Celebrate Valentine's Day as a family at the Florida State Fair!

Sweet Valentine’s Day ideas to experience as a family in Tampa Bay

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Valentine's Day isn't just meant to be romantic; it's all about sharing your love with those around you! When kids enter the picture, priorities may look a little different. While spending quality time with your significant other is definitely important, spending time together as a family can be just as fun and meaningful.

Here are some fun ideas for a super sweet, family-friendly Valentine's Day!

Related:

Featured Ways to CelebrateValentine's Day in Tampa Bay with the Kids:

Melting Pot St. Pete Valentine's Day dinner with the kids
Celebrate Valentine's Day as a family with a fun dinner at the Melting Pot in St. Pete!

Valentine’s Day at The Melting Pot – St. Petersburg

  • Dates: February 6–22, 2026
  • The Melting Pot, 699 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a fun fondue dining experience at The Melting Pot of St. Petersburg. Enjoy a special five-course Valentine’s menu featuring classic cheese fondue, entrées, and decadent chocolate fondue, along with signature drinks and romantic touches throughout the meal. The Valentine’s menu is offered February 6–13 and February 15–22, with a prix fixe menu exclusively on February 14.

Reservations are recommended for this popular Valentine’s tradition.

Make it a Florida State Fair Day: (Picture at top of post)

Why not take advantage of the Florida State Fair falling on Valentine’s Day! Make it a sweet day with Fair treats. Take fun photos with cotton candy in front of the colorful food and game exhibits, and, of course, on the iconic Ferris wheel and Sky Ride. We're sharing our favorite things to do with the kids at the Florida State Fair here to help you plan your day! floridastatefair.com

Cruise on Lost Pearl:

Set sail with your little swashbucklers for a 1.5-hour pirate adventure on the bay aboard the Lost Pearl pirate ship, where kids can play games with the crew and even take part in a fun water cannon battle. There’s a grog bar on board with drinks for kids and adults. We love the cruises near sunset for the best views, but all times of day are great and offer beautiful views of downtown Tampa. tampapirateship.com

Explore Unique Art at FloridaRAMA:

We love FloridaRAMA because it’s the perfect indoor getaway, and it’s basically an indoor theme park! It’s an immersive art exhibit as you’ve never seen before, created by more than 60 local artists. They offer scavenger hunts, which kids love, but there are also so many little hidden things kids can spot, and even a pirate ship ball pit, which the kids love!

Lucy Sparrow’s felt art exhibit has also been extended through March, adding Sugar Rush, a collection of 18,000+ new pieces of candy and confections starting at only $10. floridarama.art

Upgrade your visit to the Zoo or Busch Gardens with an animal encounter:

Plan a day as you’ve never experienced before during your next visit to ZooTampa or Busch Gardens. We love the animal encounters like the Serengeti Safari, where you can get up close with incredible animals. Our kids love feeding the giraffe at ZooTampa, too. Both parks offer a wide variety of encounters that fit all budgets and age ranges. We highly recommend! buschgardens.com | zootampa.org

CMA Behind the Scenes/Eco Boat Tours: 

Clearwater Marine Aquarium also offers some pretty cool animal experiences, and there are a few that actually get you out on the water, like one of their boat tours, such as the Sea Life Safari Tour and the Dolphin and Wildlife Tour. They also offer seasonal kayak tours. cmaquarium.org

Spend the Day at Ananda Farm in Terra Ceia:

Ananda Farm is one of our favorite outdoor spots for kids and adults to play! The farm was built by two local families FOR families, so you know it’s going to be good. They have 15 different attractions for kids, like the giant tree house (which adults can totally climb, too).

Pick yourself a bouquet from their organic farm and end the day with on-site Michelin-caliber food and drinks for everyone. It’s a must! anandafarm.com

Swim with Manatees:

Crystal River and Homosassa are the only areas in North America where you can legally swim with manatees and passively observe them in their natural habitat. We did this with our kiddo, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The cooler months are the best time to spot a manatee as they seek the warmer waters of the springs, with Nov. 15 to March 31 considered “manatee season.”

You can find a reputable tour company that provides everything you need, including a warm wetsuit and snorkel gear, by visiting discovercrystalriverfl.com.