The Lowry Park Zoo was ranked the Number One zoo in the United States by Parents magazine 2009 and Child magazine 2004, according to the Lowry Park Zoo's website. The outdoor exhibits showcase more than 2,000 animals. The zoo features hands-on interactive exhibits, shows and rides. The zoo also has a River Odyssey Eco-Cruise, which takes visitors on a boat on the Hillsborough River to see manatees, hawks, herons and river turtles (extra fee applies). For children the park has a video arcade, water play area and children's playground.
Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
1101 W. Sligh Ave.
Tampa, FL 33604
813-935-8552
lowryparkzoo.com
Busch Gardens is located in Tampa and offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal to animals, go on a safari ride, ride roller coasters, view shows and live entertainment. The park also offers a children's park called Sesame Street Safari of Fun, which has kid-size rides, water fun and a tree house. Some of the shows include the Critter Castaways, KaTonga, Let's Dance, Sesame Street 4-D and Rock a Doo Wop. The park features a variety of restaurants, snack shops and gift shops. Animal attractions are the Bird Gardens, Edge of Africa, Jambo Junction, Rhino Rally, Lory Landing, Jungala, Myombe Reserve and Serengeti Plain.
Busch Gardens
10165 N. McKinley Drive
Tampa, FL 33612
888-800-5447
buschgardens.com
The Florida Aquarium is another tourist attraction located in Tampa. The aquarium has exhibits which consist of the Wetlands, Bays & Beaches, Coral Reef and Ocean Commotion. The Wetlands exhibit features birds, alligators and river otters. The Bays & Beaches exhibit displays more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals that live along the Florida shores. The Coral Reef offers two interactive programs. The Swim with the Fishes program is for children (six and older) and adults and is a 30-minute experience of scuba diving with tropical fish (no previous training or experience is required). The other program is called Dive with the Sharks and visitors must be a certified SCUBA diver and at least 15 years old to do this program. Divers will get a chance to become face-to-face with sharks in a 93,000-gallon saltwater exhibit.
The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
813-273-4000
flaquarium.org
