Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in tampa, FL

This Weekend's Family Activities

by Caroline

April 02, 2009

Spring has sprung and April is here! Many of us are getting excited for Spring Break next week. If you won’t be traveling but are looking for some fun things to do in the area next week, I will be posting some fun activities on Monday. But there are some exciting events that will rev your family’s engines this weekend too.

Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

For all the fast car fans in your family, the annual Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will certainly get everyone’s motors running. Rumor has it there will be some new, quieter engines on display this weekend. Come join car and racing enthusiasts all weekend in downtown St. Pete! Be sure to check their website for all sorts of details. The event schedule can be found here.

Festival of States Illuminated Night Parade

To kick off the Honda Grand Prix Weekend, be sure to check out the Thursday evening parade, fireworks and festivities at the Festival of States. This event was begun to coax winter residents to stay in the area a bit longer. Now winter and year round residents enjoy the fun at the “south’s largest civic celebration”.

Spring Fling and Earth Day at the Library

A “Spring Fling for Preschoolers” will be happening on Saturday at 11:00am at the Pasco County Regency Park Library. And your children can celebrate Earth Day at 2:00pm at the Centennial Park Library on Saturday also.

Skywatch at MOSI

Since this week’s space shuttle landing, perhaps you and your children continue to be fascinated with all thing celestial. Come visit MOSI where a free sky watch will be happening in the butterfly garden at sundown on both Saturday and Sunday.

This Weekends Family Activities

by Caroline

February 20, 2009

It’s hard to believe that February is more than half way over now! Spring training for baseball is right around the corner and our temps are starting to warm back up already. So what’s there to do this weekend? Here are a few ideas for the family.

Things to do, upcoming week

by Becky

September 29, 2008

Monday, Sept. 29 10 a.m. Preschool Story Time , St. Petersburg South Branch library, ages 3-5, call 727-893-7244 for more information. 11 a.m. Mother Goose , St. Petersburg Mirror Lake Branch library, ages walkers-3, call 727-893-7268 for more information. 7 p.m. Family Puppet Theatre , East Lake Community Library, all ages, call 727-773-2665 for more information. 7 p.m.  Read more...

Things to do, upcoming week

by Becky

September 01, 2008

Monday, Sept. 1 Labor Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Pioneer Days , Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, Dade City, children's games, arts & crafts show, war re-enactment, call 352-567-0262 for more information. 1-3 p.m. Fun in the Sun ~ outdoor brass-band concert, Carrollwood Cultural Center, free, call 813-269-1310 for more information. 4-9:30 p.m. Salsa En St. Pete Celebration ,  Read more...

Things to do, upcoming week

by Becky

August 08, 2008

Friday, Aug. 8 5-8:30 p.m. Nite Zoo , Lowry Park Zoo, free unlimited rides after 5, cost included in admission, free for members. 7-9 p.m. Ulmer Park, Largo, Panakolada , steel drums, free for all ages. Saturday, Aug. 9 Puss In Boots in Bradenton, Bits N Pieces Puppet Theatre, call 813-659-0659 for more information. 10 a.m. Free Kids' Matinee , The Princess Bride,  Read more...

Things to do, upcoming week

by Becky

August 01, 2008

Friday, Aug. 1 August Double Dino Days ~ Buy a Dinosaur World ticket in August and get a free ticket for December. 10-11 a.m. Flash! Bang! Boom! Discover our Amazing Weather! Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center , ages 5 and up, free but registration is required. Call 727-453-6800. 5-8 p.m. Free First Friday , Kid City, all ages 5-8:30 p.m. Nite  Read more...

Things to do, upcoming week

by Becky

July 25, 2008

Saturday, July 26 10 a.m. Free movie at Beach Theatre , St. Pete Beach, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad . 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dolphin Encounter cruise on a double-deck, 125-passenger boat into the Gulf of Mexico along Clearwater and Caladesi Island , all ages, $65/person. Make reservations here. 11 a.m. The Backyardigans Live! The Tale of the Mighty Knights , Tampa Bay Performing Arts  Read more...

Things to do, upcoming week

by Becky

July 18, 2008

Friday, July 18 10 a.m. Tickets go on sale to public for Sesame Street Live: Elmo Grows at Ruth Eckerd Hall. 11 a.m. Puppet show at Great Explorations , The Children's Museum in St. Petersburg. Call 727-821-8992, Ext. 209 for more information. Saturday, July 19 10 a.m. Free movie at Beach Theatre , St. Pete Beach, Batman with Adam West. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Snooty's 60th  Read more...

Three days in Tampa, Day 3

by Becky

July 10, 2008

As part of our July Escapes theme , I am highlighting over three days fun things for travelers with preschoolers to do in Tampa. On Tuesday, I suggested Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo , rated the No. 1 children's zoo in the country. On Wednesday, I talked about The Florida Aquarium , which offers 200,000 square feet of exhibits, shows and indoor fun. Today, I have suggestions for great festivals and  Read more...

Things to do, upcoming week

by Becky

June 27, 2008

Friday, June 27 10-11 a.m. Story time, Kid City, Oldies but Goodies Books Every Child Should Experience , all ages, free with admission 11 a.m. Story time, Fantastic Fridays (toddlers >3 & preschool 3-6), Barnes & Noble, Carrollwood 3 p.m. Story time, Fantastic Friday Bilingual, Barnes & Noble, Tampa Saturday, June 28 WEDU Summer Smash 50th Birthday Bash  Read more...

Landmarks: Bridges of Tampa Bay

by Becky

June 24, 2008

Most children love bridges, and Tampa Bay has plenty. Take a look at a map and find Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the bridges in the area. Then take a ride over some of the bridges and get a beautiful view of the water, land and sky. Go for sunrise or sunset. Watch for birds, boats and planes while you're at it! Bayside Bridge Courtney Campbell Causeway Gandy Bridge Howard  Read more...

Things to do this weekend

by Becky

June 04, 2008

John Levique Pirate Days in John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach starts Friday. Admission is free. It runs from 3-11 p.m. on Friday, noon-10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. You can participate in a family treasure hunt from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Children can enter a costume contest at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Check out what else is going on  Read more...

Birthday party ideas

by Becky

June 03, 2008

Here are some unique birthday-party ideas. Hire a Fire Truck : For $350, a firefighter will arrive in a real fire truck, complete with lights, siren, horns and hoses. Parties are geared to the age of children, who will get fire tips, a tour of the engine, and they will get to try on firefighter gear. Each child gets promoted to junior firefighter and gets a plastic fire helmet and goody  Read more...

99 (or So) Things To Do in Tampa Bay Before Your Children Grow Up

by Becky

May 29, 2008

Air, land & sea Carriage rides at The Pier (St. Pete) HMS Bounty  (St. Pete) Hot-air balloon rides Jolley Trolley (Clearwater Beach) MacDill AFB Air Fest Streetcars (Ybor City) Suncoast Beach Trolley (St. Pete) Trains (Largo) Aquariums Clearwater Marine Aquarium The Florida Aquarium Parker Manatee Aquarium (Bradenton) The Pier Aquarium (St. Pete) Tarpon  Read more...

5 best 'day trips' within an hour

by Becky

May 19, 2008

I'm going with a water theme here for some day trips within an hour away, depending on where in Tampa Bay you live. 1) Anna Maria Island ( Bradenton , 51 minutes away) ~ Walk on the beach, play in the water and collect shells, ride the trolley or visit a local museum. 2) Lithia Springs Park (32 minutes away) ~ Take a dip in the inviting 72-degree water of  Read more...

History lesson: Step back in time aboard the SS American Victory

by Becky

May 16, 2008

First, read up on the history of the SS American Victory , the Merchant Marines , the Naval Armed Guard and nautical terminology on the Web site or at the library. Draw pictures of ships and the sea. Find out where the ship has been and look for those places (Europe, Korea, Vietnam) on a globe or in an atlas. Then take a tour of the SS American Victory , a functioning 1940s era  Read more...

Planes, trains and automobiles: Things that go vroom!

by Becky

May 13, 2008

With a railroad history like Tampa's, you'd think we'd have plenty of trains nearby and we do! Ride the miniature trains at Largo Central Railroad from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first full weekend of every month. It's free, but they appreciate donations. Take a ride on bigger trains at Inland Lakes Railway in Eustis, Mount Dora and Tavares. Psst! Thomas the Tank Engine usually visits  Read more...