things to do in tampa

[karentan]

we're off to tampa for the day next saturday. original plan was to go to busch gardens during the day, but now looking for other options. we're going to see muse in the tampa bay times forum next saturday and between ticket prices and car hire to get there we're now thinking another £120 to get into BG is pushing it a bit.
can anyone suggest things to do in or around tampa that we can do during the day? we're driving over in the morning, then driving back to orlando after the gig.
preferably nothing too expensive lol! are there any good places to go see or visit or eat at?

 

[mikki.young]

There is a Salvador Dali museum in st Petersburg, about 20 minutes from Tampa. We were amazed at the variety of styles through his career. It wasn't expensive when we went but that was a few years ago. We found it far more interesting and enjoyable than we expected and hope to go again when we visit Tampa in August.

 

[pampat]

Lakeland College, halfway between Orlando and Tampa on the I4 has some fantastic buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There are tours for about $12 each. Not sure if you have children in the group, they might not enjoy it so much, but Lakeland itself is a pretty town, lakes, green areas, pretty houses and shopping.

Pam

 

[ford family]

You could drive south on I75 to Apollo Beach and visit the Manatee Viewing Centre. At this time of year there could be a couple of hundred of them there, enjoying the warm water runoff from the power station.
It is free.
http://tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/

ford family

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You know there is a free bus that goes to BG from Sea World. Sea World and BG are owned by the same company. So if you can grab a cab to Sea World you can still go to BG!!!!

http://seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampa/Park-Info/Directions

Scroll down to the bottom to see the info about the shuttle

 

[Magic Megadegs]

We will be going to see Winter the Dolphin (tail'less star of the Dolphin Tale) near Tampa at the Clearwater Aquarium. Not sure if you are travelling with children but mine are beside themselves with excitement about that!!!

 

[WiganTony]

How about Big Cat Rescue , approx 20 mins from Tampa Airport? They do tours on a Saturday at 10am and 1pm ($29pp, over 10s only) or 9am (under 10s).

Alternatively, there is the International Plaza just by Tampa Airport for some shopping, and they also have a number of restaurants including a Cheesecake Factory.

Could also consider just chilling out at Clearwater Beach, about another 30 mins beyond Tampa. When we visited last August, we took the Little Toot Boat Cruise and had a family of dolphins trailing our boat for 20 minutes or so.