Summer Activities in Tampa for Single Parents

School is close to coming to an end in Tampa, Florida and soon your kids will be home more often. As a single parent, it can be stressful to figure out how to preoccupy your kids’ time during the summer months. To prepare you, we’ve put together a list of summer camps for kids, as well as things you can do with your children in the Tampa area.

1) Theme Parks

There is no shortage of theme park options in Tampa and within an hour and a half drive. Parks like Busch Gardens Tampa, Dinosaur World in Plant City, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Legoland offer plenty of entertainment options for children of various ages. While these parks are open during the pandemic, many require advance reservations due to limited capacity.

2) Museums

Kids love to explore Glazer’s Children Museum in Downtown Tampa, an interactive, learning laboratory. Glazer’s is inclusive in the fact that it offers accessible entrances, walkways, parking and exhibits for wheelchairs. GCM is also proud to be an autism-friendly museum.

The Tampa Firefighters Museum, also in Downtown Tampa, is a great place where kids can learn about real-life heroes. Kids can see how fire trucks have changed over the years, interact with hands-on exhibits and even slide down the pole. The museum is currently open by appointment only, Monday through Friday.

3) Aquariums

Tampa Bay features two state-of-the-art aquarium facilities filled with beautiful marine life and several education opportunities for your kids. The Florida Aquarium in Channelside is the home to over 9,000 animals including sharks, fish, jellyfish, turtles and more. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is located in Clearwater and is home to Winter the Dolphin. They are currently hosting an exhibit called “Whales: Living with Giants.”

4) Local Parks (FREE)

Water Works park is located off of Riverwalk and offers a splash pad and other interactive experiences for kids. Especially during the hot summer months, it’s the perfect place for the little ones to cool off!

Close by is Julian B. Lane Riverfront park, located near the University of Tampa and the Hillsborough River. Kids can play on the jungle gym and splash pad or run on the lawn area. While your children play, enjoy views of the Straz Center and Downtown Tampa!