20 Attractions to Explore Near Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Howl-O-Scream Tampa Bay is three exhilarating weeks of screams and thrills for the brave and bold. Located in Hillsborough County, the event offers not only haunted houses and scare zones with terrifying themes, but also live entertainment each night and hundreds of ghoulish creatures lurking around every corner. Not for the faint at heart, Howl-O-Scream Tampa Bay is a great way to get into the Halloween season with electrifying frights that will stay with you long after the event has ended.

Serengeti is an unforgettable experience that everyone should experience at least once. This safari allows visitors to observe more than 50 different species of animals up close, including zebra, emu, ostriches, bison, and more. On the tour you will also learn interesting facts about each animal and their natural habitats. Along the way you are even allowed to feed the animals. After the tour you can enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking some of the most beautiful scenery in Hillsborough County.

Cobra's Curse is a thrilling roller coaster experience located in Hillsborough County, Florida. The coaster twists and turns around an eighty foot snake sculpture and is sure to give any coaster enthusiast their adrenaline fix! Riders start out with a slow launch from the station and climb three stories up to the first "stop" – a face-to-face encounter with the Cobra King himself! After that, it's a wild ride filled with loops, spins and drops throughout its two thousand feet of track.

Sand Serpent is a unique experience located near Tampa Bay, Sand Serpent offers one-of-a kind adventures for thrill seekers. Tourists can explore the area on various guided activities that take them through diverse trails of white sand, mangrove swamps filled with butterflies and hawks, and lush coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico's shoreline. Tourists also have the opportunity to take guided Ecotours along some of Florida’s most remarkable rivers and waterways.

Falcon's Fury is a unique thrill ride located in Hillsborough County, Florida that opened in 2014. It stands at 335 feet tall and has riders sitting upright with the ground beneath their feet. The ride begins with a slow ascent to the peak before surging riders forward into an almost free-fall experience. Yet even while plummeting, they can still take time to appreciate beautiful views of Tampa Bay before slowly gliding back to the top.

Montu is an intense steel roller coaster located in Busch Gardens. It stands over 140 feet tall and nearly a mile in length with more than 3,900 feet of track. Taking riders through seven mind-blowing inverted loops, Montu is one of the most thrilling roller coasters in the country and is known to be the tallest and fastest inverted coaster. From its initial lift hill climb to hitting top speeds of 60 miles per hour, It keeps its riders heart pounding until it passes through a dark tunnel.

Cheetah Hunt, is a thrilling roller coaster ride offering exciting twists and turns that will leave your heart racing. The roller coaster begins with a series of gentle dips and curves before launching riders up to 60 miles per hour across nearly 4,400 feet of steel track. It ends with a catapult that propels you deeply into the sky before spiraling back down. This state-of-the-art coaster will give you an unforgettable experience filled with free-falling loops and high speed crossings.

Kumba, is an unforgettable experience. This thrilling rollercoaster ride has seven intense inversions, speed twists, and tight turns on over 3,800 feet of steel track. Riders reach heights of 135 feet and top speeds of 53mph as they go through loops and diving corkscrews at break-neck speed. After the thrills of Kumba riders find a serene note with a final helix around a quiet pond.

SheiKra, is one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world! Its wooden frame reaches a maximum height of 200 feet, complete with a breathtaking 90-degree drop before shooting back up at an incline of 120 degrees. You'll be cruising through its 3,188 feet of twisting steel tracks at lightning speed - up to 70 mph! It has 7 quick drops over its course along with some tight turns that really crank up the thrilling coaster experience!

Tigris, is an exhilarating and thrilling roller coaster experience. The steep drops and unexpected loops send riders looping up and down with the wind in their hair. From its signature heartline roll to its intense launches, Tigris packs plenty of thrills into one ride. It also boasts great views for spectators of all heights too! With a maximum speed of over 62 miles per hour and a platform height of 150 feet, Tigris is every adrenaline junkie's dream come true.

Congo River Rapids is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day. The fun and thrilling rapids will have visitors flying down the river on their inner tubes while navigating through exciting twists and turns. As they navigate through the eight-foot-high wave created by the waterfalls, visitors will experience varying speeds of running water that race through swamps and forests. With lush vegetation all around, visitors can take in their surroundings.

Adventure Island, is an adventure lover's paradise. With a wide variety of exciting water slides, thrilling rides and carnival games, there is no shortage of fun to be had here. Get the adrenalin pumping with Roller Coaster Rapids or Wacky Slides - both of which are sure to make your heart pound! If that's not enough excitement for you, don't worry - the park also features plenty of relaxing activities such as animal shows and gentle boat rides.

A community-based not-for-profit institution and educational resource that is dedicated to advancing public interest, knowledge, and understanding of science, industry, and technology.

The University of South Florida Botanical Gardens features a vast array of natural beauty. Located in Hillsborough County, Florida, visitors come to explore the many lush displays found within the gardens. With approximately 10 distinct collections, each showcase offers its own unique look at exotic plants like those found only in tropical rainforests. In addition to the plant life on display, birds, butterflies and other wildlife can be seen fluttering throughout the grounds.

In 2009, Lowry Park Zoo was voted the number one Family Friendly Zoo in the US by Parents Magazine. Nearly 1 million people visit the 65-acre zoo a year to see its more than 1,300 animals.

Lettuce Lake Park is the perfect blend of recreational activities and scenic nature trails. With a range of outdoor experiences including canoeing and kayaking along the Hillsborough River, camping along its serene wooded sites, fishing and picnicking on banks of the shallow water lagoon, as well as hiking and biking through winding trails and an environmental education center for a deep dive into nature, there is something for everyone at this breathtaking park.

Cracker Country is an educational living history museum that provides visitors with a unique view of rural life in the 19th century. Through its re-created farmstead, period demonstrations, craft and trades heritage exhibits, original buildings and artifacts, Cracker Country showcases Florida's rich culture and diverse history. The guided tour offers an up-close look at lives of Florida pioneers who called themselves “Crackers” — self-sufficient cattle ranchers and farmers who lived.

The J.C. Newman Cigar Company has been family owned and operated since 1895, making it one of the oldest cigar businesses in America. This local institution is still owned by the Newman family and is a thriving business today. They produce over 6 million handmade cigars per year with 80 employees across multiple shifts in their Tampa-based factory. The company is dedicated to craftsmanship, quality control and continuing the long history of classic American cigar brands .

Ybor City is a historically rich and vibrant area founded by Vicente Martinez Ybor in 1886, This Historic Landmark is known for its contribution of Cuban-influenced culture to the region. It has become an attractive place to live, work, and play by its unique combination of old-world charm, modern amenities, and exciting attractions. Visitors will find plenty here from the impressive architecture of century buildings, professional theater companies, stylish art galleries and trendy restaurants.

Eureka Springs Park, is a beautiful and natural park that is perfect for spending a day outdoors. The sprawling grounds feature plenty of walking trails amongst the thick forestry, as well as some stunning waterfront views. There are also several attractions within the park such as Big Fish Lake and Eureka Springs Park Nature Center, where visitors can learn more about the local wildlife. Other activities include fishing, picnicking, birdwatching or other leisure activities.