Tampa Bay reopens responsibly. With summer now officially here, Tampa Bay’s attractions are safely and responsibly reopening following guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Florida Department of Public Health.
As the home of Florida’s Most open-air adventures, Tampa Bay hosts some of the State’s best attractions from the spine-tingling rollercoasters at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay to the amazing animals encounters at ZooTampa at Lowry Park and The Florida Aquarium. Tampa Bay is full of wide-open possibilities with a stunning Tampa Riverwalk in the heart of downtown, inspiring arts and culture exhibits at the Tampa Museum of Art and outdoor parks that make Tampa Bay a year-round destination.
As the destination reopens and steps back into the sunshine, travelers can explore Tampa Bay’s natural wonders along Hillsborough River with Urban Kai Stand Up Paddleboarding, a self-guided tour at Canoe Escape or take a deep cleansing breath and spend some quality time with any of our 750+ partners.
Alfresco dining has always been a staple in Tampa Bay restaurants like Ulele, Armature Works, Sparkman Wharf, and American Social. Now the city has expanded patio dining into some of Tampa Bay’s most iconic neighborhoods including Ybor City’s historic Seventh Avenue and upscale Hyde Park Village. The effort has since been nationally recognized with Tampa Bay being seen as a pioneer in this initiative.
Retail stores are also safely opening with revised capacities and curbside pickup options, including International Plaza and Bay Street, Tampa Premium Outlets, Hyde Park Village, and Westshore Plaza.
“Safeguarding Tampa Bay’s locally owned businesses and attractions is the key to ensuring traveler confidence,” says Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Tampa Bay is welcoming guests and we are taking that invitation very seriously and responsibly. We fully expect travel to look and feel a little different than it did before and communicating those changes is the key to creating memorable experiences that we know travelers need.”
Tampa Parks & Recreation
All County and State Parks are open, including favorites like Hillsborough River State Park, Alafia River State Park, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, and Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. For a full list of county parks, click HERE, and for state parks, click HERE. Please note that amenities might be limited in each park as Tampa Bay reopens responsibly.
The Florida Aquarium
With guidance and recommendations from Tampa General Hospital’s Infections Disease Prevention Team, and in alignment with CDC guidelines, The Florida Aquarium opened its doors to the public with additional barriers, one-way flow experiences, social distancing signage, staff PPE and updated capacity restrictions. Guests are required to wear a face mask and make reservations in advance. For more info, click HERE .
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
ZooTampa at Lowry Park opened at 50% capacity following a 19-page modified operations plan. Changes include thermal monitoring stations at a single point of entry, on-premise EMTs, staff PPE, and physical distancing signage. Reservations are strongly recommended. General admission at the gate will occur on a first-come, first-serve basis. The use of a guest face mask is strongly encouraged and will be provided free of charge upon request. For more information, click HERE.
MOSI
Opening at 50% capacity, MOSI will continue operations with staff member PPE, front desk sneeze guards, social distancing signage, waiting areas for staggered entry into exhibits, and repeated deep cleanings of spaces throughout the day. CLICK HERE for their reopening plan.
Tampa Museum of Art
The Tampa Museum of Art has reopened to the general public with regular hours of operation, limited capacity, physical distancing, staff member temperature checks and PPE, and a wellness station with masks, globes and tissues for guest use. All meals at the café will be individually packaged in sealable and recyclable to-go containers. For more information on the museum’s response plan, click HERE.
Topgolf
Topgolf has made changes upon reopening, including new social distancing guidelines, minimizing crowds by offering free online reservations and staff member PPE, daily health screenings and staggered shift check-ins. Their outdoor bays will be disinfected after every group. There is 11 feet of distance from tee to tee, but as an extra precaution Topgolf will also place plexiglass protectors in between bays for added comfort and safety. Learn more HERE.
Glazer Children’s Museum
Following Clean, Safe, and Fun principles, the Glazer Children’s Museum opens on June 6 at 25% capacity. The museum will operate on reservation-based admission and timed entry. All staff will have appropriate PPE and the museum will implement heightened cleaning protocols, physical distancing signage, hand sanitizer stations, sneeze guard partitions and self-swipe credit card machines. High touch areas and exhibits will be continuously cleaned and the entire facility will undergo a deep clean every Monday when the museum is closed to the general public. View the fill reopening plan HERE .
Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay & Adventure Island
Tampa Bay’s largest attractions opens on June 11, requiring all guests over the age of 2 to wear face masks and requiring reservations. Social distancing at queues, hand sanitizing stations pre- and post-ride, staff PPE and temperature checks, and modified guest experiences are part of their new safety protocols. For more detailed information, click HERE.
For more information on summer travel and how Tampa Bay reopens responsibly, visit visittampabay.com and stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and for the latest on what businesses are doing to safely welcome back visitors.