TAMPA BAY, Florida – It’s no secret that Florida summers can be brutally hot. If you’re looking for fun ways to cool off in and around Tampa Bay, consider an inflatable water park, 7.5 acre lagoon, or even a restaurant to snorkel their aquarium!
Big Adventure: Epperson Lagoon in Wesley Chapel, FL
Epperson lagoon
Location: 31885 Overpass Rd., Wesley Chapel
Cost: Adults $ 35 | Children are $ 28
Tired of the Beach? Instead, opt for a lagoon! Epperson Lagoon is one of the largest pools in the US with 7.5 acres for swimming. There’s loads of fun for the whole family with a 50-foot slide, inflatable obstacle course, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, beach toys, etc., virtual reality diving experience, lawn games, and a swim-up bar. If you want to soak up the sun and relax, you can also rent private cabanas, AquaBanas and Tikis. AquaBanas are inflatable cabanas that allow you to sit back and relax while floating on the water!
Splash Harbor Water Park in Indian Rocks Beach, FL | Giant adventure
Splash Harbor water park
Location: 399 2nd St., Indian Rocks Beach
Cost: Florida adult admission is $ 25.95 | Florida junior admission is $ 21.95
Located at the Holiday Inn Harborside on Indian Rocks Beach, this Key West-themed water park is tucked away just enough to avoid large crowds of tourists. It has a lot to do like Smuggler’s Run, a 12 meter high slide with a bowl function; Pirate’s Plunge, a body slide for the adventurous solo rider; a Treasure Cove Splash Zone for the little ones, a Great White Lazy River with over 600 feet of winding bends, and more. There is also a “Snack-Shack” with many lunch options and a Cruzan Rum Shack for frozen drinks, beer and others.
The lift adventure park
Location: 17362 Old Dixie Highway, Hudson
Cost: $ 15 for a 45 minute session
Challenge your agility and balance in this adventure park – all on the water! It’s the largest inflatable water park in Florida and has plenty of obstacles to face. But that’s not all there is to do in the park. There are also wakeboarding, paddleboarding, and kayaking options if water sports are more your thing.
Best Pro Kiteboarding in St. Pete | Giant adventure
Best pro kiteboarding
Location: 1031 4th St. N., St. Petersburg
Cost: Classes start at $ 60 per person per hour.
Speaking of water sports, kitesurfing is definitely one of the coolest to learn. It combines elements of surfing, paragliding and wakeboarding. Best Pro Kiteboarding offers lessons for every type of ability, from beginners to advanced. You can choose between a two-hour and four-hour lesson and jet ski assistants are provided with each lesson too! They take place on Skyway Beach right by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, but be careful before you leave. There were red tides in the area and you should make sure they aren’t there before continuing!
Tampa Bay Water Bike Company along the Riverwalk | Giant adventure
Tampa Bay water bike company
Location: 333 S. Franklin St. at the docks along the Tampa Riverwalk, Boat Slip 15.
Cost: USD 30 for adults | 25 USD for children (15 years and under)
Would you like to get active but are not a big fan of kitesurfing? Tampa Bay Water Bike Company has exactly what you need. This company allows you to bike along the Hillsborough River and see landmarks like the University of Tampa and Davis Island. You might even spot dolphins! The water bikes are pretty easy to ride and they also give you a quick safety briefing beforehand. There is also the option to rent single and tandem kayaks if you want to explore the river differently.
Snorkel and dine at the RumFish Grill on St. Pete Beach | Try and see Tampa Bay
Snorkeling in the RumFish Grill
Location: 6000 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Cost: $ 35
In the RumFish Grill you can not only enjoy fish as a meal, but also as a snorkeler! At this fascinating restaurant, diners can take a dip in their 33,500-gallon aquarium, home to over 30 species of fish and aquatic life native to the Gulf of Mexico. Expect creatures like tarpon, amberjack, grouper, redfish, black drum, cow-nosed rays, pompano, and nurse sharks. When you’re done wading through the 4-meter-long man-made seawater, head to the actual restaurant for ceviche, freshly peeled oysters, chilled shellfish, and more.
The Chassahowitzka River in Homosassa, FL | Big summer adventure
The Chassahowitzka River
Location: 8600 West Miss Maggie Dr., Homosassa
Cost: Parking is $ 5
Who would have thought that jungles and underwater caves could be accessible in Florida? At the Chassahowitzka River, also known as the “Chaz River”, you can experience this and more! This Citrus County park has shallow clear blue water, and if you want to swim, you can spot blue holes and underwater cave systems. There is tons of marine life that inhabit the waters so you may spot a few dolphins and otters, as well as numerous fish. There are also paddleboard, kayak, canoe, and jon boat rentals that can be accessed here. Don’t forget to wade in the spring until you reach “The Crack,” a section with a pond-like area with rope swings above it for the more adventurous.
Rainbow Springs State Park | Big summer adventure
Rainbow springs
Location: 19158 SW 81st Place Rd., Dunnellon
Cost: $ 2
Rainbow Springs is the fourth largest spring in the state with sapphire blue water, mossy hammocks, a variety of wildlife, and man-made waterfalls. Rainbow Springs is a great place to cool off in the summer as the water is a cool 72 degrees year round. If you want more than just swimming, the park offers tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing. Tubing is one of the most popular, and it costs $ 20 to rent. Take advantage now; Tubing is only available on weekends through September 28th when it closes for the winter season.
Weeki Wachee Springs is open for kayaking | Try and see Tampa Bay
Weeki Wachee Springs
Location: 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill
Cost: $ 13 for adults | $ 8 for children ages 6-12
Last but not least, Weeki is Wachee Springs, one of the best experiences you can have in all of Florida! It’s been a top Florida attraction since 1947 and when you see the natural crystal clear springs you’ll understand why. There are many unique experiences here, such as the mermaid show performed in an underwater auditorium, a spring-fed water park called Buccaneer Bay, and areas for kayaking and snorkeling. Also keep an eye out for the park’s wildlife, which includes turtles, otters, pelicans, and other exciting marine animals!