A guide to air-conditioned adventures in Tampa Bay
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
It's the most disgusting time of the year.
State of sizzle: Temperatures are in the 90s but it's humid enough to feel like 200. The mosquitos are jacked up on all the rain. Even the water at the beach is hot.
Why it matters: You can stay cool and have adventures in Tampa Bay. You've just gotta think inside the air-conditioned box.
- We've tested out many of the activities in this guide, and we'll keep adding more. So bookmark this guide for whenever you need a little inspiration.
🐠 Swim with the fish at Florida Aquarium with SeaTrek, one of the coolest things Selene has ever done.
🥷 Become an American Ninja Warrior at Jungle Gym in Pinellas Park.
🐥 Find secrets in the art at FloridaRAMA. Formerly Fairgrounds St. Pete, this super Instagrammable experience in St. Pete's warehouse district is filled with colorful, interactive exhibits like Bait Ball and "Lucky Duck Hunt."
👾 Get your game on at Elev8 and Laser Ops Xtreme Fun Center in Tampa, or Unlimited Video Games in St. Pete.
🕵️♀️ Use your brain to escape a room: Escapology and Game Over are Yacob-approved.
🪽 Become a flying squirrel at iFly in Tampa. Selene tried this twice in Maryland and loved it.
🏎️ Race GoKarts at K1 speed in Tampa or Tampa Bay Grand Prix in Clearwater. Elev8 also has a small indoor go-karting track.
🤸 Jump for joy at a trampoline park: Altitude or Urban Air in Tampa, Sky Zone in Largo, Catapult in Tarpon Springs or Defy in Bradenton.
⛸️ Pretend it's winter with ice skating at Advent Health Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, TGH Iceplex in Tampa, at one of three Tampa Bay Ice rinks in Clearwater and Oldsmar, or at Ellenton Ice Complex.
🛼 Prefer skates with wheels? Try Astro Skate in Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton or Brandon, or Skate World of Tampa.
🏌️♀️ Tee off with indoor golf simulators at The Par Pub in Largo, or 1Up or The Birdie Club in Tampa, or NXGen in Bradenton and Sarasota.
🏹 Take a shot at using a bow and arrow with Adventures Archery in Tampa and Lakeland. Laser Opps also has archery tag.
🧗♀️ Party like a rock (climbing) star at Central Rock Gym in Tampa, Vertical Ventures in St. Pete or Project 24 in Sarasota.