by DK
Howard Bros. Circus model at the Tibbals Learning Center in the Ringling Museum, Sarasota
Highlights
Ringling Museum, Sarasota
See the elaborate estate on the bay created by circus legend John Ringling, and marvel at the world’s largest miniature circus (see Ringling Museum, Sarasota).
The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg
Discover this surreal museum, with unique art and architecture to fascinate all ages (see The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg).
Busch Gardens, Tampa
Ride on thrilling roller coasters, then say hello to hippos and lions, living as they would in the wild, at this exciting park (see Busch Gardens, Tampa).
The Florida Aquarium
Go underwater without getting wet at the Coral Reef Gallery, a mammoth grotto where more than 2,300 fish are on the move (see The Florida Aquarium).
Siesta Key
Take a walk on the beach that features on every list of “best in the US,” and is known for its superb white sand (see Gulf Coast Beaches).
Myakka River State Park
Explore these untouched lands that preserve Florida’s lush natural landscape and diverse wildlife at its best (see Myakka River State Park).
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The Best of The Gulf Coast
An intricately carved circus wagon in the Ringling Museum
The Gulf Coast is an area ripe for exploration. The cities clustered around Tampa Bay have distinct personalities and are famous for their winning combination of family attractions, wildlife, and abundant beaches. All these lie within a 100-mile (160-km) area and can easily be visited on a driving tour. With so much packed into a compact area, this beautiful part of the coast should not be missed.
Tale of three cities
Each of the three major cities in the Tampa Bay area has its own lures, and is less than an hour’s drive from the others. Tampa, the region’s port and business hub, is sometimes overlooked in favor of beach locations, but its riches include Busch Gardens, with its thrilling rides and animals, The Florida Aquarium, the Cuban flavor of Ybor City, major league sports, and the Museum of Science and Industry with a special section for kids, and a choice of vibrant eateries downtown. Sarasota is an upscale community of about 60,000 people, with museums and performing arts venues that rival those of cities many times its size, plus some of the state’s best beaches. St. Petersburg is more serene, with a beautiful boulevard by the sea and the world-famous The Dalí Museum, as well as St. Pete Beach, a distinct area about 10 miles (16 km) from downtown.
Wet and wild
Ever seen a manatee up close or “mermaids” doing acrobatics underwater? Drive from Tampa to see manatees drawn to the warm waters in winter and get even closer to these marine mammals in a floating observatory at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Costumed “mermaids” have been performing their antics to applauding crowds at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park since 1947. The Florida Aquarium has daily dolphin cruises to view some of the 500 wild dolphins that live in Tampa Bay and Swim with the Fishes, an in-water reef experience, offers guests aged 6 plus a watery adventure indoors in the aquarium’s replica coral reef.
The circus is in town
The excitement of Sarasota’s old days comes to life at the Tibbals Learning Center in the Ringling Museum, which boasts the biggest model circus in the world. See this amazing handmade replica of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in its heyday, with its eight main tents, including a big top with three rings and four stages full of tiny model clowns, aerialists, and showgirls. Other exhibits focus on the most exciting circus acts, acrobats, aerialists, animals, and clowns. Try out circus skills, such as walking a tightrope (safely close to the ground). Younger kids who are being taught circus arts show off their skills at the PAL Sailor Circus in late December.
Treats for tots
Finding attractions for younger children away from the beach can be a challenge, but not on the Gulf Coast. Younger kids will enjoy the friendly Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. With some 2,000 animals, there is plenty to see here, and lots of chances for close-up encounters and feeding the animals. Another kids’ favorite is the Sarasota Jungle Gardens, with cool, shady paths, a Kiddie Jungle with a playground, as well as delightful shows such as parrots on roller skates. Tampa’s Glazer Children’s Museum features fun experiences including flying a mock airplane or cooking as a chef. The Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg has crafts programs even for toddlers, along with plenty of attractions for older kids.
Water’s Journey exhibit in the Glazer Children’s Museum
< The Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast
A thrilling floorless roller coaster at Busch Gardens, Tampa
This region stretches for hundreds of sandy miles along the western border of Florida, with a host of exciting stops along the way. From beaches and manatee-watching to circus tricks, roller coasters, animal parks, and one of Florida’s most famous theme parks, the Gulf Coast has loads to keep families entertained. The cities welcome with aquariums and kid-friendly museums to intrigue all ages. Excellent roads make it easy to tour it all by car.
1. Gulf Coast Beaches
2. Busch Gardens, Tampa
3. The Florida Aquarium
4. Lowry Park Zoo
5. Museum of Science and Industry
6. Ybor City
7. Glazer Children’s Museum
8. Manatee Viewing Center
9. The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg
10. Bayshore Drive
11. Museum of Fine Arts
12. Great Explorations Children’s Museum
13. Ringling Museum, Sarasota
14. The Aquarium at Mote Marine Laboratory
15. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
16. The Circus Arts Conservatory
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>>Where to Stay
< The Gulf Coast
1. Gulf Coast Beaches
Soft sands and warm sunshine
Surf kayaking at Turtle Beach, Siesta Key
For many visitors, the Gulf Coast’s fabulous barrier beaches are the biggest attractions; reached via causeway bridges, they encompass some 35 miles (56 km) of soft sand, lapped by the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico. Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, lined with hotels, are convenient for families. At Sarasota, most development has been kept away from the beachfront. Several islands off the coast offer unspoiled sands ideal for beachcombers.
Key Sights
1. Caladesi Island Accessible only by boat, the island has a state park and an uncrowded beach ideal for playing.
2. Clearwater Beach Favored by active beachgoers, this resort beach has volleyball courts and watersports concessions. Sunset brings a nightly celebration with music and street performances.
3. St. Pete Beach This beach stretches for 7 miles (11 km) and is ideal for strolling. Lined with hotels, it is popular with families, and has excellent watersports.
4. Pass-a-grille This public beach at the quieter end of St. Pete Beach offers great sunset views. Bring quarters for parking.
5. Fort De Soto Park There are three sugar-sand beaches and a nature preserve with trails here (see Great Explorations Children’s Museum).
6. Anna Maria Island Located at the quiet northern end of Bradenton, this island has picturesque beaches and a laid-back feel.
7. Bradenton Beach This small island appeals to families with its beaches as well as the quaint town, with its historic pier, and a variety of shops, restaurants, and lodging.
8. Longboat Key This is an upscale resort island with lovely beaches and golf courses, but limited public access.
9. Lido Key This barrier island offers spacious beaches in three sections – dunes and trails to the north; resorts in the center; and a handsome shaded beachfront park to the south.
10. Siesta Key Justly popular, this small island is famous for its dazzling white-quartz sand that stays cool even on
the hottest days.
11. Venice Beach A bounty of sharks’ teeth lures sharp-eyed beachcombers to this beach.
Left St. Pete Beach Middle Caladesi Island Right Anna Maria Island
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>>Kids' Corner
Kids’ Corner
Sand craft
To make a fine sandy souvenir, pack up some sand and shells in a plastic container with a lid to take home from the beach. Spread glue on cardboard and cover it with sand, then glue shells in a pattern you like. Or make a border on a plain wooden frame for a picture or a mirror. Try to find enough scallop shells of the same size, since they look great as borders.
Bucket race
Here’s a silly beach game to play with friends and family. Set up two buckets away from the water’s edge and see who can fill the bucket first by carrying water from the sea using only their hands.
What is a sea shell?
The shells you see were home to sea creatures who have moved on. Some of the prettiest are scallop shells. Others may have held sea snails, crabs, or mussels. Caladesi Island State Park is a good place to look for shells on the Gulf Coast.
Sandy facts
A beach is made up of super-tiny, loose specks of rock that gather at the shore and are carried onto the land by waves or ocean currents. Strong waves carry the sand farther inland and pile it into dunes. Underwater coral reefs are one source of sand. The finest white sand, found on beaches like Siesta Key, is made of pure quartz crystal that has washed down from mountains far away then been carried to the sea by rivers.
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< The Gulf Coast
2. Busch Gardens, Tampa
Rocking roller coasters and roaring animals
Flamingos in Busch Gardens, Tampa
This granddaddy of Florida theme parks still thrills with its daring roller coasters, African safari, water adventures, and lively musical shows. The grounds are divided into themed locations, such as the Congo and Egypt – each featuring animals native to those regions; the Serengeti Plain is home to rhinos, giraffes, and more. Even the most adventurous will be challenged aboard the scream-inducing roller coasters, and little ones can enjoy their own special kingdom.
Key Features
1. Falcon’s Fury Standing at 335 ft (102 m), this exhilarating ride is the tallest freestand- ing drop tower in North America. Riders can briefly enjoy the view from the top, before heading face-down at 60 mph (97 km/h).
2. Edge of Africa This walking safari experience on the southern edge of the Serengeti Plain offers sightings of hippos, lions, hyenas, lemurs, and other exotic African animals in naturalistic habitats.
3. Cheetah Hunt Designed for speed, this roller coaster climbs more than 10 stories above the African landscape before plunging 130 ft (40 m) into an underground trench. It set a park record for distance with 4,429 ft (1,350 m) of track.
4. Iceploration This entertainment on ice features lavishly costumed, world-class ice skaters, amazing aerial performers, master puppeteers, and animal stars.
5. Serengeti Railway Take this train for a relaxing ride through all the major areas in the park.
6. Sesame Street Safari of Fun Aimed at pre-schoolers, this features rides and shows starring Sesame Street favorites.
7. Cheetah Run Get a close-up view of the world’s fastest animals from these floor-to-ceiling, glass-paneled viewing areas.
8. Cobra’s Curse The park’s most recent coaster, the wildly spinning ride, featuring a vertical lift, is built around the legend of a snake king in ancient Egypt.
Left Edge of Africa Middle Iceploration Right Cheetah Hunt roller coaster
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Kids’ Corner
Can you guess?
What is a group of kangaroos called?
What is a rhinoceros’s favorite food?
How many flamingos are there at Busch Gardens?
>> Answers
Not just a fashion statement
The dark fur rings you see around a meerkat’s eyes aren’t just for decoration. They function like sunglasses, reducing glare and allowing the animals to see vast distances.
Island inhabitants
Lemurs are curious critters with whiskers like that of a cat’s and long thick tails. They are found in only one place on Earth – the island of Madagascar.
Topsy turvy
Have you ever wondered why you don’t fall out of a roller coaster when you are upside down? Scientists and engineers have figured it out. Although gravity is pulling you toward the Earth, the force generated by the speed of the coaster going up is even stronger. That force is pulling upward on your body enough to counteract gravity. Just to make sure the ride is safe, the first passengers are sandbags or dummies. If they come down safely, the engineers and park workers try it out. Would you want to be one of the people who test a new ride?
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< The Gulf Coast
3. The Florida Aquarium
Fishy fun – from sharks to sea horses
A diver amid reefs and exotic fish at The Florida Aquarium, Tampa
Florida’s largest aquarium is a great outing for all ages. In the Coral Reef Gallery, get a close-up view of a colossal and colorful underwater world that is usually only seen by deep-sea divers. Discover Florida’s freshwater creatures, such as otters, alligators, and snakes, in the Wetlands exhibit, while the Ocean Commotion has predators including sharks, a giant Pacific octopus, and a lionfish. Children will love the sea horse exhibit, which shows off these adorable creatures that come in a surprising number of varieties. At the touch tank in the lobby, kids can pet a starfish and feel other sea creatures.
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>>Kids' Corner
Kids’ Corner
Sea horse tales
Sea horses swim upright instead of on their sides, moving up and down or sideways. When resting, they curl their tails around seaweed to keep themselves from floating away. Sea horses come in many colors, like orange, red, and green, and in patterns such as spots and zebra stripes.
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< The Gulf Coast
4. Lowry Park Zoo
Walk with a wallaby, feed a giraffe
A white tiger lounging in the Asian Gardens habitat area in Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa
This major zoo, with 2,000 animals on 56 lush acres (23 ha), is interesting for all ages, but is especially recommended for younger kids. It allows lots of close-up encounters, including feeding stingrays and giraffes, a petting zoo, and a special viewing area for watching manatees swimming underwater. The zoo’s Manatee Hospital offers care for injured, sick, and orphaned wild manatees. The animals are divided into seven sections that include Asia Domain, Safari Africa, and Florida Wildlife Center. The zoo also has the Tasmanian Tiger Family Coaster, and the gentle Gator Falls Flume Ride.
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>>Letting Off Steam
>>Eat and Drink
>>Kids' Corner
Kids’ Corner
Welcome aboard
Drones are unmanned vehicles that, like robots, are guided by remote control or controlled by special computer commands designed by humans. Drones can fly and also work under water. In the Museum of Science and Industry’s Drone Zone, kids can fly drones or submerge them underwater, help program one to perform exciting tricks, and even sit in a self- driving car.
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< The Gulf Coast
5. Museum of Science and Industry
America’s largest science center for kids
Lying down on a bed of nails in the Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa
Allow lots of time for the massive Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), an imaginative scientific playground that offers some 450 hands-on exhibits to keep all ages engaged in learning and fun. Experience the impact of hurricane winds, and ride a
high-wire bike on a cable suspended 30 ft (9 m) above the ground. Dinosaur fans will find skeletons of the largest articulated bones ever discovered. This huge complex includes a butterfly garden, a backwoods forest preserve, an IMAX® dome theater, and a planetarium. The separate interactive science center for children, Kids in Charge, is the largest of its kind in the country. Children are encouraged to investigate, create, and get involved in activities such as lying down on a bed of nails to learn why it does not hurt, and pulling in a tug of war to find out how levers work.