Went here as a kid and it was very nostalgic to go back but ohmygod the ticketing is so poorly run…read more Even if you get a ticket online, you need to wait in the absurdly long line to get a sticker. It was like 20 minutes and they only had one person at the booth. Waiting outside in heat with no shade is just wild, especially with the world's slowest ticket process ever and kids waiting as impatiently as I was in a line to an even longer wait. There is also a machine that kids love to press that I actually thought was construction. It was so loud we had to leave that whole area of the museum. Also the listed drone flying times were just a little late-- we waited for 11:45 and no one came out until 11:50. It was fine but I was worried it wasn't happening! All this aside, there is a lot to learn and look at, even for adults! They have exhibits about dinosaurs, the human body, moon geology, illusions, gravity, and more.

This Smithsonian Museum holds a special place in my heart. It brings out the inner child and…read moreeveryone and is not just entertaining from a visual aspect, but also offers ingenuity and an educational experience. As with all the other Smithsonian museums, this one has a timed entry system that is complementary but you must do before you enter. Scan your QR code and off you go. As with all Smithsonian museums leave at least 2 to 3 hours so that you're able to experience the museum in its entirety.

Small history and natural sciences museum at a scenic spot along the Hillsborough River. I have…read morebeen to presentations and exhibits on Florida Blues music and Latino history in Tampa, They host travelling exhibitions and speakers so get on their mailing list if interested. The landscaping is a work in progress and would beneift from more native plants especially hosts for butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators such as hummingbirds. Nice views and a peaceful spot. Sulphur Springs itself has an interesting history. The neighborhood has been relatively inpoverished more recently despite its history as a tourist attraction with natural springs. The nearby pool and its mural at the springs is worth a visit. They might let you check it out if you tell me you are interested in the history and not there to swim. Lovely river views. Some benches. Helpful and friendly staff. Some interesting fliers and I've enjoyed the talks and exhibitions I've attended. This is a small community museum not the Smithsonian. ;)

A prime piece of land set aside from the Hillsborough River. This museum I under renovation. We…read morewere here at the music box performance by the USF music department. The museum compose of series of structure that generated the sound. You can step on the floor plank, pull the water jet, striking the strength string door frame, or bicycle rotation to generate the sound. Interesting concept to swing the window frame also can creat a music note. This museum park is small and easy access.

This small photography museum recently relocated to Ybor City, right on 7th Ave. My first visit was…read moreon a Wednesday in April 2025, with a couple of art-loving ladies. Admission was only $12, plus they honor reciprocal museum membership associations. On display during our visit were two different exhibits. In the larger gallery, Tim Smith's "The Hutterites: In the World but Not of It" was a fascinating & touching documentation of these self-contained & self-sufficient colonies that sprinkle the NW US & western Canada. The other gallery featured photographs submitted by Tampa Bay area students for a juried competition in "Through Their Lens: A Journey of Self-Exploration". Both exhibits were outstanding! The museum offers a small gift shop with an eccletic selection of photography-related items and iconic concert poster reproductions. Plus, some vinyl records, photography books, and other small souvenirs, were available for purchase. Also on display, but not for sale, were vintage cameras behind glass on a couple of shelves. Though small, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts was a great visit as I thoroughly enjoyed both exhibits. I'll note that the two bathrooms were very large & also featured a photograph in each. I definitely hope to return to enjoy future exhibitions!

I visited this museum last week for their Ybor Then and Now exhibit. They had that on display along…read morewith an exhibit where their members entered their own photographs. I really enjoyed both. Being an Ybor resident, I was really interested in seeing and learning more of its history. The museum is pretty small. I took my time and I was only there about an hour. Not sure if I'd go back unless they had another exhibit that really peaked my interest.

Some friends and I met here to visit the urban state park before going to the Lightning game…read more Highly recommend a visit here and grabbing food in the area before going to a game! Street parking was easy to find and it was nice to walk by the park and see the area around the State Park. The ranger, Barbie, was incredibly welcoming and informative, sharing some fun facts with us as another group also checked in so we could all watch the intro video together. For being the second smallest state park (1 of the fun facts we were told), there were a lot of great exhibits strategically packed into the space. There is also a courtyard and row of casitas outside the main building that are also part of the tour. It is very well done and an interesting unique state park being located right in the heart of the downtown area rather than sprawling nature like most others. The location gave extra weight to the history we learned through the tour and exhibits. It was a great experience!

Ybor City has a fascinating history and this is a great spot to learn more about it. It's a small…read moremuseum but still packed with many interesting facts and items to see. The person running with the big beard is awesome. Big bear and big personality.

OMG. This was amazing. I was a little apprehensive when I showed up with a 3 year old after reading…read moresome of the reviews. My little one loved it more than the aquarium. There are some areas that are hot and stuffy but there are also designated air conditioned rooms. His favorite part was going up up and up! I won't lie, I was getting nauseous looking down but outside was nice with the winds. I def recommend checking it out.

The ship is still listed as active so it could be called into service. This is a very good museum…read more It has a guided tour or you could go of by yourself. Wear some shorts, comfortable shoes, and cool tee shirts. Watch your step if you never been on a ship that isn't a cruise ship these decks are sloped. They also are uneven. Be prepared for tight spaces and a million stairs. Don't forget to ring the bell on the forward deck. It's under the forward gun on the main deck. It's a really nice museum a gift shop is there. I went on a Tuesday and it wasn't crowded at all. Lots of seating everywhere. On the main deck there are several benches all down the deck.

We visited Rick's On the River on a Saturday evening around 5 o'clock after boating for the day…read more We were very hungry and were worried that Rick's was gonna be very busy. I was able to walk up and find a table immediately for the six of us as the restaurant seat yourself. There is a sign on the table that you can spin to let servers know that you need service, you get the menu yourself. There is also a wheel that shows you how long it will take for you to get your food. Luckily the wheel said that the wait time for food was 20 minutes. The restaurant had a live band, which was cool but a little bit loud from where we were sitting. Our servers came and took our orders very quickly. The food did come in about that 20 minute window. I would say the food is decent, but they have a lot of options and the prices are very fair. This is a waterfront restaurant with live music, you really can't beat the atmosphere. Decent food seems to be is on the cake. This place is a well oiled machine and worth a visit!

Visiting Tampa. A friend had a boat and we were headed out. While waiting stopped at Rick's. Sat…read moreoutside and was immediately approached by a "host". Not because he wanted to assist us but because I was drinking a coffee and asked me how long I plan on drinking it. Me thinking the sign said no outside ALCOHOL and this place being how it is; immediately was irritated. But was not throwing my Starbucks away. The waitress Lindsey saved the day and my experience because she was super kind and professional and experienced. Did I tell you this original person stared at me until I finished my coffee. Which I poured into a clean cup in case he thought I had alcohol and was trying to get over. Enough about him. Just concerns me because a few reviews mention people of color receiving subpar treatment. This made me cautious. Again Lindsey was great. The food was average. Must be highly appreciated by the Locals because it was crowded. Would not recommend and of course would not visit again.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office History Center is located in a cute little bungalow on the…read morecorner of 9th Avenue and 19th Street right across the way from Centennial Park. It has some really neat items on display including badges from the 1890s to the present. There's a case that displays the dispatch Radio Systems and how they've changed over the years from analog to digital. They show the different flashlights, cameras including a fingerprint camera from the 60s, crime scene cameras from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and the first taser that came out in 2002. The gas mask from the 1960s looked a bit scary. It was cool to see pictures of the patrol cars and the motorcycles that the motor deputies road. There is also a wall with the pictures of all of the Sheriffs that served in Hillsborough County. Our docent, Phillip Palmer, was a Sheriff for 24 years and served under three Sheriffs. Mr. Palmer was also an auxiliary officer for 10 years. He really took his time with us explaining the different displays and the history of the Hillsborough Sheriff's Dept. He was a wealth of knowledge! Check out this little Museum if you're ever in Ybor. You can get through it in about 30 minutes if you read all of the commentary with the displays. It's something cool to see on a particularly hot day. Get out of the heat and check this little place out!