35+ Best Things to do in St. Pete with Kids |

Whether you live in St. Pete or are planning a vacation there, you can find so many fun things to do in St. Petersburg, Florida, with kids.

St. Pete is in Pinellas County, Florida, near many beaches and cities, including Tampa, which is right across the bay. While there are many things to do with kids in Tampa and Clearwater, this list includes places to go in St. Pete.

From St. Pete Beach to Downtown St. Pete and everywhere in between, this list will hopefully help you plan your time in St. Pete with kids. To be fair, most of these items are fun for all ages.

I grew up in nearby Clearwater and often went to St. Pete to see shows, go to the beach, and explore the museums. After having kids, I loved taking them to the gardens, the children’s museum, and baseball games in St. Pete.

There really is a lot going on in St. Pete for all ages, interests, and budgets. Keep reading to find the best things to do in St. Pete with kids.

Things to do Outdoors with Kids in St. Pete

Sunken Gardens

Located right in the middle of St. Pete, Sunken Gardens is a botanical garden that is so peaceful you won’t even realize you are in the middle of a city.

A few animals live at Sunken Gardens, including flamingos, macaws, and cockatoos.

My kids used to pick a trip to Sunken Gardens over the children’s museum next door (though they loved going there, too). It is easy to combine a trip to Great Explorations with Sunken Gardens if you want to spend the whole day out with kids in St. Pete.

St. Pete Pier

Kids can easily spend a while at the playground on the St. Pete Pier, but there are lots of other things to do on the pier.

We walked to the end and took the tram back, though you can take the tram in both directions.

Besides museums and the playground, there is also a beach and a lot of restaurants on the St. Pete Pier.

Saturday Morning Market

Find out if the Saturday Morning Market is on, and if so, bring your bags and come shop! Pick up picnic supplies, crafts, or locally made items from more than 130 vendors.

Enjoy the live entertainment while shopping or browsing.

Weedon Island Preserve

Take the kids for a walk along the boardwalk at Weedon Island Preserve.

There is also a Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center with hands-on exhibits and workshops for kids.

Tot Time runs twice a month at Weedon Island Preserve and includes rhymes, stories, crafts, and games geared toward kids ages 3-5.

Sawgrass Lake Park

Walk above the swamp on the mile-long boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Park.

At the end of the boardwalk, there is a shelter that you can climb and look for wildlife on the water.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

Families can walk through Boyd Hill Nature Preserve or participate in a nature program, and kids can go to camp there as well.

Some of the family programs at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve include:

nature tram tours
animal encounter
youth farming
playtime for toddlers
homeschool sessions

Camps at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve vary in topic and are available for kids ages 3-13.

Mural Biking Tour

You are my sunshine mural at Morean Art Center in St. Pete

Downtown St. Pete is known for its murals, and kids 12+ can join in on a bicycle tour of the area.

The 2.5-hour-long tour includes a bike rental, snacks, and a lot of information about the area and the street art.

You will have time for photographs as you view more than 40 of the murals in St. Pete.

St. Pete Ghost Tour

A ghost tour might not be the first thing you think about bringing the kids to, but we took the kids on a St. Pete Ghost Tour in downtown St. Pete, which is kid-friendly.

My kids were thrilled to get ghost detectors at the beginning of the tour. They kept them occupied for most of the evening.

For me, the tour was more history than spooky, but it was fun to learn about the area and hear a few ghost stories sprinkled in.

Purchase your tickets to the Poison, Punishment, and Possession tour!

LED Nighttime Kayak Ride

If you are looking for something fun to do at night with kids in St. Pete, consider exploring the mangroves on a glass-bottom kayak lit with LED lights.

Kids as young as 12 can participate in this nighttime tour.

Polynesian Putter

No beach vacation is complete without a family game of miniature golf, and Polynesian Putter is a great place to take the kids on St. Pete Beach.

If you are willing to go a little bit outside of St. Pete, another option for mini-golf is Smuggler’s Cove.

Watch a Soccer Match

The Tampa Bay Rowdies play at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Pete.

The soccer season runs from March until October. Some nights, there are fireworks after the game.

Go Shelling

Yes, you can go shelling on St. Pete Beach on your own.

Another option is to take a boat tour to Shell Key Preserve from John’s Pass on Madeira Beach. They have a 3-hour-long tour that includes an hour of exploring and finding shells on the island, as well as a boat ride where you may spot dolphins and other wildlife.

Spot Dolphins

Take the kids on a dolphin-spotting eco-tour.

This 1.5-hour-long boat tour has a guarantee of dolphin spotting, or you can go back for free.

Ride on a Pirate Ship

The Royal Conquest Pirate Ship leaves from Madeira Beach.

The family-friendly boat tour includes on-board activities and an open bar. Alcohol and soft drinks are included.

Ride on a Speed Boat

All ages can ride in a speed boat on a 2-hour-long tour that leaves from the Corey Causeway near St. Pete Beach.

Take the Cross Bay Ferry to Tampa

Depending on the day and the season, you can take the Cross Bay Ferry from St. Pete to Tampa, where there are even more fun things to do with kids.

The ferry ride takes about 50 minutes each way, and it is easy to find fun things to do in Tampa for the day.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

A fun way to explore St. Pete is to go on a scavenger hunt.

The scavenger hunt is completed on a cellphone and includes taking photos of your group.

Pose for Family Photos

Get a photo of the entire family on beautiful St. Pete Beach with a beach photography session.

Up to 15 people can participate in this 1-hour photo session

Things to do Indoors with Kids in St. Pete

Swim with the Fish

Kids 8+ can swim with the fish in a giant indoor tank located at Rumfish Grill in St. Pete.

This unique experience includes a behind-the-scenes tour and ends with time in the fish tank. Younger kids and those who are not participating can watch from inside the restaurant.

I took my husband to snorkel with the fish at Rumfish Grill one year for his birthday. Our kids were too young to join us at the time, but they sat with family in the restaurant and watched us in the tank.

They got to swim in the tank themselves at 10 and 11.

Great Explorations

St. Pete has a museum dedicated to kids. Great Explorations has many different areas filled with various activities, including:

A supermarket
doctor’s office
vet’s office
imagination playground
STEAM station
pizza kitchen
art studio
firehouse
dentist
legos
garden
“live on air.”

Everything at Great Explorations is hands-on. They also have a lot of kid-friendly events.

Lanie’s Tip: Live in Pinellas County? You can check out a free Great Explorations pass from your library.

Find the best things to do with kids when it is raining in St. Pete.

Watch a Baseball Game

a girl watching a baseball game at Tropicana Field in St. Pete, Florida

Tropicana Field is located in downtown St. Pete, and it is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

One thing that is different from a regular baseball field is that Tropicana Field is indoors. That means you do not have to worry about the weather as it is always cool and never rains.

Other than watching the baseball game, there are a few fun things for kids to do at Tropicana Field, including the touch tank, where you can touch sting rays.

Kids can also get their photo on a baseball card, enjoy the games at Slam Dunk Alley, and try virtual reality.

Sometimes, kids can run the bases after a baseball game.

Zubrick Magic Theatre

A family-friendly magic show is performed multiple times per week at Zubrick Magic Theatre in downtown St. Pete.

The show is about 75 minutes long and does not have an intermission. A concession stand is available with popcorn and drinks.

We attended this show as a gift from my parents, and it was so much fun. I am not into magic, but the show is really funny, and we were all entertained the entire time.

Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center

A girl on the floor touching a large tortoise

The Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center is currently in a temporary location. Home to rescued animals, as well as pet surrenders, the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center has animals, including:

alligators
lizards
snakes
turtles
fish
spiders

Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center

Located on the St. Pete Pier, the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center has rotating exhibits about animals. They also have boat eco-tours.

Many of the exhibits at the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center are hands-on. Multiple times a day, there is a table with items that kids can touch or look at under a microscope. There are daily tank talks and animal feedings.

Workshops, including sea animal dissections and Science Saturdays, are also held at the museum.

Interested in fishing? Try a fishing workshop at Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center.

FloridaRAMA (Formerly Fairgrounds St. Pete)

It is definitely not your typical fairgrounds, but kids will still enjoy Fairgrounds St. Pete. Not quite sure what it is? Learn what to expect at FloridaRAMA.

My kids enjoyed the UV scavenger hunt as well as walking around and checking out all the extremely unique art displays at FloridaRAMA.

Purchase your tickets to Flordirama now!

Salvador Dali Museum

On the 1st Sunday of each month, the Little Surrealist tour is held at the Dali Museum.

More kid-friendly events at the Dali Museum include:

Dillydally with Dali
Storytime at the Dali
arts and crafts at the museum

I attended the Little Surrealist tour when my oldest was 3 or 4, and it was a great way to see the museum. Not only did the tour keep her attention, but I learned a few things as well.

The Dali Museum also has a cafe that features Spanish tapas as well as an outdoor space where the kids can wander after spending time in the museum.

St Pete College Planetarium

Kids 5+ can watch a free 45-minute-long show at the St. Pete College Planetarium.

Check their schedule to find out what time and day shows are currently on. Seats are first-come, first-served, and there are no reservations.

Zen Glass Studio

Kids as young as 8 can participate in the glass-blowing classes at Zen Glass Studio in St. Pete.

For those looking for something different to do, check out the schedule, which includes making glass ornaments, paperweights, and cups.

James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art

Learn about the West at The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, located in downtown St. Pete.

In addition to their regular exhibits, the James Museum offers events for kids and families.

My family attended a kid-friendly orchestra and a touch-an-instrument day at The James Museum. They also host playdates and family days.

Morean Art Center

The Morean Art Center in downtown St. Pete offers art workshops for kids.

Workshops for kids and teens include:

drawing
clay
digital drawing
photography

On Saturdays, the Morean Art Center hosts a family day where families can create art together. Check their calendar to see upcoming themes.

Sundays are free family days at Morean Center for Clay. This event is geared towards kids 3+.

The Morean Art Center also has kids’ art camps during school breaks.

Romp n Roll

Kids 3 months to 5 years can play and explore at Romp n Roll St. Pete.

Romp n Roll has open play as well as workshops and parent-and-me classes. They also host drop-off events, including kids’ night out and parents’ morning out.

Vertical Ventures

Perfect for hot or rainy days, or really anytime, kids can literally climb the walls at Vertical Ventures, an indoor rock wall climbing gym.

Kids as young as 2 can climb at Vertical Ventures. They can even participate in the Climbing Tots class.

Vertical Ventures has classes for all ages. They also hold homeschool classes and youth camps.

Kid-Friendly Events in St. Pete

American Stage in the Park

In the spring, American Stage Theatre hosts a musical outside at Demen’s Landing.

Usually, the musical is kid-friendly. My kids have enjoyed Hairspray and Mamma Mia at American Stage in the Park. The 2024 show was Beauty and the Best.

In 2026, the show will be Into the Woods.

Tampa Bay Blues Festival

Held at Vinoy Park on the St. Pete waterfront, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival is held each April.

Popular musicians play at this event, which runs for several days.

St. Pete Science Festival

An annual family-friendly festival, the St. Pete Science Festival takes place at the University of South Florida’s St. Pete campus.

Science-based shows, events, and workshops take place, and there are hands-on exhibits as well. Currently, this event takes place in February.

Gulfport Gecko Fest

Celebrate the end of summer at the Gulfport Gecko Fest.

Costumes are encouraged, and there is always music, dancing, food, and drinks at this pet-friendly and family-friendly event.

Gecko Fest has free entry.

John’s Pass Seafood Festival

The John’s Pass Seafood Festival takes place annually.

This 3-day festival includes live music, arts and crafts, and of course, seafood.

Chase the Dreidel 5K

a boy running in the Chase the Dreidle 5k in St. Pete, Florida

Each year at Chanukah, Temple B’nai Israel in St. Pete hosts a 5k called Chase the Dreidel.

Racers can walk or run after a person in a dreidel costume and try to beat them. There are prizes for the top racers, and a meal of latkes and jelly donuts is included after the race.

If you aren’t interested in the race, but you are interested in the food, you can sign up for just the meal.

Family-Friendly Hotels in St. Pete

Tradewinds Resort

I grew up going to the Tradewinds for a few days each summer, and it remains one of my favorite places to go in St. Pete.

The Tradewinds Resort has 9 pools and a 3-story waterslide, as well as a floating ocean water park. They have 15 different restaurants, bars, and lounges.

Plus, they offer all kinds of activities, including crafts, movie nights, mini-golf, fishing, mining, and magic shows. Best of all, there is a drop-off Kids Club at the Tradewinds.

We went back to the Tradewinds with my entire family, and the kids had such a great time. I even slid down the giant waterslide!

Book your stay at the Tradewinds Resort!

Don CeSar

Known as the “pink hotel,” the Don CeSar is a luxury hotel that is kid-friendly.

Rooms and suites sleep up to 5, with the largest penthouse having 3 bedrooms.

Resort activities at Don CeSar include bike rentals, non-motorized beach activities, movie night, crafts, trivia, and more.

Book your stay at Don CeSar!

Things to Do in St. Pete with Kids Wrap-Up

It is easy to see that there are plenty of kid-friendly activities in St. Pete, Florida.

Whether you are relaxing on the beach, museum hopping downtown, or attending an annual event, there is something to do for all ages year-round in this city that is surrounded by water.

Having lived in Clearwater for many years, St. Pete is a place that I have visited quite often as a kid and with my kids.

Hopefully, this list has helped you find something fun to do with your family in St. Pete.