Sarasota

Kennedy Space Center

The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex opened in 1967, two years before Neil Armstrong’s historic bounce on the moon. Since then many firsts originated at Kennedy, not the least of which was the revolutionary Space Shuttle program. The visitors complex shares the experiences of historic space travel with travelers through exhibits such as the Rocket Garden and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and interactive attractions that let visitors soar in the style of astronauts. More than 1.5 million visitors board buses to tour the 140,000-square-foot complex each year, many leaving with minds blown about the scope of the American space program and its accomplishments.

St. Petersburg

Along with beautiful, award-winning beaches, St. Petersburg is home to the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum, top-rated restaurants and beautiful Fort De Soto Park. The waterfront escape is a perfect family getaway with so many things to do!

The gleaming new 26-acre St. Pete Pier combines the peaceful blue waters of Tampa Bay with the vibrant greenery of downtown St. Petersburg’s parks, creating the ultimate place to stroll, bike, dine, drink, shop, swim, and take in a concert and more.

St. Petersburg, which glimmers between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, is known for its warm weather and for holding the title of “most consecutive days with sunshine” at 768 days!

Downtown St. Petersburg is the city’s heart, home to great shopping, restaurants, bars and cultural attractions. After making a stop to check out the largest collection of Dali’s work outside of Spain, swing by the Chihuly Collection on Central Avenue to witness mind-blowing glasswork.

Whether you’re having some down time on America’s best beaches or admiring beautiful Tampa Bay from downtown St. Pete, you’re in for some major fun in the sun.

New Port Richey

New Port Richey, on Pasco County’s southern coast in Central West Florida, is the place to go for spectacular sunsets and outdoor adventures that range from easy and relaxed to action-packed.

Spot dolphins from the 650-foot boardwalk at Robert K. Rees Memorial Park and spend time on the beach. Explore New Port Richey’s parks, expansive nature preserves, and the Pithlachascotee or “Cotee” River, put in some miles on the Suncoast Trail, and hike, bike, and camp at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park. Take your adventures to new heights with a trip to Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park and zip-line between the treetops.

Explore the historic downtown area and check out Sims Park, which has an amphitheater, boat and kayak launches, and a playground and splash pad for kids. Catch a performance or movie at the historic Richey Suncoast Theatre and see the newly restored Hacienda Hotel, which has a full-service restaurant and bar. The 40-room bubblegum-pink Mediterranean Revival building brings visitors stylishly back to the 1920s, when the area was a haven and vacation spot for celebrities.

Grab a bite to eat at The Social NPR, which features a rooftop bar, Hershel’s Scratch Kitchen, or one of the area’s many popular restaurants. Finish with a craft beer at Cotee River Brewing Company or Ordinance One.

Dade City

A small town located about an hour's drive northeast of Tampa, Dade City is home to the 16-acre Pioneer Florida Museum that examines and illustrates the state's history. Also here, the annual Pioneer Days Festival brings the Civil War-era back to life. Be sure to spend a few hours strolling downtown Dade City's oh-so-walkable streets. It's one of those rare downtowns where motorists actually slow down for pedestrians. Browse the antique stores, gift shops, boutiques and other haunts, and stop for a bite at one of Dade City's several fine restaurants.

Pasco County

Pasco County sits at the southern end of Florida’s eight-county Nature Coast so naturally there are plenty of outdoor activities. With 24 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico and more than 140 freshwater lakes, it’s a given that boating, paddling and fishing are big draws in Pasco.

But Pasco’s booming population — now about 560,000, mostly in the southeastern region — has spurred more things-to-do. With close proximity to Tampa, many new residents find that the commute to a city job is a decent tradeoff for a bit more room. And with growth have come craft breweries, and more restaurants and family attractions to complement the sites that celebrate Pasco’s roots. Overnight visitors and day trippers can rejoice with the locals because there is no lack of fun and games.

Here's a survey of family fun; adult fun; adventure & nature; food & drink, and history. Indoors or outdoors, active or more passive (is shopping active or passive?), there are lots of ways to while away a day or an afternoon. And if you’re looking for a honky-tonk to take in country acts and show off your lining-dancing skills, we’ve got you covered.

It’s time to get your Pasco County on.

Crystal River

Crystal River, about 90 minutes north of Tampa, is a haven for anglers and nature lovers with seemingly endless opportunities to enjoy all the Gulf Coast has to offer.

As one of the few places where visitors can snorkel with manatees, water and boating activities abound. Fish from a charter boat off the Gulf, a kayak on Kings Bay, or the pier at Fort Island Gulf Beach. To learn more about the local flora and fauna, take a family-friendly eco-tour on a pontoon boat at Crystal River Preserve State Park.

A stay in Crystal River wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Three Sisters Springs, a group of clear freshwater springs within the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. This enchanting swimming, snorkeling, and paddling spot is where visitors can see wintering manatees that come to the springs to stay warm when temperatures in the Gulf drop. Off the water, Crystal River Archaeological State Park offers a look into Florida’s history with pre-Columbian burial mounds and other sites that visitors can see and learn about.

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