Make the Moments Count: 6 Ideas for One-On-One Time With Teens in Tampa
Let’s face it. Everyone is busy. It’s pure chaos during the majority of the year for most families, with never-ending distractions that consume our attention. However, for working, homeschooling, chauffeuring, sport-coaching, PTA-ing, breakfast-lunch-and-dinner making, bedtime-story-reading parents, squeezing in time for yourself as well as relationships with your spouse and the kids is important.
Over the years, my husband and I prioritized date nights with each other and with the kids individually. We found that it was super fun to really get to know them one-on-one, and they really looked forward to getting us (or one of us) all to themselves. So we keep the date nights alive with each other and with them. They always vary, and with so much to do in Tampa Bay, it’s fun to get creative and find something we both could try.
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With teens, we know we’ve got to really connect and do something that gets them excited to want to go. I feel like every idea I give some days get resounding “NO” from the peanut gallery. But, over the years. I have found a few spots in Tampa Bay (and beyond) that are a solid YES from our teens.
New World Brewery (Featured Image)
This restaurant/ brewery is a hidden gem in the center of Tampa on Busch Boulevard just north of Seminole Heights. Stop in for the best thin-crust pizza and some old-school pinball or Connect Four. We love the outdoor patio and all the games they have for guests to play. All our kids enjoy the food, retro vibe and casual atmosphere.
Top Golf & Dinner
If you have a teen who likes sports, try Top Golf, also perfect for a double date with teens! My friend and I took our boys for dinner and fun and they loved it. Super casual, very fun and a great place to bond and do something you don’t do every day, the experience includes bragging rights to the one who hits the ball the farthest!
A Walk & Sparkman Wharf
A walk along Bayshore Boulevard or the Riverwalk will give you some time to chat with your teen and then decide where to eat when you get back. Sparkman Wharf has so many dining options to choose from so that we could all get exactly what we wanted. Grab a seat on the lawn and just soak up the day down on Water Street.
Shopping & Tacos at Hyde Park Village
On possibly the best combo outing ever, head to Hyde Park Village and just stroll around, browsing through all the fancy and unique shops. Stop in at Bar Taco for the best taco and chips and guac in Tampa, and follow that up with a Sprinkles cupcake for dessert for the perfect night.
Pottery Night
Painting pottery also makes our list of ideal date nights with the kids. When we open our cabinets, we remember who we were with when we painted them. We love Color Me Mine in Hyde Park Village, You Do The Dishes in Tampa Palms and Auzalu’s Artisan Market in Lutz. Drop in, pick your piece, and paint!
BONUS – A Weekend Getaway
Our favorite kind of hotel is one where we don’t have to leave for anything. Gaylord Palm Resort and Convention Center is the perfect place for a weekend of 1-on-1 time with your teen because you don’t ever have to leave, which means more time together.
Whether you are walking around the 4.5-acre glass atrium with winding waterways, lounging by the South Beach Pool or walking down to dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse, it’s a great place to escape and enjoy a day away from all the distractions of daily life. A quick trip over to Kissimmee and a weekend of smiles is something the kids will want to keep doing again.
I’m always open to new suggestions and we want to hear from you too! Tell us where your teen loves to visit! We’d love to try out new things too!
Originally published in the September 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.