MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

Adventure Island - Tampa Bay's only outdoor water theme park.

Big Cat Rescue - Big Cat sanctuary featuring over 200 exotic and endangered animals.

Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay - An extraordinary atmosphere filled with naturalistic animal habitats and shows, hair-raising roller coasters and other rides, and dazzling live entertainment. New this year is Sheikra, the world's fastest, tallest and largest diving roller coaster.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium - A very unique natural attraction where one can view, touch and experience the biology and behavior of bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, river otters, sting rays, local fish, coral reefs, mangroves and more.

Dunedin Fine Art Center/David L. Mason Children's Art Museum - Includes a unique children's museum in addition to works of many local and Florida artists.

The Florida Aquarium - A world-class educational facility featuring nearly 5,000 aquatic plants and animals which tell the tale of water, native land and marine animals in Florida.

Florida Botanical Gardens - Specialty gardens featuring Florida plants, including wildlife nesting habitat, restored wetlands and natural bridges.

Florida International Museum - A Smithsonian Institute Affiliate with the largest private collection of Kennedy family artifacts.

Gulf Coast Art Museum - Features contemporary Florida art with a special focus on contemporary craft media objects from the twelve southeastern states.

Heritage Village - An open air living history museum featuring 23 "turn-of-the century" structures.

Moccasin Lake Nature Park - A showcase of the plant and animals species native to the area.

MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) - Largest science center in the Southeastern United States and home to one of Florida's two IMAX theaters.

Sunsets at Pier 60 - A nightly "street" festival on Clearwater's famous fishing pier celebrating the setting of the sun and featuring artists, craftsman and performers with musical entertainment.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge - Florida's first suspension bridge, 4.1 miles in length and soaring 183 feet above Tampa Bay.

Big Cat Rescue

There are lots of things to do and see in the greater Tampa Bay Area which both adults and children will find fun but which will also be quality learning experiences. (Parents, don’t tell your kids that second part.) Here are some highlights.

If you find animals and natural experiences fun, consider the Clearwater Marine Aquarium with its hands-on opportunities with turtles, sting rays and other sea mammals; see sharks and other Florida sea creatures and animals at The Florida Aquarium; every afternoon Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary staff walk out onto the beach to rescue injured birds; unspoiled Caladesi Island, ranked the sixth best beach in the United States, offers natural vegetation, bird life and interpretive programs for Florida nature study; wander the land and water trails of Weedon Island Preserve or Moccasin Lake Park to see animals and birds in their homes. Several cruise companies will take you out onto the bay and the Gulf of Mexico to catch sea animals and fish to see, touch and release; they also will take you to secluded beaches for shells and cruise by mangroves filled with birds.

If you like your entertainment more scientific yet still hands on and fun, visit MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) which has several different IMAX theater presentations daily and over 450 very hands-on experiences; get blown away by winds up to 74 mph or feel a lightning strike or plan your mission to Mars. At Great Explorations-The Children’s Museum, the touch tunnel, think tank and the body shop will fire imaginations, test wits and stretch mental muscles.

The David L. Mason Children's Art Museum opened in 1998 at the Dunedin Fine Art Center. With playful themes geared to parents and children, the museum makes fine art fun for kids through intelligent, interactive experiences. Contemporary Florida artists are featured in the center’s galleries.

History is fun here in Pinellas County. The Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa, built in 1897, is the oldest occupied wooden building still used for its original purpose; tour the underground railway; see the hidden passageways and maybe hear a ghost tale or two. Stroll through historic downtown Clearwater and beautiful Harbour Oaks with its early 20th century homes. Go back in time at Heritage Village, a turn of the century living historical museum where men and women dress in period costume and live and work as Florida’s pioneers did. Visit Tarpon Springs with its authentic Greek culture to see how sponges have been harvested for centuries. Climb the batteries at Ft. DeSoto, a Spanish American war fort. Nearby Hillsborough County’s Ybor City returns you to the time Tampa was the “Cigar Capital of the World”; turn of the century Cuban and Spanish culture permeates this historic landmark district, only one of three in Florida.

Drive go-karts and practice your swing at Celebration Station; play miniature or “real” golf at a wide variety of courses; ice skate in the Florida warmth inside the Countryside Mall; become an actor at Ruth Eckerd Hall’s children’s theatre; knock down the pins at the bowling lanes; swing and play at Pier 60 Park; swim at The Long Center; catch the big one and tell fish tales on one of the fishing boats in the largest fishing fleet on the West Coast of Florida; rollerblade or bike along the 46 mile Pinellas Trail; pretend you’re a swashbuckling pirate aboard the Captain Memo Pirate Ship.

Of course, there’s more but this should provide a sampling of all the fun kids of all ages can have in Clearwater.