Countryside Mall, 27001 US Highway 19 N., #1043, Clearwater\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
For kids who love sensory play, The Slime Kitchen turns slime-making into a full creative experience. Located inside Countryside Mall on the lower level near JCPenney, this is a great July pick when you need something indoors, hands-on and air-conditioned. Kids can mix, stretch, customize and take home their own slime creation.<\/p>\n
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1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa\u00a0<\/p>\n ZooTampa is a summer classic for animal lovers, with wildlife habitats, shaded areas, splash-friendly moments and plenty to keep kids engaged. Go early in the day to beat the July heat, then let the kids lead the way from manatees to monkeys. There is also a small splash pad area that is designed for single-digit-aged kiddos.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa\u00a0<\/p>\n For an indoor-meets-outdoor adventure, The Florida Aquarium brings families face-to-face with sea life, birds, wetlands, reef habitats and interactive learning experiences. It is a strong pick for mixed ages because younger kids get wonder while older kids get real science. The newer outdoor splashpad area even includes a bar area for Mom and Dad.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa\u00a0<\/p>\n For a budget-friendly outing with old-school charm, check Tampa Theatre\u2019s summer movie programming. The historic setting makes even a simple movie feel special, and it is an easy way to escape the heat without defaulting to another screen day at home. This is a wonderful (air-conditioned) event for the whole family, including children and teens of all ages.<\/p>\n Let Them Learn Through Play at Great Explorations Children\u2019s Museum<\/a><\/p>\n 1925 4th St. N., St. Petersburg\u00a0<\/p>\n This St. Pete favorite is designed for younger kids who want to climb, create, pretend and discover. It is a great indoor option for families with little ones who need hands-on play without committing to a full-day attraction.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Meet the Capybaras at The Capybara Caf\u00e9<\/a><\/p>\n 4703 Park St. N., St. Petersburg<\/p>\n One of St. Pete\u2019s newest kid-friendly experiences brings families face-to-face with capybaras and other animal friends in an educational encounter-style setting. The Capybara Caf\u00e9 supports Noah\u2019s Ark Sanctuary, and its St. Pete location offers animal encounters designed to be joyful, memorable and conservation-minded. Book ahead, especially for a summer visit, and don\u2019t forget to check the age restrictions for the specific experience you are booking.<\/p>\n Cook Like a Kid Chef at Sur La Table<\/a><\/p>\n 711 S. Dakota Ave., Tampa\u00a0<\/p>\n For kids and teens who love being hands-on in the kitchen, Sur La Table in Hyde Park Village offers cooking classes and summer cooking series designed for young chefs. Kids can learn real kitchen skills, explore recipes and build confidence with guidance from chef instructors. It is a great July option for elementary-age kids, tweens or teens who want something creative, air-conditioned and a little more grown-up than the usual summer activity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Make Friendship Bracelets at Little Words Project<\/a><\/p>\n 1625 W. Snow Circle, Tampa<\/p>\n For tweens and teens who have outgrown little-kid activities but still want something fun and creative, Little Words Project in Hyde Park Village is a sweet summer stop. At the Bead Bar, guests can design custom bracelets, charm bracelets or necklaces with colorful beads, meaningful words and charms. It is especially fun for best friends, siblings, mother-daughter days or a low-key birthday outing before grabbing lunch or coffee in the village.<\/p>\n Looking for events this summer? Check out our Events Calendar<\/a>. Or if you\u2019re interested in advertising with us, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From splash pads and science stops to art days, animals and air-conditioned adventures, these Tampa Bay picks keep…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":323542,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[123969,133932,4919,135,79322,137,136,106],"class_list":["post-323541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tampa","tag-activities-for-kids","tag-kid-friendly-activities","tag-kids","tag-tampa","tag-tampa-bay-kids","tag-tampa-headlines","tag-tampa-news","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=323541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323541\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/323542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=323541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=323541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=323541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_9680-scaled.jpg\")
ZooTampa
\nGo Wild at ZooTampa at Lowry Park<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/The-Florida-Aquarium-3-7.50.26-AM.jpg\")
The Florida Aquarium
\nSpend the Day Under the Sea at The Florida Aquarium<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TampaTheatreHeader.jpg\")
Event at the Tampa Theatre
\nCatch a Summer Movie at Tampa Theatre<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/pexels-saplak-19289108-scaled.jpg\")
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