1. Adventure Island

   Editor's pick

   Tampa : 10001 McKinley Drive, Tampa, 33612

   Adventure Island's 30 acres provide water-soaked excitement for guests of all ages. The park's laid-back Florida Keys theme is punctuated with corkscrew slides, waterfalls, a giant wave pool and a rambling river.The 17,000-square foot Endless Surf produces rolling waves up to 5 feet high. Paradi …

2. Al Lopez Park

   Editor's pick

   Tampa : 4810 N Himes Ave., Tampa, 33614

   The park, just a punt and a bunt from Raymond James Stadium and Legends Field, thrusts a determined green jaw into Tampa's urban landscape. It features 126 acres of rest and relaxation, with 13 picnic shelters, nearly 2 miles of trails, two ponds and a dog park. The Cancer Survivors Plaza crowns …

3. American Stage Theatre Company at Raymond James Theater

   Editor's pick

   Downtown St. Petersburg : 163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg, 33701

   American Stage is the Tampa Bay area's only professional regional equity theater. It presents its six-play Mainstage Series in its brand new, 182-seat Raymond James Theatre, across from Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg. Other productions include the "After Hours' Series, School Tour, and …

4. Anna Maria Island and Holmes Beach

   Editor's pick

   Manatee beaches : Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 34216

   The island just south of Tampa Bay is split into three quaint towns. Bradenton Beach is home to condos, resorts and waterfront rentals. Holmes Beach, a collection of small-beach houses and hotels, sits in the middle. It's most familiar spot is Manatee County Beach, which is the first thing most  …

5. Appleton Museum of Art

   Editor's pick

   Ocala : 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, 34470

   Permanent collection features ancient, contemporary, American, Asian, African, European, Islamic and pre-Columbian art.

6. Aquatica

   Editor's pick

   Orlando : 5800 Water Play Way, Orlando, 32821

   This water park, which sits just across the street from SeaWorld, has plenty of rides and activities to keep the whole family busy. With nearly 40 water slides, six rivers and lagoons and more than 80,000 square feet of beach area, there's bound to be a spot for any water lover to enjoy.The park …

7. ARTpool Gallery

   Editor's pick

   Grand Central District : 2030 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33712

   The brainchild of local artist Marina Williams, this small gallery located away from the main bustle of downtown offers popular weekend events that feature outrageous and inventive fashion shows, often with live music. But the main attraction is its boutique, with its vintage clothes, shoes and …

8. Biscayne National Park

   Editor's pick

   Homestead : 9700 SW 328 St., Homestead, 33033

   Biscayne National Park lies a few miles south of Miami. On weekends, the park's two main keys, Boca Chita and Elliott, fill with pleasure boaters trying to escape the hustle and bustle of one of Florida's largest cities. The bay, while not deep, is exceptionally clear. On a sunny day, you can se …

9. Bishop Planetarium at the South Florida Museum

   Editor's pick

   Bradenton : 201 10th St. W , Bradenton, 34205

   The Bishop Planetarium is a multipurpose theater that has an all-digital projection system in high definition. The theater has stadium style seating and a digital 25,000 watt Dolby 5.1 surround sound system. The planetarium features live star talks and immersive virtual journeys, along with a la …

10. Bok Tower Gardens

    Editor's pick

    Lake Wales : 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, 33853

    Located east of Tampa, near Lake Wales, Bok Tower Gardens offers spacious landscaped gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. (his father designed Central Park and the grounds of the Biltmore Estate), a 1930s era winter estate and the "Singing Tower." The centerpiece is 60-bell c …

11. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

    Editor's pick

    St. Petersburg : 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg, 33705

    This unspoiled nature park features 3 miles of trails and boardwalks on 245 acres along the shores of Lake Maggiore. Visitors can experience five Florida ecosystems: hardwood hammocks, sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, willow marsh and lake shore. The park is part of the Great Florida Birding Tr …

12. Bright House Field

    Editor's pick

    Clearwater : 601 N Old Coachman Road, Clearwater, 33765

    The Philadelphia Phillies home for spring training has a popular tiki hut pavilion in left field that's an extension of the popular Frenchy's local restaurant chain. Other features include: a 360-degree main concourse, open to the playing field; 7,300 fixed seats with grass berm seating for an a …

13. Busch Gardens

    Editor's pick

    Tampa : 3605 Bougainvillea Ave., Tampa, 33612

    One of Tampa Bay's top tourist attractions, Busch Gardens is an Africa-themed park with some of the southeast's largest roller coasters, Broadway-style shows, exotic animals, multi-story family play areas, rides and live entertainment.Rollercoaster enthusiasts, you'll love the choices here. The  …

14. C. Emerson Fine Arts

    Editor's pick

    St. Petersburg : 909 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 33705

    Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and the Sublime, a multi-media group exhibition including drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture and wood burning. Artists featured are: David Audet, Neverne Covington, Gil DeMeza, Wendy Dickinson, Mia Kaplan, Kyle, Dan La …

15. Ca d'Zan

    Editor's pick

    Sarasota : 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, 34243

    The historic home of circus magnate John and Mable Ringling is part of the Ringling Museum of Art. Restored in 2002 at a cost of $15 million, features 56 rooms full of art and the original furnishings. Timed tours allow visitors to see ornate finishes and a grand view of Sarasota Bay as they exp …

16. Caladesi Island State Park

    Editor's pick

    Dunedin : 1 Causeway Blvd. (at the West end of Dunedin Causeway), Dunedin, 34698

    Caladesi Island State Park contains one of the nation's best beaches. The 661-acre island is accessible only by boat or ferry. Caladesi has picnic tables and shelters near its sandy beach and a marina with electric and water hookups, as well as a snack bar and gift shop. Fishing is allowed, but  …

17. Campbell Park and Community Center

    Editor's pick

    St. Petersburg : 601 14th St. S, St. Petersburg, 33705

    Campbell Park and Community Center contains a playground, recreation center, picnic pavilion, football/soccer field, basketball courts, baseball field, youth softball field, tennis courts, and racquetball/handball courts. The recreation center is open Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM, Sat …

18. Carol Morsani Hall at David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts

    Editor's pick

    Downtown Tampa : 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa, 33602

    Part of the Straz Center for Performing Arts, the hall is one of Tampa Bay's premiere performance stages. With 2,610 seats and a stage 120 feet wide, the Morsani is the Straz's main hall for larger scale productions. It is a traditional horseshoe-shaped opera house that has continental seating o …

19. Channelside Bay Plaza

    Editor's pick

    Channelside : 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 33602

    The lively Channelside retail, nightclub and restaurant destination is situated along the water on the southern edge of downtown, near the Port of Tampa. It is anchored by Channelside Cinemas 10, which includes an IMAX theater. Hot spots include the hip Aja club and Splitsville luxury bowling al …

20. Charlotte Sports Park

    Editor's pick

    Port Charlotte : 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte, 33948

    Located about an hour and a half south of Tampa Bay, the refurbished park opened in 2009 as the home of the Tampa Bay Rays spring training and the Charlotte Stone Crabs minor league team. It features a boardwalk ringing the outfield, a family-friendly kids play area, upgraded concession stands a …

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