a festival that has been celebrated for 101 years. On the last Saturday in January, every year, the city of Tampa puts on this extravaganza to celebrate Jose Gaspar, “last of the Buccaneers”, who pillaged the coastal waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th century. The fourth of July is one of the most celebrated holidays in the area. Day-long and evening festivities take place at the St. Petersburg Pier, Vinoy Park, and North Straub Park in St. Petersburg, Coachman Park in Clearwater, and the Channelside District in Tampa, Florida.

Golf

The Tampa Bay area is home to over sixty different public, private, and semi-private golf courses. Some of the more popular public courses include Babe Zaharias Countryside Executive Center in Clearwater, Eagles Golf Club in Citrus Park, and Rogers Park Golf Club in Tampa’s Metro District.

Spectator Sports

The Tampa Bay area is home to quite a few professional sports teams to keep the avid enthusiast entertained.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have completed 28 seasons in the NFL. They brought home the Lombardi Trophy in January 2003 after winning Super Bowl XXXVII. The home of the Buccaneers, Raymond James Stadium, also hosts the Outback Bowl and has been a New Year’s Day tradition for Tampa Bay for eighteen years.

Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg houses the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, a Major League Baseball team. They have sent 8 players to the All Stars and one player, Wade Boggs, to the Hall of Fame.

In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning brought the Stanley Cup home to the St. Pete Times Forum located in Downtown Tampa. On December 20, 1991, the Lightning were granted permanent status as members of the National Hockey League.

The Tampa Bay Storm, an Arena Football League team shares the St. Pete Times Forum with the Lightning as their home. The Arena Football League has been gaining popularity in the Tampa Bay area since the Storm won its first of five Arena Bowl Championships in 1991.

Tampa is also home to Legends Field, the spring training home for the New York Yankees. When the Yankees aren’t in Tampa, various special events including the games of the Minor League Tampa Yankees, are held at Legends Field.