Yes, you CAN ride…or rent…a real Pirate Ship in Tampa
A real pirate ship is invading Downtown Tampa and it’s here to stay! Meet the Lost Pearl, the newest addition to the Pirate Water Taxi fleet.
Blog
Gasparilla Krewe Life: A season and way of life for local families
In Tampa, Gasparilla is a way of life. Below deck, there’s more to Gasparilla than beads. Gasparilla is family. Gasparilla is friends. Gasparilla is a treasure chest of memories and treasure trove replete with tradition.
What to pack in your hospital bag: An OB/GYN shares tips!
Dr. Jill Hechtman is a mom and OB/GYN, so she knows a thing or two about what you really need to pack in your hospital bag for baby!
Local Mom, Delilah Dawson, Pens New Novel Based on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
We’re introducing you to local mom of two, Delilah Dawson, an acclaimed author who not only wrote a novel based on Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, but also created a character you can meet at the park!
Generalization: The Key to Successful Learning
Generalization is essential to effective learning for everyone, but it is especially important for children with autism. invotherapries.com
Car Seat Safety: You’re probably doing it wrong. Admitting it is the first step.
When it comes to car seat safety, 95% of parents think their child is properly restrained in the car. Fact: Less than 10% of those parents are correct.
Outdoors | Tampa | Things to Do | Travel
Seven Days, Seven Ways to enjoy the Tampa Riverwalk
Tampa Riverwalk – a great place to play, eat, drink and enjoy! Learn about Tampa’s Riverwalk activities, Riverwalk food & drink & fun!
Family and Football: Mike Evans on lessons from the field to home
We met with Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his gorgeous family to talk about football, fatherhood and philanthropy.
Hillsborough Schools: Unlock 50+ Magnet and School Choice Options
Puzzled over Magnet Schools and School Choice? Here’s how to unlock more than 50 school options, all with free tuition in Hillsborough County.
5 Fun Ways to WOW Your Kids with the Wonders of Space
Grayson Kamm, a dad of two and former TV journalist who covered the space program, shares cool facts and FUN ways to teach your kids about outer space!
YMCA swim lessons for every age and stage, including FREE lessons!
YMCA swim lessons and water safety courses are available all year! This is the time to take advantage of the courses, including FREE lessons this summer!
Four Ways to Daycation in Tampa Bay
Why vacation when you can daycation? There are so many options for families in Tampa Bay, so we’re sharing four ideas we think you and the kids will love!
The Family’s Anchor: Life after TV News is Beautiful for Maggie Rodriguez
Former CBS network news anchor Maggie Rodriguez shares her journey of transitioning from a fast paced career in the newsroom to life at home with her kids in Tampa Bay.
Peachy Perfect: U-Pick Peach Farms in Tampa Bay You Must Try!
Our Family Fun contributor Heather DeManche is sharing some her family’s favorite places to u-pick peaches in Tampa Bay! They are all just peachy perfect!
Whoa, BABY! Newsroom Baby Boom at WTSP 10 News
WTSP 10 News, the Tampa Bay area CBS affiliate recenlty experienced a BABY BOOM with several members of the team welcoming new bundles of joy at the same time!
Redshirting in Preschool vs. Time to Develop as a Whole Child
Redshirting in preschool refers to the practice of delaying a child’s entry into kindergarten to allow the child more time to mature or develop. More parents are doing it, but is it right for your child?
RAWRsome! Dinovations Lab Now Open at MOSI!
MOSI’s newest exhibit is going prehistoric with the unveiling of the Dinovations Lab featuring a diplodocus dino skeleton, Paleo Lab, and more!
Tampa Tarpons Summer Baseball Camp
George M. Steinbrenner Field; 1 Steinbrenner Drive, Tampa, FL 33614 | 813-673-3102 | milb.com/tampa/tickets/baseballcamp Receive professional instruction from the Tampa Tarpons, the Single-A Advanced Affiliate of the New York Yankees! The Tampa Tarpons Summer Baseball Camp is available for all children ages 6-13. Campers will receive a Tarpons hat, camp T-shirt and access to a pre-game…
Tampa Bay Turners Gymnastics and Swimming
2301 26th Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 | 727-328-8500 | tampabayturners.com Gymnastics Classes, Competitive USAG Teams, current levels 3, 4, XG & XP State Team Champions, Indoor Heated Pool for Swimming Lessons starting at 6 months, Toddler Tumbling, Second Sunday Family Day, Birthday Parties, Tiny Turners Preschool (Lic 52-51-04744), Summer Day Camps. Cost: $40/day, $170/week…
Tampa U-Pick Farm | Florida Sweeties Open for Citrus This Month!
Florida Sweeties, known for their peach orchards, is offering a u-pick of citrus fruit during what looks to be perfect picking weather this weekend.
Flying with Car Seats | Expert advice on what you need to know before you go
Not sure how to navigate the friendly skies when it comes to flying with car seats? Michelle Pratt, owner of Safe in the Seat, shares expert advice.
Best. Gift. Ever. Game day fun with the home teams!
The gift of experience is the only way to go and what better way to share a day with your child than cheering on the home team?
Let’s Cook! Local Cooking Class for Kids a Hit in Tampa Bay!
Armature Works kids cooking class offer an unforgettable experience for you and your little one to learn how to prepare a dish from start to finish.
Meet the McCoys | Family, Football and Business
Gerald McCoy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his wife Ebony share what life is like off the field as a family of seven in Tampa Bay!
Norovirus: What you need to know
Norovirus, like other viruses that cause vomiting and/or diarrhea, is very contagious to both children and adults. Know what to do in these situations.
‘I had a gut feeling something was wrong’
If you had a feeling your child’s frequent ear infections, colds, runny noses, and other symptoms weren’t typical, who would you turn to? Hunter Syndrome
Get WILD: Animal encounters in Tampa Bay your kids will never forget
We went to several local attractions to check out some of animal encounters in Tampa Bay so we can share our favorites with you!
The life of a child actor. One local family’s journey in the biz
Have you thought about the big screen for your little one? A Tampa Bay family shares their journey in making it in the biz as a child actor.
New start times highlight changes in Hillsborough Schools
Chris Farkas, Deputy Superintendent of Hillsborough County Schools explains why the school new year means a new bell schedule.
FREE Beer Samples Return to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay May 1-August 5!
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced it’s bringing back FREE beer samples to the theme park May 1 through August 5! Guests who are 21 and older can head to the Garden Gate Cafe to sample two 7-ounce beers for FREE! Favorites will remain on tap for you to sample through the summer like Bud Light,…
Brain-Building Play: Publix at Glazer Children’s Museum
Kate White of Glazer Children’s Musuem shares the benefit’s of your child’s time in the revamped Publix exhibit at the museum!
RumFish Grill: A Favorite Kid-Friendly Restaurant You Must Try!
RumFish Grill® has made a big splash on St. Pete Beach with its one-of-a-kind restaurant, bar and shop! It’s a kid-friendly restaurant you must try!
Lego Expert Shares 5 Ways to Organize Your Child’s Legos
Last year after stepping on Legos in virtually every room of my house, I decided it was time to get organized. As the mom of two Lego-breathing, Lego-loving boys who have spent hours putting together these popular little bricks, I was used to Legos covering every inch of our playroom. It was when they started spilling over into the kitchen and bathroom that I had to say…
Beat the BRRRRR with our favorite indoor activities in Tampa Bay!
Wowzers! Get ready to get your BRRRRR on this week as temperatures plunge way below normal! The park may be out of the question for many of you, so we’ve put together this list of fun things to do in Tampa Bay that are INDOORS! Explore a local museum. There are so many wonderful museums…
Pinellas County Schools: Discover Your Choices
Pinellas County Schools offers a growing list of 70 Choice Programs focused on students’ interests, talents and abilities. Families can choose from a wide variety of magnet, fundamental and career programs. Some of our many options include gifted studies, the arts, journalism and international studies. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs are available at…
Explore Great Explorations Children’s Museum and Sunken Gardens
The Tampa family behind the travel blog, TheGreatEscapePlan.com recently explored Great Explorations Children’s Museum and Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg so they can share what to expect with you! The Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg is a place your child can truly enjoy being a kid, a place where you won’t find kids…
A Case for the K-8 School: 5 Distinct Advantages
For years, educators, parents and academic research institutes have uncovered benefits for students at K-8 schools – schools that include elementary and middle school grades. At a school that starts with sixth grade, the middle school-aged students are at the bottom of the pecking order. Shifting from “top dog” status in fifth grade to “bottom…
Lil Kids | Restaurants | Tampa
16 Places in South Tampa Where Kids Eat FREE!
Merris Pope of Hula-Frog South Tampa shares her favorite places in South Tampa hwere kids eat free!
Florida Fun: Where to go for that perfect mini vacation!
This article is sponsored. It was originally published in the June 2017 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. As a traveling mommy, I love exploring new places, but sometimes I also just want to relax. I don’t want to think about cooking, cleaning or really doing anything. I want to sit on a beautiful beach…
The Florida Aquarium: The Splash Pad
The Florida Aquarium re-opened its new and improved splash area in 2017 and it is hands down our favorite place in Tampa Bay to splash, learn and play! “The Splash Pad” features a giant lily pad climbing structure, along with multiple water features and even two covered bug-themed dry play areas. The sandbox is also returning,…
How a Stay-at-Home Dad Used His Family Roots to Start Growing Business
As my high school sweetheart and I prepare to celebrate 12 years of marriage just before Father’s Day, I am honored to shine a spotlight on my hard-working husband, Brooks Boyette, new business owner. For Brooks and me, home was always Tampa. This is where we met, where we grew up and where we…
Functional Playrooms Parents Can Actually Show Off
Julianne Hendrickson, a mom of two, teacher and interior designer shares easy playroom ideas that are not only fun but functional!
How to Create Healthy Adult Mother-Daughter Relationships
When you think about your relationship with your mother, does it make you smile and feel good inside or do you get a knot in your stomach and start to clench your fists? Or Moms: When you think of your daughter, do you feel proud and grateful or do you get angry and think about…
LEGOLAND Florida To Offer $99 Annual Pass During Flash Sale!
LEGOLAND Florida is about to offer its biggest deal of the year during a flash sale which will allow you to buy the Awesome Annual Pass for $99!
The Tampa Bay Lightning Wants to Meet You!
Want the chance to meet the legendary Tampa Bay Lightning team? Mark your calendars for March 19th because you’ll get meet them and more!
Tampa Bay Area Private Schools: Find the One For You
Hillsborough Bayshore Christian School 3909 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa 813-839-4297; www.bayshorechristianschool.org The school’s college preparatory program focuses on core academic subjects, with enrichment programs in performing arts, visual arts, foreign language, computer, media science and physical education. Students have athletic opportunities at the middle school, junior varsity and varsity level. Upper school students are prepared…
Family Travel Review: Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas
Tampa Bay Parenting Social Mom Mandi Mella was recently invited by Royal Caribbean to set sail on Harmony of the Seas. She has one word. WOW!
Florida in a Day: Tallahassee
My heart was thumping in my chest. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, the scent of oak and pine trees mingled in my nose. I could hear what sounded like a zipper as my sister whizzed past. This was the end of the course, and I had no way down but through the zipline….
Super Dad: Dr. Mark Mogul
Tampa became his home in 2015 when he moved here to become the Medical Director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. He and his wife Marina have three children, Astrid (26), Ingrid (23), and Christopher (18).
Super Dad: Dr. George Jallo
Dr. George Jallo is a renowned neurosurgeon for All Children’s Hospital John Hopkins Medicine in St Petersburg, but his success wasn’t preordained. “I was born in Bethlehem, and my family (parents and 2 brothers) immigrated to northern New Jersey when I was 5. Our family did not speak any English but we learned fast as young children watching TV and attending school. My grades in first 2-3 years were poor-fair, and teachers had reservations about my potential. There were discussions to hold me back a year, but fortunately I was allowed to stay with my peers.”
The Science Behind “Tuning Things Out”
You’ve probably experienced something like this before: You’re knee-deep in a big project at work and are finally making some progress. You haven’t had to answer too many emails, the phone isn’t ringing off the hook, and you have just the right dosage of caffeine running through your system. You are in the zone, all your focus bent on finishing this assignment. Then you feel a tap on your shoulder.
Attractions | MOSI | Museums
Dinosaurs in Motion at MOSI
Dinosaurs in Motion at Tampa’s MOSI encourages hands-on STEAM learning.
After School Guide
School is back in session, which means it is time to pick a great after school program. Rather then sending your kids home to an empty house, check out some of these amazing options that can keep your kids moving and get the motivated to learn new things.
Cures for Woes: Home Remedies for the Stings, Bites and Burns of Summer
Simple home remedies can be used alone or in conjunction with the standards for great results. Even better, most kitchens hold a treasure trove of quick-acting treatment options.
Strep Vs. Common Cold
When your child has a sore throat it can be easy to blame the common cold, but strep throat may actually be the culprit.
4 Simple Ways to Find Mom Friends
Your Mama Village huddles around you, encourages you, builds you up (oh, and takes care of your kids) until you’re ready to go back into that big, stressful, frustrating world.
10 Reasons to Teach Kids to Volunteer
Wear the Cape, a brand that gives back and aims to restore the power of kindness and good character.
Childhood Superstitions, Rituals, and Fears: What Do I Need to Know?
As adults, we remember our childhood days of avoiding stepping on cracks to not “break our mother’s back” or insisting that dad check under the bed every night to ensure the absence of monsters.
Gifted Child?
Here’s How You Know Having a “gifted” child means different things depending on who you ask. For some parents, a gifted child is one who plays the piano in an outstanding way or has a superb singing voice. For others, a gifted child may be an amazing speller with an extensive vocabulary or a spelling…
Evan Brownstein
Meet Evan — Nicholson and Penelope’s dad, Suzanne’s husband, and Howard and Elaine’s son. This senior director of marketing for Checkers and Rally’s Restaurants loves calling the Tampa Bay area home, relocating from NYC 7½ years ago!