Fun Ways for Families to Beat the Heat
Take a break from the Florida heat with these fun family activities and attractions in St. Pete-Clearwater.
The Splash Pad at the St. Pete Pier is a great place to for kids to stay cool while running off some steam.
Don’t let the warm temperatures get you down! In St. Pete-Clearwater, winter highs are in the 70s, but they can top 90 degrees in the summer, and it can be humid, too. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and cool off with these fun activities.
Make Waves at Splash and Water Parks
The massive inflatable slide at TradeWinds Resort caters to hotels guests with adventurous kids.
Hotel guests at TradeWinds Resort can enjoy a float park in the Gulf with inflatable slides, floating trampolines, chill-out loungers and more.
Kids will also love getting soaked at the Splash Harbour Water Park at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Harbourside in Indian Rocks Beach with its two giant, twisting water slides, kids’ splash zone and winding lazy river.
Looking for a big thrill? The inflatable Hippo Waterslide near the Gulf Front Park Lot in Treasure Island is four stories tall!
Splash pads are especially popular with the younger set. The splash pad at Coachman Park in Clearwater has nearly 70 nozzles and four vertical fountains. The Majeed Foundation Splash Pad at the St. Pete Pier is a hit with kids and parents – it’s conveniently located next to a snack pavilion. And Dell Holmes Park, located near Lake Maggiore, has a splash pad that’s open from April 1 through September 30.
Explore the Undersea World at Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
Learn about preserving the local marine environment by visiting the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center at the St. Pete Pier.
Just steps from the splash pad at the St. Pete Pier, the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center will encourage your children’s sense of wonder with exhibits that are all about the natural waters that surround them. They’ll meet urchins and crabs at the touch tanks, create an island in an interactive sandbox, and learn how water and land interact to form Tampa Bay’s landscapes.
Join an eco boat tour and head out into the bay to explore the estuary, watching for dolphins and manatees and learning about the marine critters the naturalists bring up in their nets.
Since you’re at the Pier, check out the small beach and plentiful dining nearby.
Play & Learn at Great Explorations
Let kids be kids at the Great Explorations Children's Museum in St. Pete.
Just north of downtown St. Pete, the popular Great Explorations Children's Museum promises hours of hands-on fun for little ones. Kids are invited to create brilliant works of art, (safely) climb high in the playground structure at Garner's Dive Shop at Connie's Cove, experiment in a kid-sized science lab, learn about the wonders of wetlands, touch real fossils, put on a news broadcast, and much more. All of this is enjoyed in air-conditioned comfort.
If you have extra time available, go next door to see the flock of flamingos at Sunken Gardens. Even on warm days, the gardens provide plenty of shade for a relaxed stroll.
Make a New Friend at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Save 30% off adult admission at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Nothing builds a child’s excitement like getting face-to-face with the dolphins, sea turtles, otters and other sea creatures that call the vibrant marine ecosystems of St. Pete-Clearwater home. Most of the residents at Clearwater Marine Aquarium were found injured or stranded, and many are being rehabilitated for release back into the wild. Head to the aquarium to enjoy animal care experiences, immersive exhibits and boat tours.
In the summertime, CMA offers a "Sea Turtle Nesting Ride Along" experience where up to three guests can accompany biologists on a beach excursion to learn about sea turtle nesting and hatchlings.
Play Old-School Arcade Games
At the Replay Museum it's just a flat fee to play all the games.
With rows of vintage pinball machines and clusters of arcade games from the days of PAC-MAN and Donkey Kong, Replay Amusement Museum in Tarpon Springs will blow their minds. And don’t let the word “museum” fool you – for the price of admission, you can play each and every one of the more than 100 games to your heart's content.
Cool Off with a Sweet Treat
Nothing beats cooling off with a gourmet ice pop from Hyppo on Central Ave.
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as ice cream or another frozen treat on a hot day, and St. Pete-Clearwater has an ice cream shop or gelato spot around nearly every corner. Try Paciugo Gelato & Caffe and Plant Love Ice Cream in St. Pete. The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops on St. Pete’s Central Ave. is a local favorite – your kids will be amazed by the variety of popsicle flavors to choose from. Can’t do dairy? No problem. Many Hyppo flavors are dairy-free, and Plant Love offers vegan options.
Set Sail on a Sunset Cruise
Experience sunset from Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise.
With gentle breezes off the Gulf, and the heat of the day dissipated, a sunset cruise is the perfect way to cap off a vacation day. Check out Captain Memo's Original Pirate Cruise, the Pirate Ship out of John's Pass, or any number of other wonderful sunset boat tours.