The Gift of Experience in Tampa Bay: A Holiday Gift List Must

Rather than overloading our kids with more toys and clutter, why not give the gift of experience in Tampa Bay? An annual pass or membership to a local attraction is not only cost-effective, it’s a gift that keeps on giving year–round to the entire family. 

Added bonus- many of the attractions that offer summer camps and school break camps extend special pricing for members and local reciprocal discounts, too.

We're also sharing some pretty awesome experiences you can book for your loved ones!

Related: Gifts of Experience for a perfect date night or day date

Before we dive in, we've got a quick note for your scroll– our guide is divided into a couple of categories:

• • Super Cool Gifts of Experience: Unique experiences your loved ones will remember for a lifetime!
  • Our Favorite Annual Passes and Memberships in Tampa Bay for Families
  • Join the Club: Local sports teams have clubs just for their pint-sized fans and it's a perfect gift!

NOTE: Be sure to visit each attraction’s website for the latest pricing information as it can change quickly — and there's always a chance for a flash sale.   

 Super Cool Gifts of Experience for an Unforgettable Day in Tampa Bay!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Returns to Tampa!

The circus is back with a new show, and it's kicking off its national tour in 2026 in Tampa, January 2-4 at the Benchmark International Arena. You can create a cute package for kids to open with a plush or toy from the online shop, and you can even print a commemorative ticket to include in the gift.

Shark Care Experience at Clearwater Marine Aquarium:

Meet Thelma, CMA's resident nurse shark, and all her friends in the lower mangrove habitat. During this program, you will assist CMA’s animal care specialists in guiding and feeding their sharks. You will learn how we improve the health and well-being of the animals, and gain a greater understanding of these misunderstood creatures. Photo is included.

Ages: 7+ | $89.95 for one, $179.95 for a party of 2 | 30-minute experience

Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens:

There are several different animal experiences and tours you can book with Busch Gardens and one of our favorites is the Serengeti Safari. One of the coolest parts about the tour in an open-air vehicle is getting up close to the resident giraffe as you feed them a favorite snack—lettuce!

Ages: 5+ | Starts at $39.99 | 30-minute experience

Indian Rhino Feeding at ZooTampa:

This is another spot where there are some really amazing animal encounters you can book to upgrade your day and one of our favorites is the Indian Rhino Feeding because they’re such enormous and gorgeous creatures and kids really love the chance to feed them!

Ages 5+ | Members: Starts at $19.95, Non-Members: Starts at $24.95 | No time specified, but it’s about 25-minutes

Our Favorite Annual Passes to Gift in Tampa Bay!

Glazer Children’s Museum Family Membership 

With 19 themed areas and over 170 games, challenges, and activities, the Glazer Children’s Museum is set to keep your family entertained all day, no matter how many times you go. Your kids can enjoy exhibits on arts, engineering, forts, banks, and more. There are a few new temporary exhibits scheduled to debut throughout the year, so there's always something new to experience!  A one-year family membership is $255

MOSI  

MOSI is perfect for kiddos in elementary age and older! Your kids can learn AND play at the same time, and we love that memberships also include Party of 5 memberships for $125. This allows five people to experience MOSI with only one named Member and includes discounts to 250+ science centers across the country! 

Busch Gardens + Adventure Island Annual Pass

Even if your kiddos aren’t quite thrill seekers yet, there is plenty to do at both parks for little ones like Sesame Street Safari of Fun and of course, the animals. To snag the best deals, we recommend you join the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay email list for alerts on flash deals and special sales! *This is one you definitely want to join the email list to get updates!  

ZooTampa at Lowry Park  

With over 120 animal species, the Lowry Park Zoo has much to offer your family. You and your family can explore the many different exhibits or go on some of the fun rides. Your membership will also allow you to experience the zoo’s seasonal events.  For one year: $284 for 4 members + 2 guests

LEGOLAND Florida 

Lots of new things are happening at LEGOLAND Florida in 2026, including the new LEGO Galaxy Galacticoaster. Annual pass holders get special pricing at the LEGOLAND hotels and shopping discounts. The new pass system includes several options, including the Gold Pass, which is $259.99 and includes entrance into the LEGOLAND water park and SEA LIFE Florida, which we highly recommend. 

YMCA  

A YMCA membership is perfect for active families who can take advantage of the many group exercises, outdoor swimming pools, childcare and discounted rates on programs and classes. 

Related: Gift of Fitness with the YMCA

Clearwater Marine Aquarium 

Movie stars like Hope call Clearwater Marine Aquarium home and recently expanded and updated its facility giving your family more to love and explore. A Pod of 4 membership is $239 and you can add an unnamed guest for $49 per spot.

Great Explorations Children’s Museum

Located right next door to the beautiful Sunken Gardens in St. Pete, Great Explorations is one of our favorite ways to play. There’s a new Wonders of Wetlands exhibit for your kids to explore, and the climbing structure is always a hit! A basic membership is on sale for $175 right now. 

CITYPass: Tampa Bay 

If you aren’t quite ready to take the plunge with one attraction, a CityPASS may be exactly what you need. The CityPass allows for one visit to Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, Clearwater Marine Aquarium and your choice between MOSI or Chihuly Collection.  An adult CityPASS is $149 (ages 10+) and a child pass is $134 (ages 3-9), a 55% savings. The pass is valid for nine days after first day of use.  

JOIN THE CLUB and root, root, root for the home teams! 

Game day tickets and even season passes are always a gift-giving WIN! Choose between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Tampa Bay Rays! We also love memberships to Thunderbug’s Kids Club and the Jr Bucs Fan Club as gift ideas!

Related: Calling all pint-sized sports fans! It's time to join the local pro sports kids' clubs!