Tampa Bay, Florida

Formerly known as Channelside Bay Plaza, this new park in east Downtown Tampa features a biergarten, eateries and an events lawn. If you want to make a day of this area, the Florida Aquarium, the American Victory Museum, and the Spiltsville bowling alley are close by. Cargo and cruise ship watching at the Tampa Port Authority can be a great pastime too.

Starting as a small community theater in the late 1970s, American Stage has evolved and for over a decade has been voted “Best of the Bay” by local residents. If in the area during March — April, a treat is one of the performances in a nearby park, often a play by Shakespeare. Bring your blankets and wine to enjoy theater outside among the trees.

For an entertainment experience that will go into the wee hours, check out the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This is the only place in the Tampa Bay area that offers table games such as blackjack and baccarat. For the non-gamblers, there is a spa, large pool with surrounding cabanas, various bars and Floyd’s Nightclub.

Voted by Parents Magazine as the best zoo in the nation for families, the Lowry Park Zoo is home to over a thousand animals that live in lush natural habitats. There are eight habitat areas and plenty of interactive experiences for the little ones.

The largest theme park in the area, Busch Gardens’ hallmarks are its roller coasters and nearly 3,000 live animals, incorporated into various exhibits and shows. SheiKra will give you all the thrills you can handle with a 200-foot drop, 90 degrees straight down, or for the traditionalists there is Gwazi, a wooden roller coaster with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. Jungala is an attraction where guests can get face-to-face with orangutans or play tug-of-war with tigers.

More than 200,000 visitors from all over the world frequent the Dalí Museum each year. The collection of one of the world’s most eccentric and unique artists opened in Cleveland in 1942, 40 years later it was moved to St. Petersburg. Dali’s career spans several themes, from the Impressionist and Cubist styles of his early years to his transition to Surrealism, and it is represented here not only by almost 100 oil paintings, but photographs, sculptures, and watercolors as well.

The Sponge Docks are a nod to the once-thriving sponge industry that helped make Tarpon Springs famous. Today, this area is home to many family-owned Greek restaurants, bakeries and markets, but also offers visitors live entertainment, sightseeing cruises, shops, an aquarium, as well as lots of local Greek touches, such as hand-rolled cigars.

The Museum of Fine Arts, located in St. Petersburg, has the only comprehensive art collection on the west coast of Florida. The museum has both an extensive permanent collection, as well as exhibitions from notables such as Dale Chihuly and Andy Warhol. After taking in a collection, browse the shops of Beach Drive or enjoy the waterfront at the nearby Straub Park.