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FTF's guide to the best attractions to visit while vacationing on the sunny side of the west coast.

Tampa is one of the largest metropolitan areas in all of Florida. It offers visitors zoos, aquariums, and some truly one-of-a-kind amusement parks. Are you thinking about spending some extra time in central Florida? The city of Tampa takes full advantage of every local attraction to create summer-long and drop-in day camps for local and visiting children, based on each attraction's educational mission. Here are some examples of the top ones, with contact information:

Busch Gardens Adventure Camps 877/BGT-CAMP
Museum of Science and Industry Summer Science Camp 813/987-6000
Florida Aquarium Sleep with the Fishes 813/273-4015

For more information about what these institutions offer the camp-goer or the casual visitor, read on.

Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
4801 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33617
813/987-6000
MOSI is the largest science center in the Southeastern US, and home to the only IMAX Dome Theatre in Florida. It features more than 450 hands-on exhibits for hours of "edutainment" with school-age children.

Big Red Balloon
Meeting Place: 11702 N. Dale, Mabry Highway
813/969-1518
This site-seeing company takes you on a panoramic view of Tampa's bays, backyards, and beaches. This is a three and a half hot air balloon flight, available only to kids 5 years and older; a minimum of 48 inches height (to see over the sides of the basket) is required of all.

Canoe Escape
9335 E. Fowler Ave.
Thonotosassa, FL 33592
813/986-2067
Visitors take a tour-guided trip down the Hillsborough River. Guides will point out turtles, river otters, birds, and other animals. The daring can paddle through "alligator alley". These trips include paddling instructions as well as drop-offs and pick-ups at designated launch spots along the river

Adventure Island
4500 E. Bougainvillea Ave.
Tampa, FL 33617
888/800-5447
Adventure Island water park offers 25 acres of water attractions within a laid-back Key West atmosphere. The park includes a blend of high-splash slides, corkscrews, water falls, and a wave pool. Children have their own play area, while adults have a championship sand volleyball complex.

Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa
10001 N. McKinley Drive
Tampa, FL 33612
888/800-5447, 813/987-5082
This popular attraction has 10 distinct themed areas that bring a little of Africa to the Tampa area. The park has 335 acres of family entertainment including "Gwazi" (the largest and fastest "dueling" pair of wooden roller coasters), smoother rides, water play coasters, some VR and motion control rides, and other great attractions. Its Safari by Train and outdoor crafts displays will interest your little ones.

The Florida Aquarium
701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
813/273-4000
At Florida Aquarium visitors get up and close with thousands of aquatic creatures from frogs to sharks. It is a good place to explore the beautiful creatures of the water, and one of the country's best designed marine life habitats. Definitely a city highlight, with several family sleepovers annually.