Back in Time: A Day Trip to Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is only 55 miles from downtown Tampa, but it feels like a world away. Maggie Rodriguez takes you on a tour for a perfect day trip.
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Spooktacular returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with a NEW character and treats!
We’re showing you what it’s like to experience Spooktacular at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to help you plan a ghoulishly good day!
20+ FUN Things to Do in Tampa Bay This Weekend
We’ve rounded up our list of events going on this weekend to help you plan your best weekend ever!
- Central Florida | Fall Family Fun | Halloween | Pregnancy to Preschool Years | Theme Parks | Things to Do
Peppa’s Halloween Party is an OINKTASTIC way to celebrate the season at Peppa Pig Theme Park!
Peppa Pig Theme Park is hosting Peppa’s Halloween Party on select days throughout October with trick-or-treating, costumed character meet-and-greets, and more!
Vitamin K for Newborns: What Every Parent Should Know
Vitamin K is an important part of newborn care, yet not every family understands why it is recommended after birth. Meghan Martin, M.D., a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, explains why the vitamin K shot — which is not a vaccine — plays a critical role in helping newborns’ blood…
INSIDE LOOK: Brick or Treat kicks off this weekend at LEGOLAND Florida!
We’re dishing on all the details about Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Florida to help you map out your family’s adventure this Halloween season!
INSIDE LOOK: Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa returns with NEW thrills in 2026!
ZooTampa’s Creatures of the Night family-friendly Halloween party is returning in 2026 for 15 select nights with NEW treats and thrills!
Eat Well and Do Good: Community Harvest program returns this September
The 1905 Family of Restaurants, which runs well-known Tampa restaurants like Columbia and Ulele, is bringing back its Community Harvest program for the 29th year this September to support local nonprofits.
Kids Get in Free this Month at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering FREE, one-day admission to kids ages 3 – 11 during the month of September in celebration of “Future Voyagers Month”.
Don’t Miss It! ZooTampa Kids Fun Run returns Sept. 12!
ZooTampa at Lowry Park is calling all young wildlife lovers and running enthusiasts to join the herd and run wild. Tampa’s only kid-exclusive race, the 4th annual ZooTampa Kids Fun Run, presented by Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH, returns on Saturday, September 12!
INSIDE LOOK: ZooTampa Veterinarian Healing Zoo Animals with Acupuncture
Acupuncture on a duck… or a manatee? You betcha! ZooTampa’s veterinary team is incorporating this holistic approach to care for animals that may not be responding as well to traditional treatments, and it appears to be working.
September is Library Card Sign-up Month!
Libraries have long served as centers of community and knowledge worldwide, and our patrons can take full advantage of our extensive facilities and materials. Hillsborough County residents can unlock a world of entertaining and valuable knowledge and resources by signing up for a library card, including access to thousands of print and electronic books and…
Bright Ideas: Let’s meet three local inventors who are turning their big ideas into a family-owned business!
Have you ever used an everyday product and thought to yourself … there has to be something better out there? Or maybe you have a really cool idea for something that doesn’t even exist yet. Three local parents are proving it IS possible to turn your bright ideas into real, tangible products families will fall…
Friends, Books & a Little Less Screen Time
A few days before the start of the new school year, Hillsborough County Superintendent Van Ayres was filming a back-to-school video with a group of kindergarten and first-grade students. As the cameras were being set up, he made a little small talk with the children and asked what excited them most about going back to…
Moms to Know: Arch Tuli, Founder, Arch & Sons
For Arch Tuli, food has always been a love language. She remembers gathering around the family table as a child to enjoy wholesome, delicious meals that her parents lovingly prepared from scratch. “When I became a mom, I intentionally carried those traditions into raising my two boys,” she says. Today, those two boys, now 20…
- Education | Back to School | Elementary School Years | Featured | In Print | Lil Kids | Middle School Years | Parenting
The Corbett Prep Difference: The Strollo family of South Tampa share why they picked this PK-8 school for their kids
We’re learning more about the family’s decision to send their two sons to Corbett Prep and how it has changed the trajectory of their boys’ lives.
Dairy & Development: Why Dairy Nutrition is Crucial for A Child’s First Two Years
1,000 days. That’s the period from conception to 2 years old and one of the most crucial times for a child’s development. While most people assume proper nutrition begins at birth, it actually starts as early as conception. According to U.S. Dairy, several medical experts agree that the first 1,000 days are so important due…
From Patient to Parent: A Sickle Cell Survivor Shares His Greatest Joy
Twenty-four-year-old John Stephens III smiles as he pushes his identical twin daughters into the Research and Education Building at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. He’s moments away from reuniting with a few of the doctors and nurses who helped him navigate sickle cell disease in his formative years, and he has news he can’t wait to share with them at the annual Family and Friends Sickle Cell Symposium. He embraces Tamara New, M.D., director of the Sickle…
Pumpkins, Purpose & Melon Family Fun!
Visit the Watermelon Swim Pumpkin Patch this Season and Help Make a Difference. Pumpkin spice is back, Halloween is on the horizon and Team Melon is ready to celebrate our favorite season of the year. From Oct. 2-31, visit our annual Pumpkin Patches at our Lutz, South Tampa and Brooksville locations, or stop by the…
The Mary W. Sierra Family YMCA Opens This September!
The YMCA has been a part of Anna Carman’s life for as long as she can remember. She grew up attending YMCA of the Triangle’s summer day camps and overnight Y-Guides programs as a camper in North Carolina, memories that still evoke camp songs, cabin games and lifelong friendships. Her positive experiences as a child…
INSIDE LOOK: Tampa Bay Rays Game Day at Tropicana Field with the Kids
Our team here at Tampa Bay Parenting recently went to a Tampa Bay Rays Family Fundays game to give you an INSIDE LOOK at game day to help you plan a day fit for the memory book. So let’s play ball!
New Houses and New Frights Coming to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 2026
Howl-O-Scream returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on September 11, 2026, and we’re dishing on all the details to help you plan a night of fright!
- Central Florida | Beach | Hotels | Travel
One More Weekend: Why a Back-to-School Getaway With Your Kids Matters
Sometimes, all we need is one weekend away to feel like we squeezed a little more summer out of the season. But more importantly, it gives us a chance to reconnect with our kids even as the back-to-school craziness begins.
Dinosaurs Are Roaring Into MOSI: New mini-golf course and MORE!
At MOSI, Tampa’s Museum of Science and Innovation, the prehistoric past is coming to life with exciting new adventures.
INSIDE LOOK: Coastersaurus ROARS back into action at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Coastersaurus is BACK on track, and we’re talking to two people from the team at LEGOLAND Florida Resort who helped it roar back to life!
Monster Jam Returns to Tampa’s Benchmark International Arena!
Monster Jam is roaring back into Tampa! We’re sharing some highlights to know before you go!
- Central Florida | Disney | Disney + Central Florida Fun | Fall Family Fun | Halloween | Things to Do
INSIDE LOOK: Fall into Magic at Disney Springs
It’s finally fall ya’ll…at least it is at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort, and we’re taking you inside the magic of it all so you know what to expect.
Nurturing Social-Emotional Well-Being at Lightbridge Academy Tampa-Westchase
At Lightbridge Academy of Tampa-Westchase, we believe a child’s success begins with feeling safe, supported, and connected. While early literacy, math, and science are important building blocks, social-emotional well-being is just as essential during the early years. When children learn to understand their emotions, build healthy relationships, and develop confidence, they’re better prepared to succeed…
The BEST Things to Do Labor Day Weekend in Tampa Bay
Our team of local parents has curated this list of awesome things to do Labor Day weekend in Tampa Bay with the kids!
50+ Fall Events, Pumpkin Patches, Halloween Events, and MORE!
The 2025 list of pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and fall festivals in Tampa Bay is here and promises some ghoulishly good times.
The BEST Halloween Events for Kids in Tampa Bay + MORE Fun!
We’re sharing the best Halloween events for kids in Tampa Bay, along with trick-or-treating events, costume ideas, spooky snacks, and MORE!
A New President and a New Era at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Q&A with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s new president, Jon Vigue, on the park’s history and latest area, the new Lion & Hyena Ridge!
Back To School With The Library
Time to head back to school! Check out these titles to find books that can help prepare everyone for the school mindset.
Kids to Know: Cameron Cowans
Meet 13 year old Cameron Cowans of Troop 46 in Tampa who collected over 350 used musical instruments to help support local music programs.
Introducing Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Newest Residents, Wahoo and Tuna!
Meet the newest residents of Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Pinniped Pier, the adorably fun sea lions Tuna and Wahoo!
5 Cool Things to See at the Mysteries of the Nile: Ancient Egypt, now on display at the Tampa Museum of Art
See over 117 objects on display to immerse you in the lives of ancient Egyptians at Tampa Museum of Art’s “Mysteries of the Nile: Ancient Egypt.”
A Parent’s Guide to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will be back for 2026! We’re sharing what we know so far!
High Speeds, No Helmets
BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Experts want parents to take a serious look at e-bike and e-scooter safety There’s a new menace on the road, and chances are, you’ve already looked at one and thought, “That looks like fun!” Before adding that electric bike or scooter to your shopping cart, however, BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Specialist…
From Tiny to Thriving: Baby Cash’s Story
When Kelsi learned her pregnancy had taken a sudden turn at just 24 weeks, she was thrown into a frightening new reality: preparing for the possible birth of a micropreemie. What followed was a journey marked by uncertainty, resilience and the specialized care that helped her son, Cash, survive and thrive. Kelsi, a first-time mom…
- In Print | Back to School | Education | Elementary School Years | High School Years & Beyond | Middle School Years
Beyond the Letter Grade: What Hillsborough’s “A” Means for Students
This summer, Hillsborough County Public Schools celebrated a milestone more than a decade in the making: earning its first “A” district grade from the Florida Department of Education in more than 10 years. That’s certainly exciting news for the district, but if you’re a parent, you might be wondering: What does that actually mean for…
Lunchbox MVPs: Dairy Snacks Kids Love
In partnership with Florida Dairy Farmers Another school year is here, which means packing lunchboxes is probably back on your daily schedule. As parents, we want to make sure that our kids are enjoying what they eat away from home while also getting the proper nutrients to keep their bellies and brains full. While kids…
Why Your Child’s Back-to-School Checklist Should Include an Eye Exam
New shoes. Fresh pencils. A backpack that somehow already weighs more than your child. Back-to-school season has a rhythm every parent knows. We check the supply list. We fill out the forms. We make sure our children have what they need to begin the year with confidence. But before the first homework assignment, before the…
The K–8 Advantage with Excelsior Prep
Why More Families Are Choosing One School for the Journey Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make. While traditional middle schools continue to serve many students well, a growing number of families are exploring the benefits of a K–8 education. Research suggests that continuity, strong relationships and…
STEM is Important – So What Can Parents Do About It?
STEM used to be an easy-to-understand acronym. In the 1990s, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) was an education buzzword — a category for science fair volcanoes, “Hello, World” coding and bridges built from marshmallows and toothpicks. Today, with ample access to AI, 3D printers, computer-aided design (CAD) software, digital simulators and more, STEM is…
From an Unexpected Loss to a Thriving Family
From an Unexpected Loss to a Thriving Family, Thanks to the Renowned USF Health | Tampa General Hospital Fetal Care Center Kadian was at a holiday party, six months into what had been a normal pregnancy, when she began experiencing a worrisome sensation of deep pressure — unlike anything she had felt before. “That’s when…
Moms to Know: Danielle Bayard Jackson, Female Friendship Coach, Educator & Author
With schedules that are packed with playdates, sports, school, and the many other ways we socialize our kids, what, then, is left for us parents who also dream of a Monica to our Rachel? This is where a Friendship Coach comes in.
“The Art of Banksy” exhibit now open at the Straz Center in Tampa
The world’s largest authenticated collection of Banksy art is now on stage at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa for a limited time.
The Family Business: An INSIDE LOOK at children’s clothing line, Emerson and Friends
I first came across the Emerson and Friends children’s clothing line a couple of years ago at Butter Bug Boutique in South Tampa. While the fabrics were everything I was looking for — buttery soft and lightweight — what caught my eye were the Florida-inspired designs. My favorite? The pattern featuring our beloved manatee. Come…
INSIDE LOOK: Lion & Hyena Ridge at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is ready to debut Lion & Hyena Ridge, one of the world’s most immersive animal habitats and the park’s largest expansion in a decade, and we got a SNEAK PEEK!
Florida’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday: Know Before You Go!
Florida’s popular Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday returns in 2026 from Monday, July 20, to Sunday, August 20, 2026.
ASK THE DOCTOR: 10 Expert Tips to Set and Achieve Goals
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is sharing 10 expert tips for setting family goals for the new school year and how goal setting helps build lifelong skills and to strengthen family bonds.
DATE NIGHT IDEA: Get Crafty at Adult Craft Night at Glazer Children’s Museum!
If your algorithm has convinced you that everyone is making charm bracelets, pouring candles, bedazzling everything they own, and keeping junk journals…this is your sign to join in the fun of crafting.
Avoid the Long Lines and Celebrate at a Disney After Hours Party!
We love the Disney After Hours events for two reasons: the lines are shorter and it’s a lot less hot outside since you’re not sweltering in the blazing hot Florida sun.
ZooTampa Baby Boom: The BEST summer ever to meet two baby rhinos!
ZooTampa welcomed a whopping 50+ babies this spring, which means there are a lot of cute new faces for you and the kids to see this summer.
The James Museum in St. Pete Launches Summer of Savings!
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Pete is offering some amazing deals and freebies you and the family can take advantage of this summer!
- Back to School | Big Kids | Education | Elementary School Years | In Print | Lil Kids | Middle School Years | Summer Break Fun
Back-to-School Fair Returns Aug. 1 with Free Backpacks, Family Fun and School-Year Inspiration
Picture this: a student proudly slinging a brand-new backpack over their shoulders, a favorite sports mascot posing for photos nearby, performers taking the stage to showcase their talents, and parents crossing items off their back-to-school shopping lists … all while enjoying a break from the Florida heat. That’s the scene families can expect at the…
A Lifechanging Food Allergy Treatment: Charlotte’s Story
Learn how a food allergy changed everything for Charlotte’s family, and what the doctor’s at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital can do to help.
INSIDE LOOK: LEGO® Pokémon™ and LEGO® F1® headlining LEGO Festival zones at LEGOLAND Florida
The LEGO ® Festival is a celebration of PLAY and will be held at all seven LEGOLAND Resorts where kids can let their imaginations can run wild and creativity knows no limits!
Carrying Forward a Tampa Tradition: Phil Alessi Jr. on Family and Legacy
Today, more than a century after his grandfather opened Tampa’s Alessi Bakery, Phil Alessi Jr. finds himself serving as both a caretaker of a beloved local institution and a steward of its future.
Moms to Know: Jen Smurr, Owner, Born + Bread Bakehouse, Lakeland
Meet Jen Smurr, Owner of Born + Bread Bakehouse in Lakeland, Florida.
- Attractions | Babies | Big Kids | Busch Gardens | Elementary School Years | Lil Kids | Middle School Years | Parks + Attractions | Pregnancy to Preschool Years | Summer Break Fun | Tampa | Theme Parks | Things to Do | Tweens and Teens
Our Favorite Things to Do at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for All Ages and Stages
We’ve put together a list of some of our team’s favorite things to do at Busch Gardens with our kiddos at all ages and stages.
