CATCH SOME (SUN) RAYS

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Tampa Bay has some of Florida's best city adventures, but it's also home to amazing outdoor experiences just minutes from downtown's glittering towers. Paddling, bird-watching, animal interactions -- they're all waiting for you to discover when you unlock Tampa Bay.

 

Walk into the Woods

Nature

Explore nature along the paths and boardwalks of major parks just minutes from the excitement of the city. Canoe Florida's only Class 2 rapids at Hillsborough River State Park (a big deal in a place that's pretty flat). Flatwoods Conservation Park is a wild oasis surround by suburbia, with extensive bike and running trails. Lettuce Lake Park offers canoeing along the Hillsborough River as well as a boardwalk and tower for spotting wildlife.

 

URBAN KAI

Urban Kai

Join Urban Kai for the perfect guided tour featuring a beautiful preserve right behind the shop! You will paddle around spectacular mangroves, with wildlife including manatees, dolphins and birds. The paddling trail provides an up-close look at these fantastic ecosystems and seagrass beds.

 

eboats

eboat

Experience Tampa in a distinctly styled electric boat. Rent one of our virtually silent, easy-to-operate, environmentally friendly boats today and enjoy Tampa from our perspective. Head out to get your heart pumping or coast leisurely on the Hillsborough River.

 

Alafia State Park

Alafia State Park

Mountain biking in Florida? You read that right! Alafia River State Park stands out from the typical flat topography of Florida. Some of the most radical elevation changes in the state are among this reclaimed phosphate mine – making it the ideal spot for biking adventure seekers.

 

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful

Leave things better than you found them by volunteering some time with one of our many environmental organizations, such as Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, or the Tampa Bay chapter of the Sierra Club. These and other groups welcome volunteers and regularly organize clean-ups and other project to improve the local environment.

You can also do your own part by making sure litter -- especially plastic -- goes into the trash instead into the bay. Our beautiful aquatic environment deserves the attention.

 

 


Video Series

BEHIND THE SCENES

Lisa Smith


This endangered species has been at the heart of ZooTampa's commitment to conserving Florida wildlife for over 20 years. Meet Lisa Smith and discover more about the Manatee Critical Care Center, where they treat injured and sick manatees and eventually return them to the wild, healthy and happy.