West Central
Florida
FUN


Click the city of interest on the map for a list of fun activities and approximate price range, per person.


$=$5 and less
$$=$5 - $10
$$$=$10 - $15
$$$$=$20 and up


In this section: Historical Sites and Museums   Theme Parks   Animal Attractions
Be sure to also check out: Nature   Water Fun   Cruises & Tours   Sports


Sarasota

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS
Mote Marine Aquarium

1600 Thompson Parkway
Sarasota, FL 34236
941/388-2451
Admission: Adults $12. Children 4-12 $8. Children under 4 & members admitted free. Prices subject to change without notice. Call for current information. Mote Aquarium, together with its laboratory's educational programs, makes the exciting world of oceans more understandable and accessible. Look, touch & explore more than 200 varieties of fish and invertebrates of the sea. Touch many of these amazing animals in the 30-foot touch tank & visit the new Immersion Cinema and Mysterious Mollusks exhibit.




THEME PARKS
Sarasota Jungle Gardens
3701 Bayshore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34234
239/355-5305 $$

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
811 South Palm Avenue
239/366-5730

Oscar Scherer State Recreation Area
U.S. 41 North of Venice
239/483-5956

Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary
City Island
239/388-4444

MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore Road
239/355-5101

Bellm's Cars & Music of Yesterday
5500 North Tamiami Trail
239/355-6228

Gulf Coast World of Science
8251 15th Street E.
239/957-4969

Marina Jack 2
2 Marina Plaza
239/366-9255

Historic Spanish Point
U.S. 41, Osprey
239/966-5214

Bradenton Area
MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
Desoto National Memorial
P.O. Box 15390, Bradenton, FL 34280-5390
239/792-0458. free

Manatee Village Historical Park
604 15th St. East, Bradenton, FL 34208
239/749-7165 free

Gamble Plantation State Historic Site
3708 Patten Ave., Ellenton, FL 34222
239/723-4536 $

Clearwater Area
MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
36 N. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
727/937-3540 free

Heritage Village
11909 125th St., North, Largo, FL 34644
727/582-2123 free

THEME PARKS
Celebration Station
24546 U.S. 19 North, Clearwater, Florida 34623
727/791-1799
10230 Palm River Road
727/661-4557

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS
Spongerama Exhibit Center
510 Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
727/942-3771 free

Konger Coral Sea Aquarium
850 Dodecanese Blvd. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
727/938-5378 $

Clearwater Marine Science Center Center Aquarium
249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 34630
727/441-1790 $$

Dade City
MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
Pioneer Florida Museum
Off N U.S. Highway 301, on Pioneer Museum Rd., Dade City, FL 33526
352/567-0262 $

Osprey
MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
Historic Spanish Point
500 N. Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41), Osprey, FL 34229
239/966-5214 $

Springhill Area
THEME PARKS
Buccaneer Bay Waterpark
6131 Commercial Way, Springhill, Florida 34606
352/596-2062. U.S.: 800/678-9335 $$

Weeki Watchi Spring
6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606
352/596-2062; Fla. and U.S. 800/678-9335 $$$

MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
West Pasco Historical Society Museum
6431 Circle Blvd., New Port Richey, FL 34652
727/842-0680 free

Tampa Area
ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS
Big Cat Rescue
12802 Easy Street
Tampa, FL 33625
813/920-4130
At Big Cat Rescue your visit helps save over 150 bobcats to tigers who have been rescued from abandonment and abuse. Come for a tour, hand feed the cats, volunteer or be a keeper for a day and spent the night. Call 813 920-4130 or www.BigCatRescue.org

MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33617-2099
813/987-6300; Fla. and U.S. 800/995-MOSI $$$

Henry B. Plant Museum
401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33606
813/254-1891 $

Ybor City State Museum
1818 9th Ave., Tampa, Florida 33605
813/247-6323 $

THEME PARKS
Adventure Island
4500 E. Bougainvillaea Ave., Tampa, Florida 33612
813/987-5660 $$$$

Busch Gardens
3000 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33612
888/800-5447 $$$$

Florida Aquarium
701 Channel Side Drive, Garrison Seaport Center, Tampa, FL
813/273-4000 $$$

Lowry Park Zoo
7530 N. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33604
813/935-8552 $$

Gator Jungle of Plant City
5145 Harvey Tew, 1-4 Exit 10, Plant City, FL 33565
239/752-2836 $$

Bellm's Car and Music of Yesterday
5500 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243
239/355-6228 $$

Sarasota Jungle Gardens
3701 Bayshore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34234
239/355-5305 $$

St. Petersburg
MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES
Great Explorations, The Hands-On Museum
1120 Fourth St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727/821-8885 $$

St. Petersburg Museum of History
335 SecondAve. N.E., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727/894-1052 $

The Sunken Gardens
1825 4th St N.
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704
727/896-3186
Sunken Gardens offers a tropical paradise in the midst of St. Petersburg. Sunken Gardens is the oldest botanical gardens in Florida, and many plants and animals native to the rainforests thrive inside. Alligator and Parrot shows are featured daily.



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