Tampa has a lot going for families with school-age kids. The combo of theme parks, real outdoor adventure, hands-on science, and genuinely unique experiences means kids 6–12 can do things here they won't find anywhere else. The city rewards the curious and the fearless — and there's no shortage of either.
Thrills and Bragging Rights: Top Adventure Experiences
Start with iSmash Tampa. This is a rage room — kids put on a full protective suit (helmet, face shield, coveralls, gloves) and smash electronics, glass, and objects with baseball bats. It's completely legal, entirely supervised, and rated 5.0 on Google from over 1,400 reviews. That's not a coincidence. Kids who do this talk about it for months. Budget $80–$120 for 4 participants, and book in advance — walk-ins don't always get in.
Empower Adventures Tampa Bay is the other 5.0-rated experience in the area. This is a zip line and aerial adventure course set in a real cypress forest — kids clip in and fly through the canopy on multiple elevated trails with zip lines, sky bridges, and platforms. At $150–$220 for 2 adults + 2 participants, it's a splurge, but it's the kind of thing kids picture when they say they want to "do something cool." Reservations required, closed Tuesdays.
Adventure Island is Tampa's outdoor water park. Waterslides ranging from tame to legitimately steep, a wave pool, and a lazy river make this a full-day destination. Figure $200–$280 for a family of 4 all-in. Buy tickets online in advance — walk-up prices are noticeably higher. The Busch Gardens combo pass saves money if you're doing both parks.
Hands-On Learning That Doesn't Feel Like School
Museum of Science & Innovation — MOSI is Tampa's big science museum. The high-wire bicycle — riding a bike across a cable suspended in the air — is the one exhibit kids remember forever. Add IMAX for a full experience. Budget $70–$110 for a family of 4, and plan 3–5 hours. Weekdays are quieter and kids get more hands-on time.
Mission Moonbase lives inside MOSI and is included with general admission — no extra cost. Kids see actual spacesuits and mission hardware from real space programs. For kids who are into astronauts and engineering, this is the kind of up-close encounter that makes space feel real rather than abstract.
Saunders Planetarium is also inside MOSI. The dome-projected night sky show is something no screen at home can replicate — kids recline and watch constellations and space narratives unfold above them in 360 degrees. Covered by standard MOSI admission, which runs $30–$50 per show for a family of 4.
Great Explorations Children's Museum in St. Pete runs $50–$70 for a family of 4. The role-play exhibits — grocery store, construction zone, medical station, puppet theater — are genuinely immersive and hold attention for 2–3 hours. If you're a member at another children's museum, check ACM reciprocal membership before buying full-price tickets.
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center is a working marine science center with a 4.8 Google rating where kids touch horseshoe crabs and stingrays in open touch tanks. This isn't a premium upsell at a big aquarium — it's the standard experience here. $30–$50 for a family of 4, and it pairs perfectly with the St. Pete Pier (free) right next door.
High-Energy Indoor Adventures
Altitude Trampoline Park Tampa is the pick for older kids who want more than just bouncing. Foam pit, dodgeball courts on trampolines, a basketball dunk zone, and ninja obstacle courses — it's a full 1.5–2 hour session. $60–$90 for 2 kids + 2 adults. Arrive at open to claim the full hour before it gets crowded.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in New Tampa is the most feature-rich indoor adventure park in the area. High ropes course, rock climbing wall, go-karts, VR, laser tag, full arcade — it keeps raising the stakes for kids who've done it all. $80–$120 for 2 kids + 2 adults. Weekdays don't open until 4pm, so plan accordingly.
Launch Family Entertainment Clearwater packs mini golf, bumper cars, laser tag, bowling, and arcade games under one roof. This is the destination for mixed-age groups where different kids have different interests. Budget $80–$120 for a family of 4 depending on what you choose.
Laser Ops Xtreme Fun Center gets specific credit for the laser tag arena — immersive blacklight sci-fi theme, fog, actual cover positions. Kids ages 6–14 go hard in here. Full day including laser tag, arcade, and snacks runs $70–$100 for a family of 4. Visit Saturday morning at 10am, before the teen evening crowd takes over.
Catapult Adventure Park St. Pete has trampolines, aerial obstacle courses, and ninja warrior elements — more challenge-focused than a standard trampoline park. $70–$100 for 2 kids + 2 adults. Weekdays open at 2pm only; weekend mornings are the best family window.
The Airosphere combines giant inflatable obstacle courses with a full arcade. The multi-lane racing inflatables are the standout — kids race through them repeatedly without getting bored. $60–$90 for 2 adults + 2 kids plus arcade games. Closed Monday, so check before going.
The Big One: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is Tampa's flagship. It's a zoo and a theme park simultaneously — kids watch giraffes and rhinos on the Serengeti Plain, then sprint to SheiKra, one of the tallest dive coasters in the Southeast. The Sesame Street Safari of Fun zone keeps younger siblings busy for hours. Budget $350–$450 total for a family of 4 (adult tickets $85–$105, kids 3–9 at $75–$95, plus $20 parking and $40–$60 for food). Buy tickets online at least 7 days ahead for 20–30% off. Florida residents get year-round discounts.
Outdoor Adventures Worth Making Time For
HorsePower for Kids & Animal Sanctuary has a 4.8 Google rating from over 1,600 reviews. Kids get hands-on with horses, ponies, goats, and farm animals. Pony rides, feeding sessions, and horse demonstrations. Budget $50–$80 for a family of 4. Go in the morning — Florida heat in the afternoon is real, and the animals are more active early.
Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park is free, sits on the Hillsborough River, and has kayak and paddleboard rentals nearby. Kids who want to be on the water love this. Pack a picnic — no need to spend beyond whatever water rental you choose.
Empower Adventures Tampa Bay merits a second mention specifically for kids 7+ who can handle the aerial elements. The zip line sections are fast enough to generate genuine screams. This is the outdoor experience with the highest kid-satisfaction ceiling in the Tampa area.
Insider Tips for Big-Kid Visits to Tampa
- Book iSmash and Empower Adventures in advance. Both fill up, especially on weekends. Walk-ins are a gamble you'll lose.
- Trampoline parks on weekday mornings are the sweet spot — same price, half the crowd. Altitude, Bounce Zone, and Flying Squirrel all benefit from this.
- Buy Busch Gardens tickets at least a week out. The 20–30% online discount is real. There's no reason to pay gate price.
- MOSI + Mission Moonbase + Saunders Planetarium is a full day on one admission. Three distinct experiences, one ticket.
- Adventure Island combo pass with Busch Gardens is worth it if you're spending 2+ days in Tampa — the combined admission costs less than buying both separately.
- Laser Ops and Catapult on Saturday mornings before noon are significantly less chaotic than weekend evenings.
Bottom Line
Tampa doesn't run out of things for big kids to do. The city's range — from a 5.0-rated rage room to zip lines to a genuine zoo-theme park combo to space museums — means every kid finds their version of a great day. Start with the highest-rated experiences (iSmash and Empower Adventures for thrills, MOSI for brainpower), use Busch Gardens as your anchor activity, and you'll fill 3–4 days without repeating yourself.