20 Attractions to Explore Near Hillsborough River State Park

The Fort Foster State Historic Site is an iconic remnant of the Seminole Wars. It was initially built as a military base by the federal forces in 1837 during their operations against the Seminoles. The white-washed fort was never actually used in battle, but its presence was enough to show that the Americans were ready to wage war against the native population. Today, it is preserved as a historical site and has gained importance due to its diverse landscape.

The Miss Emma Hicks Bungalow, located in Kentucky, is a historic bungalow-style home that represents the architectural heritage of the region. Built in 1922, this charming residence showcases specific characteristic of its era, serving as a testament to the craftsmanship and design aesthetics of its time.

Dinosaur World offers a unique way for visitors, both young and old, to explore the prehistoric era. Located on over 20-acres of land, there are more than 150 life-sized dinosaur models spread throughout gardens and forests; an educational exhibit where you can learn about all phases of dino history; a Dinosaur Bone Dig Sandbox which provides an interactive experience with real fossils; various activities including a fossil find game that helps with problem solving skills.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

335-acre (136 ha) African-themed animal theme park. The park officially features nine roller coasters and two water rides amongst other rides and animal attractions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.