Places to Take Teens in Tampa

If you find yourself in a position where you must entertain teenagers in Tampa, you need to keep this list handy. Each is a go-to place that will keep your teens in Tampa occupied for hours on end. Of course, not all teens will like all these choices. Keep their personal tastes in mind as you explore the options.

If you’re throwing a big event that includes teens, you can also find plenty of thrill rides, carnival games and water slides to keep them entertained.

The Beach

This is one of the best all-time places to entertain teens in Tampa. Tampa Bay is home to some of the best beaches in the world, such as Clearwater Beach or Pass-a-Grille beach. Make sure you go early enough so you get a good parking spot. Bring all the supplies you need. The beach, the water and the sunshine will take care of the rest.

Take a Boat Tour

The beach isn’t the only way to enjoy the water in the Tampa Bay area. There are a ton of boat tour options that teens can enjoy, depending on their interests. There are pirate cruises, dolphin tours and boat trips to find shells or shark teeth on small, remote islands. Sunset cruises are another fun choice, especially if you choose one with brunch on board or dinner and dancing.

Rent a Jet Ski

If your teen is looking for something a little more adventurous, consider renting a Jet Ski. There are a ton of Jet Ski rental places in the area to choose from. Younger teens will not be able to drive the watercraft, so you’ll need an adult willing to take them on a ride. But it will be worth it to see their faces light up as they glide over the water!

Take a Stand Up Paddleboard Class

The calm waterways of Tampa Bay and St. Pete make it easy to try stand up paddleboarding. There are places like Urban Kai that not only offer stand up paddleboard rentals, but also have classes to teach first-timers how to do it. It’s great exercise and an incredible way to enjoy nature.

Go on a Food Tour

If your teen is a budding foodie, there are so many amazing restaurants to explore in the Tampa Bay area. One fun way to experience the local food scene is by taking a food tour. You’ll get to enjoy the sights while also tasting some of the finest cuisine the area has to offer. Multiple organizations offer food tours, but Tampa Bay Food Tours has options for downtown Tampa, St. Pete and Dunedin.

Go on a Ghost Tour

Brave teens with an interest in all things spooky might enjoy going on a ghost tour. These tours take participants to local spots that are rumored to be haunted. Whether it’s a ghost tour of Ybor City, the Tampa Theatre or the streets of St. Petersburg, there are plenty of haunts to check out in Tampa Bay.

Try to Solve an Escape Room

Get your teen to put down their phones and pick up some clues in an escape room. If your teen enjoys puzzles and problem-solving, this might be right up their alley. This can be a fun challenge for a family to try together, as escape rooms have different difficulty levels to choose from. Tampa has many different escape rooms, so find one with a theme that matches your teen’s interests.

Sporting Events

Tampa Bay is home to four major sports league franchises. Each also has a stadium that provides its own, unique experience and attractions to entertain teens in Tampa. They include:

• Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, home to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning
• Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays
• Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, home to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who play soccer in the USL Championship

During spring training, you can also visit George M. Steinbrenner Field to catch a New York Yankees game. Other MLB teams with spring training in the area include the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Busch Gardens

This place is great for little kids, especially the zoo. But to entertain teenagers in Tampa, it also has a fantastic collection of roller coasters and other thrill rides, like the Falcon’s Fury and Congo River Rapids.

They also have seasonal events throughout the year, like Mardi Gras, Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town, that may offer additional attractions or musical acts.

Adventure Island

Teens and waterparks go together like peanut butter and jelly. They will enjoy getting lost for a day at a waterpark. And with Adventure Island, you get one of the best waterparks in the country, with many different water slides, pools and lazy rivers to explore. Plus, it’s right across the street from Busch Gardens.

Lowry Park Zoo

Lowry Park Zoo is consistently rated among the best zoos in the country. If your teens in Tampa are into animals, you must take in this zoo. It’s also a great place to see a show or two and for the kids to learn about environmental sustainability for all species of animal.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is cooler than your average aquarium because they specialize in rescuing injured sea animals, rehabilitating them and then returning them to the wild. Winter the dolphin, star of the “Dolphin Tale” movies, calls this aquarium home.

Visit An Art or History Museum

Many teens in Tampa love to see great art. Fortunately, the Tampa Bay area provides many opportunities in this area. There’s the Salvador Dali Museum, Museum of Fine Art, the Chihuly Collection and the Morean Arts Center, all in St. Petersburg. There’s also the Tampa Museum of Art and the Tampa Bay History Center, both in downtown Tampa.

Head to a Skate Park

Skateboarding and roller skating are popular with a lot of teenagers. If your teen is one of them, bring them to a local skate park for a fun day. Skate Park of Tampa offers all this and even allows BMX riding on certain days.

When you’re looking for a way to entertain teenagers in Tampa, keep these in mind. They’ll save you a lot of time trying to come up with something yourself. And you might enjoy yourself at these places, too!