Family Fun In St Pete Beach
It can be argued that a St. Pete vacation is even more exciting for kids than it is for their parents—and the area’s many beaches are just the beginning! St. Pete and the surrounding area also offer tons of different adventures and attractions geared just for young vacationers and their families. From amusement parks and children’s museums to water parks, pirate cruises, and entertainment written for the young and young at heart, Tampa Bay knows how to show kids a good time.
Florida’s great outdoors also offer great opportunities for exploration—whether the mood strikes for fishing, horseback riding, a visit to the zoo, a preserve (check out the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary for starters), or the wetlands, we’ve got lots to see and do! Even if your family just wants to run off some energy on a nature trail, the St. Pete area offers some of the most breath-taking natural trails and parks in the country. There are also plenty of historical sites to explore, like Fort De Soto Park, where kids can pretend to fire off an authentic 19th century canon.
A must-do in St. Petersburg is the famous Sunken Gardens. An awe-inspiring botanical paradise in the midst of a bustling city, the 100 year old Sunken Gardens are St. Pete’s oldest living museum, home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. Feel free to unwind, stroll through meandering paths, lush with exotic plants from around the world. Explore cascading waterfalls, beautiful demonstration gardens, more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers, and a walk-through butterfly encounter.
There are also lots of great opportunities to get up close and personal with area ocean life and animals at local aquariums such as Tarpons Springs Aquarium, or the Marine Aquarium in nearby Clearwater where all kinds of activities are planned year-round for kids of all ages. Children between the ages of 8 and 11 can take part in “Day with a Dolphin”; a unique 3-hour program taught by CMA marine mammal trainers that offers a behind-the-scenes look at dolphin training, care, and conservation.
In the nearby quaint waterfront town of Dunedin, families enjoy the David L. Mason Children’s Art Museum, a gallery space that provides hands-on activities for kids and their companions to become acquainted with art—from a volcano, dragon cave, and pyramid, there’s lots to explore!
Great Explorations is another must-do stop for kids with a lot of energy and sense of adventure. Be it rain or shine, the creative and exciting activities at Great Explorations in St. Pete will make for great vacation memories. Kids learn the principles of motion, music, and technology through wall climbing, race car building, laser-beam harp playing, and so much more.
St. Pete is known for its top-notch and fun-filled attractions—from sandcastles and boogie boards, to sea turtles, water slides, and hands-on art, the Gulf is a perfect vacation spot for families.
