Things to do after the holiday season in the Tampa Bay area

Hey, Tampa Bay friends! It’s currently 5 days after Christmas and if you’re anything like me you’re looking up “things to do in the tampa bay area this week”. Maybe you’re at home with the kids, maybe you have family in town that you need to entertain, maybe you just want to get out too!? Sometimes the issue with the Tampa Bay area is there are too many options! How do you know what to pick!? Let me break some of these options down for you!

Parks

Did you know that the Tampa Bay area has over 300 parks? 300! How much more nature do you need? Here’s my favorites:

Philippe Park in Safety Harbor. I may be a little biased toward this park because I grew up going to it all my life, but even after 30 years of visiting I still love this park so much. This park has so much to enjoy for every age level, from the rich history of the Tocobaga Indian Mound, a few playgrounds, plenty of picnic spots, water access, boat access, it has it all! Personally, my favorite part of the park is the walking trail that is right alongside the water and leads you up to the top of the Indian Mound. You are also very likely to see dolphins, manatees, or other sea animals. This park is free!

Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa. This park is only 20 minutes from the city, offering a nature oasis for anyone that needs a bit of fresh air. The Hillsborough river runs right through this park making it the perfect spot for some kayaking or canoeing, which you are able to rent at the park. Access per vehicle is only $2, making it such an affordable activity! Come walk the trails, explore the playgrounds, and set up a picnic at the picnic areas.

Thrill Seeking

If you’re looking to get a little adrenaline rush, Tampa Bay has you covered.

Busch Gardens. Did you know that winter is the perfect time to visit Busch Gardens? It’s less packed than the summer months, usually cooler, and less chance of rain. In my opinion the best part of Busch Gardens is the roller coasters, but I am an adrenaline junkie. If you’re more laid back maybe you’d enjoy the shows offered throughout the park. They have an ice skating show that is entertaining for all and a nice way to wind down and relax your feet. If you’re more into sight seeing they have animals all throughout the park. My family loves taking the train ride through the safari where you have wild animals roaming freely around you!

Adventure Island. Right next door to Busch Gardens is Adventure Island, their sister water park. One piece of advice that I can give you is make sure that you are looking at when they are closed during the off season! This year they are closed until March, but when they do open take advantage of the heated pools and less crowds! Adventure Island features many water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and many other areas to cool off and enjoy some time in the water.

Beaches

Let’s talk beaches. Winter season in Florida has its warmer days, which make great beach days! Check out one of the most famous beaches, Clearwater Beach. With it’s long pier, restaurants, activities, playgrounds, etc. It is a must see. 

If you’re looking for more of a quiet spot, how about Honeymoon Island in Dunedin? This is a nature park / beach. If you have a dog, the dog beach is such a cool spot to go to meet other puppies and let your pup dip in the ocean! Honeymoon Island is more of a quiet beach if you’re looking to enjoy the nature of a beach day. 

Indoor Activities

Maybe you find yourself or your crew enjoying inside rather than outside? That’s fine too, there’s plenty to do.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium. If you’re looking for something to add to that Clearwater Beach day, why not stop at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on the way there? This Aquarium is famous for being part of the movie “Dolphin Tale”. From dolphins to sea turtles this aquarium has everything that an ocean lover wants to see! 

Salvador Dali Museum in St. Pete. Any art lovers in your family? This is a must see museum featuring one of the largest collections of Salvador Dali art! This museum is so immense and has so much to see that you could easily spend an entire afternoon there! Did you know that the museum offers complimentary tours? Why not take advantage? If you are more of a self-guided explorer, maybe consider downloading the app that offers an audio tour and AR experiences.

Glazer Children’s Museum. Got any kids in your life that need a day out of the house? Especially with school out during the winter holiday, sometimes you just need somewhere interesting to keep the kids busy. This is the perfect spot. The Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa offers 2 stories packed with kids' hands-on activities! Some of the most popular areas in this museum are the water journey exhibit where there is a large working water table that you can manipulate, and “KidsPort” which is a kid sized city. If your child enjoys pretending to work at a grocery store, be a veterinarian or a fire-fighter, this experience is right up their alley!

New Year, New Adventures In Tampa Bay

As the holiday season fades and the new year kicks off, the Tampa Bay area offers countless ways to recharge and rediscover the beauty of our community. From exploring iconic parks and fascinating museums to simply strolling along the Tampa Riverwalk, there’s no shortage of adventures to fill your post-holiday calendar.

Whether you’re a lifelong local or just visiting, take some time to savor all that Tampa Bay has to offer—you might just discover a new favorite spot to return to time and time again.

Have fun exploring, and remember, if you fall in love with the area and want to make it home, I’m here to help make that dream a reality!