Tampa, FL : A Bear Family Adventure
Busch Gardens is one of the most legendary amusement parks in the world and a Florida tourist staple. As Floridians, we have the luxury of vacationing right in our own backyard. One minute, the Bear Family (the affectionate name I call my family) can be relaxing in the Panhandle in Destin, Florida, and the next, we can be exploring Key West. Florida is truly our built-in vacation destination.
During the December break, we wanted to take a mini family getaway. Truth be told, I wasn't in the mood to travel too far from our hometown of Orlando. We decided to head to Tampa to check out Busch Gardens.
Our first visit wasn't the best—and honestly, it wasn't very memorable. My older kids were still in strollers, and it rained soooo much that day. The entire trip was a complete bust!
Tampa-bound didn't require us to rent a car—yayayaya! We booked a hotel about 10–15 minutes from Busch Gardens. Since we were spending the weekend in Tampa, we mapped out several mini adventures for the family.
Our hotel of choice was the Hilton Tampa Downtown because we're Hilton Honors members, and their accommodations never disappoint. The room was standard—no frills, just solid essentials for the family.
Whenever we travel to different cities or states, I love trying restaurants that we don't have in Orlando. We came across a West African restaurant, and it was our first time trying the cuisine.
Absolutely delish!!!
I left feeling full without feeling stuffed or sluggish. Even better, we stayed satisfied the entire evening—no late-night snack run required.
The next day, it was onward to Busch Gardens!
We're not one of those families who feel the need to be waiting at the gates when the park opens. We like to mosey around and embrace vacation mode.
When we arrived, it was blistering hot...in December! But that's Florida for you.
Thankfully, I dressed for the weather.
The first thing I noticed was the parking experience, and naturally, I immediately compared it to Disney. I'm going to keep it classy and cute, so I'll skip over the interesting parking and shuttle situation.
What I wasn't expecting were the massive crowds in December.
We waited in line for what felt like a billion years to ride the Sky Ride. Just when we finally reached the front, I was shocked to learn there was an additional fee.
Wait...what?!
We already paid for admission, and now we have to pay extra to ride the Sky Ride?
Total eye-roll.
Imagine going to Disney, paying a small fortune for tickets, and then being told you have to pay an extra fee to ride "it's a small world."
Nonetheless, we stuck it out because we'd already invested so much time waiting in line.
The views from the Sky Ride were beautiful, and it was fun seeing the park from above. There were also different loading and unloading stations throughout the park, which made it convenient.
We chose kid-friendly rides since our youngest bear was only three years old. Plus, I'll gladly admit that I'm intimidated by those heart-pounding roller coasters.
The lines were incredibly long, but we made the best of it.
The highlight for the little ones was definitely Sesame Street Safari of Fun. They rode Air Grover several times, and it turned out to be the perfect first roller coaster for young kids.
The entire Sesame Street area looked like you had stepped right onto the television set. The creativity and imagination that went into designing the area were absolutely spectacular.
Once the sun went down, the temperature dropped fast. I ended up purchasing an expensive Abby Cadabby hoodie.
Honestly...I didn't even mind.
It's incredibly soft, and I still wear it today.
Money well spent!
Momma Tip ⬇️
Research the park's busy seasons before visiting.
Stay at a hotel close to restaurants and attractions.
Pack for Florida's unpredictable weather.
Be adventurous and try restaurants you've never experienced before.
Be patient...and practice the Fruit of the Spirit. 😊
Our next stop was the Glazer Children's Museum, which was within walking distance of our hotel.
It was a fantastic museum designed specifically for kids, with plenty of hands-on exhibits that encouraged sensory play, critical thinking, creativity, and imagination.
Another walkable favorite was Armature Works, home to the Heights Public Market.
Now THIS is my kind of place.
Imagine a food court—but upgraded with incredible local restaurants and food vendors all under one roof.
We enjoyed some delicious barbecue for lunch and grabbed coffee and snacks before heading out for the rest of our day.
Overall, we can officially cross Busch Gardens off the Bear Family Florida Bucket List.
We truly enjoyed our in-state vacation, made lots of memories, and discovered a few new favorite spots along the way.
Now the big question is...
Where will the Bear Family wander next?
Click on the video link ⬇️
