Living in Florida, we're lucky to have some of the best amusement parks right at our fingertips! Now that our kids are getting old enough to enjoy them, we decided it was time for a family trip to Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay. We invited some extended family and had the BEST day together. I've partnered with Busch Gardens to share some of our favorite rides and attractions for the whole family!
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Rides and Attractions for the Whole Family
It's been a while since I made the trip to Busch Gardens, but it's SO fun to visit that I was delighted to bring some family with us this time and let my kids experience the magic, too. We had people of all ages in our group, from toddlers to grandparents, and everyone had an incredible day. Here are some things to put on your 'must-do' list!
Busch Gardens Tampa Rides
One of my favorite parts of Busch Gardens is (of course) the many rides! I'm a bit of a thrill seeker and these attractions do NOT disappoint. My favorite has got to be Falcon's Fury, which is a 335-foot freestanding drop tower! I'm pretty sure I lost my voice a little from screaming, but it was SO fun.
Another ride we loved (even the kids!) was Stanley Falls Flume! It was HOT the day we visited Busch Gardens and Stanley Falls helped all of us cool off.
Sheikra and Cheetah Hunt are also at the top of my list for 'must-do' rides. Talk about roller coasters that make your belly do flips, and these fit the bill.
While our youngest group members couldn't partake in most of these rides, the adults in our crew absolutely loved them. Don't worry, the little ones had plenty to do, too!
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Play Areas for Young Children
There are several attractions for kids (even the youngest!) at Busch Gardens. Between Sesame Street Safari and the Treetop Trails Play Area, my kids could have spent the entire day playing and learning.
Sesame Street Safari has a fantastic splash pad and tons of fun rides. You can meet your favorite characters from Sesame Street, watch them perform in shows, and even dine with them! Big Bird has been my favorite character since I was a little girl, so of course I had to grab a picture with him!
The Treetop Trails Play Area is three stories tall and is full of climbing nets, bridges, tubes, and even a maze! There's another splash pad area for kids to cool down and you can bet mine took advantage of it on the hot day we visited.
There's a zipline and family-friendly drop tower called Wild Surge if Falcon's Fury is a little too intense for you! We spent quite a bit of time just letting the kids explore the play areas.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Animal Attractions
One of the coolest things about Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay is that it's an amusement park AND zoo. It's not often you find these two adventures combined. We're lucky to have one of the largest zoos in North America in Busch Gardens!
We were able to see so many animals up close on our trip to Busch Gardens. I love big cats, and seeing the cheetahs and lions was one of the highlights for me.
Our kids thought that getting up close and personal with a hippo was the coolest thing ever (and I'd have to agree)! Hippos spend most of their time underwater (thanks for that fun fact, Busch Gardens!) and the kids would have stayed there all day if they could have!
Along with the hippos, the Edge of Africa exhibit had an incredible variety of fish that were fun to watch. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip!
Busch Gardens Animal Care Center
As a nurse, it was fascinating to me to see the inside of Busch Garden's Animal Care Center. While you're visiting, you can watch surgeries, see x-rays, and learn about how the animals are cared for. Since Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay cares for over 12,000 animals, you can imagine they've seen it all. It was amazing to see how much they love the animals they work with.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food and Drink
We can't forget about food! Busch Gardens has the option of including a meal plan with your ticket and I'd absolutely suggest taking advantage of that. If you have a family, you'll definitely save money over the course of the day with drinks and snacks, not to mention meals.
A nice, cold beer was the perfect treat in the middle of a hot day, and who doesn't love pretzels with nacho cheese!? This was a snack option with the meal plan and is the perfect mid-day treat!
To get a break from the heat, we ate at the Serengeti Overlook Restaurant. Not only is it air-conditioned and a nice, sit-down break from all the walking at an amusement park, you have the most incredible view. From our table, we could see out into the Serengeti Plain, and were able to catch glimpses of animals while we ate!
If you're coming to Florida for a family vacation this winter or spring, make sure you book a day at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay! Your whole family will love the variety of attractions. Between the rides, animals, play areas, and restaurants, you'll spend an entire day and want to come back again for more!
Have you been to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay?
What was your favorite attraction, or what looks most fun to you?
Let me know in the comments!
Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to Busch Gardens at no cost to facilitate this post about our favorite attractions. As always, all opinions are my own.
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