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 Seniors in Motion: Three Days in Tampa
Love Is in the Air: Three Days in Tampa
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 Filled to the brim with beaches, amusement parks and long sunny days, Florida is one of America's most fabulous playgrounds -- and the Tampa Bay area is no exception. Kids will be having too much fun to realize how much they're learning at the Florida Aquarium or the Museum of Science and Industry (and their parents just might enjoy themselves too).
But if the gang has had enough education (this is a vacation, after all!), Tampa has no shortage of places to just plain play -- from the inviting beaches of the Gulf Coast to the roller coasters of Busch Gardens.
A note on transportation: You'll need a car for days two and three of this itinerary -- and depending on where you stay, you may need a car to get to and from downtown Tampa on day one as well.
Home Away From Home
 The Hampton Inn & Suites is a relatively new addition to Tampa's historic Ybor City district, and is a good mid-budget option for those looking to stay within the city limits. The rooms are pleasant and spacious, and suites come with small kitchenettes -- a convenient touch. Hot breakfast ic complimentary, and cribs and high chairs are available from the front desk. If you need a day off from sightseeing, the family can hang out by the outdoor pool in the courtyard.
One of the most elegant hotels in the city, the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay welcomes families in style. It's a bit of a splurge, but it's worth it -- for the luxurious rooms (and Spanish-style casitas), for its wildlife estuary full of birds and marine life, and for its gorgeous views of both Tampa Bay and the downtown skyline. Baby-sitting services are available, as are cribs and rollaway beds. The hotel regularly offers family packages (often combined with admission to Busch Gardens), and the concierge can tell you about organized activities for kids.
A good option for families on a budget is the clean, friendly Baymont Inn & Suites, located near Busch Gardens. Parking, continental breakfast and high-speed Internet access are complimentary, and kids can blow off steam in the outdoor swimming pool or in the game room. Suites with microwaves and refrigerators are available.
Day One
Start the day in downtown Tampa at the Florida Aquarium, located next to the cruise terminal. Kids will be entranced by sea creatures of all kinds, from baby alligators and playful otters to scary sharks. There are several touch tanks for children who love to get up close and personal -- but if anyone really wants to get their feet wet, check out the "Swim with the Fishes" program. Kids 6 and older can go scuba diving in the aquarium's coral reef exhibit, getting a fish's-eye view of more than 1,600 angelfish, parrotfish, moray eels and other sea life. (Note: No experience or SCUBA certification is required.)
After you've explored the aquarium's indoor exhibits, head outside to the Explore a Shore area, where kids can let off steam in an aquatic playground that features a water slide, pirate ship, model animals and a special corner just for toddlers. Parents can take a quick rest with a drink from the nearby Caribbean Cantina.
When the gang gets hungry, walk over to Margarita Mama's, on the second floor of the Channelside Bay Plaza complex next to the aquarium. This fun, casual eatery serves up Tex-Mex favorites like tacos, burritos and quesadillas, but also offers the usual suspects for picky eaters (burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders) on the kids' menu.
After lunch, get ready to take a trip back in time. Hop aboard one of Tampa's historic streetcars and head uptown to one of the city's first neighborhoods: Ybor City. Here you'll get a taste of Tampa's Latin origins, complete with wrought-iron balconies and little houses known as casitas, where workers in the neighborhood's cigar factories used to live. Ybor City was founded by a Spanish immigrant and populated by Cubans, Italians and other immigrants. Older kids may be interested in learning some of the city's history at the Ybor City Museum, where you can watch a professional hand-rolling cigars (demonstrations are held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.).
Nearby is Centro Ybor, one of the neighborhood's newer attractions. Here you can grab a casual dinner and explore an interactive world of games at Steven Spielberg's GameWorks -- they have everything from virtual bowling to Sega's Primeval Hunt. Then treat yourself to a tasty dessert at the Marble Slab Creamery, where you can choose from more than 30 possible "mix-ins" to add to homemade ice cream.
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