Lettuce Lake Conservation Park is one of Hillsborough County's most popular parks. More than half of the park's property lies in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River, consisting of a hardwood swamp forest. The remainder of the park consists of hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods plant communities. The park features wooded picnic areas, a 1.25-mile paved exercise trail and 3,500-foot boardwalk with an observation tower that provides scenic views of the Hillsborough River. There is a visitors center with displays about local nature and history, and a native plant garden. In 2024, two new playgrounds were built with swings, adaptive and sensory equipment, and a scavenger hunt where children look for medallions to identify animals and plants. Canoe and kayaks rentals provide up-close encounters with a variety of aquatic birds and wildlife.

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is a family-oriented theme park featuring up-close encounters with exotic animals, incredible thrill rides and live entertainment. With nearly 3,000 animals representing more than 300 species, the park’s zoological collection is a marquee attraction for families. With 10 thrilling coasters, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is known for the fastest, steepest, tallest coasters in the country. Iron Gwazi, the Parks newest and award-winning thrill ride, takes riders to new heights, plunging for 206 foot tall peak into a 91 degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour. Cheetah Hunt®, a triple-launch roller coaster, carries riders high above the park, and then races down along the ground through a rocky gorge. It is the park’s longest thrill ride and also innovatively integrates the coaster next to the Cheetah Run® animal habitat. Guests can get closer than ever to tigers in Jungala® and soar through the air on Montu®. And, for a behind-the-scenes look at how we care for animals, the Animal Care Center™ welcomes guests to closely observe the veterinary care and treatment we provide every day. Just across the street is the Adventure Island® water park featuring water slides, relaxing wave pools and other ways to have fun in the hot Florida sun.

The Florida Aquarium is located in the Channel District of Tampa and hosts 250,000 square feet of aquatic fun. Centered around a one-million-gallon coral reef tank with over 200 species of fish, the Aquarium to sure to delight. Don’t miss out on the other various exhibits and habitats featured, such as The Ocean Decade Exhibition, the Wetlands of Florida, Journey to Madagascar, and many more. The Aquarium also includes penguin meet and greets every day, and a restaurant and gift shop on-site for visitors. Check out their website for ticket pricing, memberships, and any upcoming events they may host.

Experience wildlife like nowhere else! Voted one of USA Today’s 10Best Zoos in the country and 13-time winner of TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, ZooTampa offers one-of-a-kind experiences that connect people to wildlife and each other in fun and immersive ways. Come nose-to-nose with an endangered Florida panther, witness life-saving care at our David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, go on a safari through Africa, and so much more! Every visit supports our commitment to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for animals and continues to inspire future generations to join us in saving animals and preserving the world we share.