TAMPA BAY, Florida – It’s no secret that Florida summers can be extremely hot. If you’re looking for fun ways to cool off in and around Tampa Bay, consider an inflatable water park, 7.5-acre lagoon, or even a restaurant that lets you take a dip in its aquarium!

Giant Adventure: Epperson Lagoon in Wesley Chapel, FL

Epperson Lagoon
Location: 31885 Overpass Rd., Wesley Chapel
Cost: Adults cost $ 35 | Children cost $ 28

Tired of the beach? Opt instead for a lagoon! Epperson Lagoon is one of the largest swimming pools in the United States, with 7.5 acres for swimming. virtual reality diving experience, lawn games and pool bar. If you’re trying to soak up the sun and the cool, there are also private cabanas, AquaBanas, and tikis available for hire. AquaBanas are inflatable huts that allow you to relax while floating on the water!

Splash Harbor Water Park in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida | Giant adventure

Splash Harbor Water Park
Location: 399 2nd St., Indian Rocks Beach
Cost: Admission for adult Florida residents is $ 25.95 | Admission for junior Florida residents is $ 21.95

This Key West-themed water park is tucked inside the Holiday Inn Harborside in Indian Rocks Beach, making it just hidden enough to avoid a large number of tourists. It has a lot to do like Smuggler’s Run, a 42-foot-high slide with a bowl function; Pirate’s Plunge, a slide for solo riders looking for thrills; a Treasure Cove Splash Zone for the little ones, a Great White Lazy River with over 600 feet of winding bends and more. Plus there’s a “snack shack” with tons of options for lunch and Cruzan Rum Shack, for frozen specialty drinks, beer and more.

The Elevator Adventure Park
Location: 17362 Old Dixie Road, Hudson
Cost: $ 15 for a 45-minute session

This adventure park will allow you to challenge your agility and your balance, while being on the water! It is the largest inflatable water park in Florida and it offers many obstacles to overcome. But that’s not all there is to do in the park. There are also opportunities for wakeboarding, paddleboarding, and kayaking if watersports are more your thing.

Top Pro Kiteboarding In St. Pete | Giant adventure

Best professional kitesurfing
Location: 1031 4th St. N., St. Petersburg
Cost: Classes start at $ 60 per person per hour.

Speaking of water sports, kitesurfing is definitely one of the coolest sports to learn. It combines elements of surfing, paragliding and wakeboarding. Best Pro Kiteboarding offers courses for all types of skills, from beginners to advanced. You can choose between a two hour and four hour lesson and jet ski assistants are also provided with each lesson! They take place at Skyway Beach just off the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, but be careful before you go. The red tide has been around the area and you’ll want to make sure it’s not there before you go!

Tampa Bay Water Bike Company along the Riverwalk | Giant adventure

Tampa Bay Water Bike Company
Location: 333 S. Franklin St. on the docks along the Tampa Riverwalk, Boat Slip 15.
Cost: $ 30 for adults | $ 25 for children (15 and under)

Looking to get active but not a big fan of kitesurfing? Tampa Bay Water Bike Company has exactly what you need. This business lets you cycle along the Hillsborough River, taking in sights such as the University of Tampa and Davis Island. You might even spot dolphins! The water bikes are fairly easy to ride and you also get a quick safety orientation beforehand. There is also the option of renting single and tandem kayaks, if you want to explore the river in a different way.

Snorkel and Dine at RumFish Grill on St. Pete Beach | Taste and see Tampa Bay

Snorkeling at RumFish Grill
Location: 6000 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Cost: $ 35

At RumFish Grill, not only can you enjoy fish as a meal, but you can also enjoy it as a snorkeler! This fascinating restaurant allows patrons to bathe in their 33,500 gallon aquarium, which is home to over 30 species of fish and aquatic life native to the Gulf of Mexico. Expect to see creatures like tarpon, amberjack, grouper, rockfish, black drum, cow-nosed stingrays, pompano, and nurse sharks. When you’re done wading through the 13 feet of artificial seawater, head to the real restaurant where you can munch on ceviche, freshly shucked oysters, chilled seashells and more.

The Chassahowitzka River in Homosassa, FL | Giant summer adventure

The Chassahowitzka river
Location: 8600 West, Miss Maggie Drive, Homosassa
Cost: Parking is $ 5

Who knew that jungles and underwater caves could be accessed in Florida? At the Chassahowitzka River, also known as the “Chaz River”, you can experience this and much more! This park in Citrus County has clear, shallow blue water and if you choose to swim you may spot blue holes and underwater cave systems. There are tons of marine life that inhabit the waters, so you might be able to spot a few dolphins and otters, as well as lots of fish. There are also rentals available for paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and jonboats, which you can access here. Don’t forget to wade in the spring until you reach “The Crack,” a section that has a pond-like area with swings above for the adventurous types.

Rainbow Springs State Park | Giant summer adventure

rainbow springs
Location: 19158 SW 81st Place Rd., Dunnellon
Cost: $ 2

Rainbow Springs is the state’s fourth largest spring, home to sapphire blue waters, mossy hammocks, diverse wildlife, and man-made waterfalls. Rainbow Springs is a great place to cool off during the summer as its water stays cool at 72 degrees all year round. If you want to do more than swim, the park offers tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing. The tube is one of the most popular and renting one is $ 20. Take advantage now; the tubes are available on weekends only until September 28, the closing date for the winter season.

Weeki Wachee Springs is open for kayaking | Taste and see Tampa Bay

Sources Weeki Wachee
Location: 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill
Cost: $ 13 for adults | $ 8 for children 6 to 12 years old

Last but not least is Weeki Wachee Springs, one of the best experiences you can have in all of Florida! It has been one of Florida’s top attractions since 1947 and once you see the crystal-clear natural springs you’ll understand why. There are many unique experiences here, such as the mermaid show that takes place in a submerged auditorium, a spring-fed water park called Buccaneer Bay, and areas for kayaking and snorkeling. Also keep an eye out for the park’s wildlife, which includes turtles, otters, pelicans, and other exciting marine life!