Visitors and residents in the city of Tampa, Florida can find a wide array of things to do within the community's greater metropolitan area. When the weather is rainy or too hot to spend outdoors, Tampa offers some indoor attractions with activities to pass the day. These attractions include animal exhibits and facilities dedicated to the arts with options available for both adults and families with children.
The Florida Aquarium serves as home to more than 20,000 marine animals and offers indoor activities for adults and children. Trip Advisor.com has previously ranked the facility as one of the top 10 aquariums in the country, and Parents Magazine has placed it in the top five "Kid-Friendly Aquariums" in the United States.
The aquarium has more creature on display than just fish; the Wetlands exhibit features sea otters, turtles and other animals that live near the water. Other well-known exhibits include penguins and a coral reef. Throughout the day, the aquarium offers shows and demonstrations.
The Florida Aquarium is open daily, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. It requires three to four hours to tour completely. General admission was $19.95 as of October 2010. Senior citizens and children receive reduced admission prices.The museum has an on-site, paid parking lot.
The Museum of Science & Industry, commonly called MOSI, covers 74 acres of ground. Past honors include a National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The Museum of Science & Industry has more than 450 exhibits to tour. Display are hands-on and allow learning through doing. Exhibits include Kids in Charge!, a large play area with 25,000 feet of exhibit space geared toward children. MOSI also has a planetarium that gives daily presentations and an IMAX movie theater that shows educational and first-run entertainment films.
The Museum of Science & Industry is open seven days per week, year round, including all major holidays. The museum requires at least four hours to tour. General admission was $20.95 as of October 2010. Seniors and children enjoy discounted admission prices. Special events and IMAX movies may carry an additional fee. The museum has a free parking lot.
The Tampa Museum of Art features a collection of sculpture, drawings, ceramics and other fine arts pieces. The collection includes numerous ancient Greek and Roman works as well as more than 390 paintings. Notable artists on display at the Tampa Museum of Art include Willie Cole, Rockwell Kent and Sylvia Plimack Mangold. The museum hosts special exhibits throughout the year and offers art classes for adults and children.
The Tampa Museum of Art is open daily and closes on some major holidays. General admission was $10 as of October 2010. Senior citizens, children and U.S. military service members receive discounted admission rates. Parking is available in the nearby W.F. Poe Garage for an hourly fee.
