Summer is officially here! There is certainly no shortage of things to do around the Tampa Bay area. Although we live right by the beach, there are tons of other ways to spend your summer days besides dipping your toes in the sand. Check out our picks of 50 pretty amazing ideas of things to do in Tampa Bay, St. Pete, Clearwater and beyond this summer!
1. See a classic movie at Tampa Theatre
On select dates now through August, see a wide variety of classic films in one of the country’s best-preserved movie palaces as part of Tampa Theatre’sSummer Classics Movie Series. Date night highlights include Vertigo, Enter the Dragon, The Breakfast Club, Titanic, and many more!
2. Go tubing in a natural spring
If you’re up for a summer day trip, make the trek to Rainbow Springs State Park,KP Hole or Ichetucknee Springs where you can tube in refreshingly cool spring waterfor hours. Or, check out one of these must-visit Florida tubing destinations. Just be aware that the parks close once they reach capacity, almost a guarantee on summer weekends.
3. Spend the day at a local resort pool
Did you know you can visit several Tampa Bay hotel pools without an overnight stay? Just purchase a day pass through ResortPass and enjoy the amenities for the day without booking a room. Some of our favorite options include The Don CeSar, Epicurean Hotel and Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach. (Hint:We also put together a guide to Tampa’s coolest hotel pools, which includes day pass options alongside pools that are exclusive to overnight guests.)
4. Take a sunset cruise
Beat the heat by booking an eveningsunset cruise. There are loads of options throughout Tampa ranging from full-blown dinner cruises to BYOB floating tiki bar tours and dolphin watching excursions.
5. Visit the Florida Aquarium
Get in touch with your inner kid by spending a day admiring sea creatures at The Florida Aquarium. This downtown Tampa aquarium has a variety of exhibits include aquatic animals like fish, sharks, penguins, turtles, seahorses and more. Add-on experiences invite you backstage with penguins or on a dolphin cruise.
6. See a movie at the drive-in
Pack snacks and park the car for an old school date night at the local drive-in. Multiple drive-in movie theaters are accessible from Tampa including Funlan Drive-In, Ruskin Family Drive-In, and the Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland, just 30 minutes away.
7. Go kayaking at night
Kayaking will never be the same once you’ve experienced it after dark. Take a road trip to Florida’s Space Coast to experience the phenomenon of bioluminescence, which is only active in the summer months and is best viewed during a new moon phase. Or, stay local with a moonlight paddle on the Little Manatee River with Canoe Outpost – Little Manatee River.
8. Try scalloping
The 2023 scalloping season in Tampa Bay kicks off July 1 and lasts through September 24, 2023. PascoCounty’sseason has been extended this year from its usual two-week session and runs from July 1-August 6, 2023. This underwater treasure hunt for the quick moving mollusks is an activity even kids can participate in as you mostly focus in the shallow water. Make this summer the year you finally give it a try!
9. Cool down with a frozen treat
Popsicles, boozy desserts, and ice cream are the key to surviving Tampa’s steamy summers. Cool down with gourmet ice pops from The Hyppo, combine drinks and dessert with Beans and Barlour’s boozy desserts, and savor scoops of unique flavors a Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Check out our favorite Tampa Bay dessert spots.
10. Plan a DIY Armature Works food crawl
Located in the Tampa Heights neighborhood, Armature Works is a public market and food hall. We love the waterfront setting, rooftop bar, multiple food vendors, and large outdoor areas for eating and mingling. For a memorable date, stop at a different food vendor to pick up appetizers, drinks, entrees and dessert.
11. Share an ice cream flight
Don’t stop at one scoop of ice cream. Sample multiple flavors in an Instagram-worthy sampler box from Revolution Ice Cream. Mix and match scoops to indulge in an assortment of flavors like Drunken Brownies, Hotcakes, and Eurotrash.
12. Dine on the Yacht Starship
Departing from Tampa and Clearwater, each Yacht Starship tour is an all-inclusive evening aboard a stylish dining yacht. Besides enjoying a 2.5-hour cruise with romantic sunset views, you’ll also be treated to a 3-course meal, open bar (beer and wine) and plenty of time for dancing.
13. Celebrate Summer Nights at Busch Gardens
Get your thrills after dark by heading to Tampa’s Busch Gardens for Summer Nights. From May 22-August 6, the park will stay open late allowing you to experience your favorite rides after dark. Other perks include entertainment, free beer samples, and more! You can also enjoy weekend fireworks shows.
14. Go on a Brewery Hop
There’s no shortage of craft breweries throughout Tampa Bay, and the best way to see them is to plan a DIY brewery crawl. Pick an area and visit a few new-to-you breweries or grab a beer passport from the Tampa Bay Ale Trail to earn rewards like free beers and swag. Here are a few of our favorites in Tampa and St. Pete.
15. Zip line after dark
You don’t have to wait until fall to check out one of Tampa Bay’s best places to go zip lining. Empower Adventures offers sunset zip line tours every weekend providing a unique view of our gorgeous Tampa sunsets. Or try a combo course including zip lines and aerial challenges at TreeHoppers Aerial Zip Line Adventure Park, which stays open late until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
16. Try indoor skydiving
Feeling adventurous, but not quite ready to jump out of an airplane? Indoor skydiving is the perfect date for you. iFLY Tampainvites you to experience the same rush of skydiving within a wind tunnel with an expert instructor by your side.
17. Book a staycation
You don’t need to leave your zip code for a romantic getaway with your love. Plenty of Tampa Bay hotels and resorts are offering summer deals and packageswith serious perks.
18. Go glamping at Lake Louisa State Park
Plan a weekend in nature camping with a twist. Lake Louisa State Park’s glamping tents include cooling units, a plush queen bed, outlets and more. Cozy details will make you feel right at home, while the temperature control units provide reprieve from the summer temperatures. Get the full scoop on this experiencehere.
19. Take a day trip to Kennedy Space Center
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a must-do this summer, even if you’ve visited in the past. Walk among rockets, see the space shuttle Atlantis and Saturn V rocket, be amazed at stunning IMAX films and check out the Heroes & Legends exhibit. Take this summer date idea to the next level by planning your visit to coincide with a rocket launch.
20. See an outdoor movie or concert
Pack a blanket and chairs for a free screening of an outdoor movie or live concert this summer.
Free outdoor Rock the Park concerts occur on the first Thursday of each month at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, and The Straz also has a lineup of free Live & Local concerts featuring local Tampa Bay artists each month.
21. Embark on a drive-thru safari
Get up close and personal with exotic animals without leaving the comfort of your car’s air conditioning. Wild Florida, located about an hour and 45 minutes from Tampa, recently doubled the size of its popular drive-thru safari. Throughout the four-mile expedition set on 170 acres, spot 150+ animals and even add on a stop to hand feed giraffes. Stick around to visit the Gator Park afterwards, which is included with the safari park admission cost.
Alternatively, Safari Wilderness is a 260-acre wildlife area in Lakeland where exotic animals roam free. While you can’t drive through in your own car, there are guided safari tours in an open-air vehicle with a canopy over top to keep you cool.
22. Attend a night market
For a summer date idea that won’t break the bank, visit a local nighttime street festival or art walk after dark. Try St. Pete’s Second Saturday ArtWalk for an after-hours visit to multiple art galleries. Or, find food truck fare and live music at 3rd Thursday Tampa.
23. Have a food truck date
Enjoy a trifecta of food trucks, co*cktails and live music at 3rd Thursday Tampa, a monthly food truck street festival taking place in Downtown Tampa’s Channel District. You’ll typically find 15+ food trucks set up at each event, which takes place at the Grand Central at Kennedy.
24. Spend the day at Keel Farms
Head to Plant City for an afternoon well spent at Keel Farms, a brewery, winery and restaurant all in one. Wander through the vines, sip craft beer and wines made onsite, or attend one of the farm’s fun events like sunset yoga.
25. Plan a St. Pete Pier date
The revitalized St. Pete Pieris situated along the waters of Tampa Bay and is ideal for picnicking, biking, relaxing, waterfront dining and so much more. Check it out on your next date night with our guide to date night at the St. Pete Pier.
26. Go on a Sunrise to Sunset Road Trip
Where else can you soak up the sunrise on one coast and then drive to another to drink up the sunset, all in the span of one day? Thanks to Florida’s peninsular shape and relatively narrow width, you can experience a truly unique sunrise to sunset road trip from coast to coast. For maximum enjoyment, consider making this a two-night venture by booking a hotel on the east coast and another on the west coast. Follow our itinerary for a road trip from Cocoa Beach to Clearwater.
27. Spend the Day at The Dali
Experience the awe-inspiring surrealist works of Spanish artist Salvador Dalí at The Dalí Museum in St. Pete. The waterfront setting, artful café and impressive collection make for an awesome day date sure to spark creativity and connection. Oh and, the AC helps, too.
28. Book a couples’ spa day
Make this the summer of relaxation with a unique treatment designed with couples in mind at aTampa Bay area spa.Book wine-inspired bliss at Spa Evangeline, unwind with a custom playlist and feel the bass through the massage table at The Rock Spa & Salon, or release stress together side by side in a spa suite at Spa Jardin.
29. Check out a rooftop bar
Nothing says summer date night like watching the sun set over the downtown skyline or the ocean. Take the stairs or elevator up a few floors to one of these rooftop bars in Tampa Bay and see the city from a different angle while enjoying a drink or two.
30. Visit Fairgrounds St. Pete
Fairgrounds St. Pete is the area’s newest immersive art experiences/ choose your own adventure-style exhibit. It’s whimsical, fun, and a one of a kind experience you won’t see, hear, touch, or even smell! See our review of Fairgrounds St. Pete here so you know what to expect before you go.
31. Watch a Tampa Bay Sunset
One of the best things about living in Tampa is getting to experience all of the incredible sunsets. Our guide to the best places to watch one includes local parks, restaurants, bars and more.
32. Check out an Escape Room
Put your problem solving skills to the test as you work to solve mysteries and decode clues to escape your themed room before your designated time is up. OurGuide to Local Escape Rooms includes six mind-bending options.
33. Explore Local Attractions with CityPASS
CityPASS is a ticket experience you can purchase online to enjoy multiple attractions across Tampa Bay. Each pass includes admission to five popular local attractions, including indoor spots like The Florida Aquarium, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, MOSI, and more. Other options include Busch Gardens, a sunset cruise, dolphin cruise and ZooTampa.
34. Peruse Mazzaro’s Italian Market
If you and your partner are dreaming of Italy, travel to Mazarro’s Italian Market to stock up on all of the Italian goodies you need for an Italy-themed date night at home.
35. Check out a local book club
If you and your partner are bookish types, join a local book club! A few of our favorite options include Oxford Exchange’s monthly book club and Book + Bottle’s newnonfiction book clubon the third Wednesday of each month (there’s also a fiction option).
36. Go Indoor Rock Climbing
Ready to try something new and adventurous? Vertical Ventures St. Pete is a 20,000 square foot indoor rock-climbing gym with routes up to 40 feet tall. Memberships are available if you fall in love with the experience and want to make it a regular date night challenge.
37. Visit a museum
Go artsy with a visit to Tampa Museum of Art, which offers pay-what-you-will admission every Thursday. Go quirky with the surrealist works on display at The Dalí or by spending a day at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Or enjoy hands on fun at MOSI which hosts periodic adults-only nights at the museum.
38. Book a backstage encounter at the zoo
Beat the heat and explore the zoo with a behind the scenes tour early in the day.
Image credit: ZooTampa
39. Check out a local cooking class
Taking a cooking class together is a great way to level up your date nights at home. Our top cooking class picks includeSur La Table in Hyde Park Village and the Publix Aprons Cooking School of Citrus Park, which offers monthly hands-on style cooking classes for couples.
40. Enjoy an adults-only night at MOSI
Enjoy after-hours access to MOSI just for adults during Science After Dark. This event includes a night of exploring the exhibits while sipping beer and wine and noshing on food samples. Check out the events calendar here for upcoming event info and tickets.
41. Take a Day Trip to Disney and see the fireworks
Disney fireworks are BACK! If you’ve got an annual pass, then consider spending half of the day at a local Orlando resort pool near the parks that offers day passes through ResortPass (like Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin). Then, hit the parks in the late afternoon and stick around for the nighttime fireworks finale. You don’t even have to enter the parks to see the fireworks! Here are our favorite vantage points outside the parks.
42. Do a TECO Line Crawl
The TECO Streetcaris a convenient and free way to get around Ybor, Channelside and parts of downtown. The 2.7-mile route gives you hop on, hop off access that’ll plant you within walking distance of stops like the Ybor City Museum, The Florida Aquarium, Sparkman Wharf, and Amalie Arena. Take a look at the route and plan your own DIY crawl hopping on and off to sightsee like tourists in your own city.
43. Spend the day at a local waterpark
Nothing says summer like a day spent splishing and splashing at a waterpark. Book a day at Adventure Island to laugh your way down waterslides, float in the lazy river, or just lounge by the water. Check out the park’s new waterslides like Rapids Racer, and Wahoo Remix and enjoy a beachy drink at the Hang Ten Tiki Bar.
44. See a show at The Straz
Tampa’s top performing arts center has a lineup of free outdoor concerts featuring live musicians, theatre performances, comedians and more this summer. Check out what’s on the calendar.
45. Go ice skating
Who says you have to wait until the holiday season to go ice skating? TGH Ice Plex, AdventHealth Center Ice and Tampa Bay Skating Academy (3 locations) all offer ice skating sessions year-round.
46. Plan a drivecation
It’s not summer without at least one vacation! But you don’t need to board an airplane this summer; plan a drivecation to explore new-to-you corners of Florida instead. Or escape the state to head to Georgia, the Carolinas, or Tennessee, which are all totally doable road trips.
47. Join the fun at Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival
Nearly every night of the year visitors, street performers, and artisans gather for this lively sunset celebration on Clearwater Beach that’s a must anytime you’re in the area. The celebration kicks off two hours prior to sunset and continues for another two hours post sunset.
48. Go glamping with Timberline Tampa
Timberline Tampa is one of the newest glamping experiences in Tampa Bay, hosting you for a luxe overnight stay at Hillsborough River State Park in a tent with A/C and other modern comforts. One of our editorial team members Dani went for an overnight stay to share with you about what to expect if you go. You can read about her Timberline Tampa glamping experience here.
49. Cut the co*cktails with an alcohol-free date night in Tampa Bay
Who says you need to sip a co*cktail for a great night out? There are so many fun ways to enjoy an alcohol-free night out in Tampa Bay whether you’re looking for a great co*cktail spot like Willa’s in Tampa or alcohol-free activity like candle making at The Candle Pour in Hyde Park Village.
50. Experience an adventure you can only do in FLORIDA!
We don’t have to tell you…the Sunshine State is unique! There are so many cool things to do that you can only do in Florida like swimming with manatees or sifting the sand for shark teeth at the Shark Tooth Capital of the World!
Feature image credit: Pier Teaki
More summer date ideas:
- Our Favorite Spots in Tampa Bay for a Beachy Day Date
- A Guide to Tampa Area Farmers Markets
- Three Perfect Days in Indian Shores
