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🌊In the wave pool, life is swell

Guide to water parks in Tampa Bay, FL

Screen Shot 2023-04-23 at 4.44.57 PM.png

Get your daily dose of Vitamin D at the Metro Lagoon. | Photo via @erincampos

They say that during this time of the year, the only thing separating Tampa Bay from hell is a screen door and a half rolled-down window.

We have the antidote. Beat the heat and take a dip at one of our many water parks. These splashy four attractions offer activities for all ages, and you’re pretty much guaranteed to cool off a few degrees.

TradeWinds Island Resorts’ Floating Water Park

Location: 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
Highlights: This beachfront park boasts a 10-ft slide, a water trampoline, an obstacle course, and splash mats.
Schedule: Open Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission: $40/hour, available to non-hotel guests

Captain Bam’s Jungle Float

Location: 9000 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
Highlights: Leap off the 14-ft high dive, swirl down the twisting water slide, or get wild and take your pick from the thrilling trampolines. If you’re not chicken, launch yourself sky-high using the inflatable “Blob” pad.
Schedule: Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: $50/hour, $500/hour for parties of up to 30 people

Screen Shot 2023-04-23 at 4.47.56 PM.png — This float is available to rent for up to 30 people.
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Photo via Captain Bams Jungle-Float

Adventure Island

Location: 10001 N. McKinley Dr., Tampa
Highlights: Busch Gardens’ sister water park has an expansive 17,000-sqft wave pool, a relaxing half-mile lazy river, and a heart pumping 70-ft drop slide — perfect for adventure seekers of all kinds.
Schedule: Open daily through September, times vary
Admission: Single-day $49, Unlimited pass $85, Two-park ticket $110

Metro Lagoons: Epperson

Location: 31885 Overpass Rd., Wesley Chapel
Highlights: Plunge into adventure as you slide down the towering 30-ft waterslide, bounce joyfully on the floating playground, and explore the serene waters on a kayak or paddleboard. With a balmy water temperature of 70-80 degrees, this water park promises an unforgettable experience under the sun.
Schedule: Open daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Admission: Day pass $20-$40, Late Day Pass $13-32

*Hours may change due to inclement weather

Events

Today, April 24

Tampa Bay Taco Week | Monday, April 24-Sunday, April 30 | Times vary | Across Tampa Bay | Free | Enjoy taco and drink specials at Gallito Taqueria, Datz, Jimmy’s Tacos, and more local spots — just ask for the Taco Week special.
Trivia Night | Monday, Apr. 24 | 7-9 p.m. | The Big Catch at Salt Creek, 1500 2nd St. S., St. Petersburg | Free | Answer questions about general pop culture and history and compete to win prizes.
Lightning Plaza Party | Monday, Apr. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $5 | Tailgate and watch game four of the Lightning’s Stanley Cup Playoff run — Thunder Alley will open three hours before puck drop.

Tuesday, April 25

Astros vs. Rays | Tuesday, Apr. 25-Wednesday, Apr. 26 | 6:40 p.m. | Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg | $10-$147 | Eat a Stinger Dog and watch the Rays take on Houston.

Wednesday, April 26

Ukulele Jam Along | Wednesday, Apr. 26 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Safety Harbor Library, 101 Second St. N., Safety Harbor | Free | Bring your uke, fiddle some strings, and learn new songs.

Thursday, April 27

OE Book Fair: A Celebration of Local Authors | Thursday, Apr. 27 | 6-9 p.m. | Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | Free | Mingle with more than 45 authors, grab a drink from the champagne bar, and check out the bookstore.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Giveaway

Good news for locals

Get ready to share good news for a chance to win $500 cash. | Graphic provided by 6AM City

Did you know you have until May 8 to share good, local news with your neighbors on Nextdoor and be entered for a chance to win $500 in cold hard cash?

The road to possibly winning the cash is simple:

At the top of all of our articles, there are buttons to easily share stories, and we’ve recently added a button to share on Nextdoor.
After clicking the icon, you’ll either log in or create a new Nextdoor account.
Create a post using your favorite TBAYtoday article with a caption for your community.
Once you are happy with your post, click “POST” and you will be entered to win $500 automatically.
Respond with likes + comments
You can share as many articles as you’d like, just as long as you believe they will benefit your neighborhood!

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 10 in our newsletter and social channels. There’s no limit on the number of entries for the contest. The selected winner will be someone who shares a story that receives a lot of engagement (likes, comments, and shares) on Nextdoor.

Read full eligibility and giveaway terms here.

Get started

News Notes

Playoffs

The Lightning fell in game three against the Maple Leafs this past weekend. They are now down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. The teams take the ice again tonight at 7:30 for game four of the series.

Sports

The Rays have made MLB history yet again. This time, by hitting a home run in every game for 21 consecutive games.

Development

Tampa Hope (3704 E. 3rd Ave.) plans to open 100 tiny homes for homeless residents this fall. The 64-sqft homes come equipped with beds, electricity, heating, and air conditioning. Hope Village also offers access to showers, laundry, food, and counseling. (WTSP)
Construction has begun at the Historic Cordova Inn close to Williams Park in downtown St. Pete. The expansion into the lot next door will add 65 new guest rooms, a rooftop pool and bar, and a ground floor restaurant. The expansion should be complete in the latter half of 2024. (I Love the Burg)

Closed

Park & Rec, downtown Tampa’s indoor/outdoor adult playground + drinkery, is officially closed. Hunger Thirst Group, the company behind the popular sports bar (and No Vacancy, Lost and Found, Dirty Laundry and Good Fortune), is looking to expand in St. Pete. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Drink

Does your tap water taste a little different? Tampa Water Department is now purchasing water from Tampa Bay Water due to the current drought. If you’re a Tampa Water customer, later this summer, you’ll see a charge on your utility bill listed as “TBW Pass-Through.” (WFLA)

Eat

How does restaurant + social club Offline work? Each month, you get two local restaurant matches, plus up to $50 towards the tabs. Our favorite part: recommendations on the top menu items to order. Reserve your membership now using code TBTODAY.

Travel

Itching to take a vacation? We’re always in support of time off + self care — so we’ve rounded up five drool-worthy vacation spots to help you plan. This romantic chateau in Nova Scotia is one of our favorites on the list. See the rest.

Kids

Two words: free bowling. Sign up for Kids Bowl Free to connect with local bowling alleys where kids can receive two free games of bowling everyday this summer. Plus, grab a Family Pass + up to four adults can join in on the fun.

Holiday

Get excited to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with our online shop (Six & Main). Cheers with this Margarita Bundle from Simple Times Mixers, and treat your taste buds with Sobremesa, a small-batch mole and salsa company.

Drink

Hydration is key this time of year. Need to buy some water that will actually make you want to drink water? Meet Hint and use code 6AMCITY for over 45% off. (Hint: We love the Watermelon and Peach Raspberry flavors.)*

Transit

🚎 Going places

SunRunner adds a stop close to the St. Pete Pier

The new station will be next to the Sundial parking garage. | Photo by TBAYtoday

Happy belated half-birthday, SunRunner. On Friday, the Pinellas County Transit Authority (PSTA) announced a new station located close to the St. Pete Pier.

The new Sundial parking garage stop (150 1st Ave. N.) is nearly four blocks east of the current closest station at the corner of 482 1st Avenue N. and 5th Street N. + will shorten the walk to the Pier from 12 minutes to five, according to the release.

PSTA will pay for the expansion with excess federal dollars — the project came in $5 million under budget. Last month, the bus service clocked more than 115,000 riders.

Officials say the new station will be open for service in 2024.

Pro tip: If you’re trying to avoid paying for parking or just looking to reduce your carbon footprint, the SunRunner is free through October 31. Hate waiting around at the bus stop? PSTA recently increased the frequency of buses going out.

Plan your next SunRunner trip.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Brad

From the editor

Speaking about transit, have you heard about Brightline’s plan to expand its new Miami/Orlando line to the Cigar City? While the station location + timetable remain a mystery, we can’t help but speculate on the possibilities. Are you on board? Also, where do you think the station should go? Let us know.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We broke down all the ways to compost in Tampa Bay.

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