How to Visit Tampa Bay with CityPASS

How to Visit Tampa Bay with CityPASS. Post sponsored by Visit Tampa Bay. All opinions are my own

How to Visit Tampa Bay with CityPASS

CityPASS, one of the nation’s best vacation savings booklets has just come to Tampa Bay, Florida! If you’re a Florida gal like me, this is so exciting! That’s right folks, you can now grab the new Tampa Bay CityPASS for admission to 5 of the biggest Tampa/Clearwater attractions, and at a HUGE discount! But not everyone knows how to make the most of your visit to Tampa Bay. We were so fortunate to take the new Tampa CityPASS for a spin to check out how CityPASS works and how to make the most of your Tampa Bay family vacation.

1. Purchase Your Tampa Bay CityPASS Booklet for BIG savings

So if you’re like me and visiting an awesome tourist spot, you want to plan a great family-friendly trip while maximizing your vacation savings. Tampa Bay CityPASS does all of this for you! You get admission to the area’s top tourist attractions at a deep discounts of up 39% off! That’s HUGE when it comes to vacations. There’s adult and child (Age 3-9 years old) rates too. You then have 9 days (from first use) to visit Tampa Bay with your CityPASS booklet. This is awesome because it gives YOU control over your vacation! See everything in 3 days or leisurely visit one attraction a day. So, I’m sure you’re wondering, what do you get to see?

• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
• The Florida Aquarium
• Clearwater Marine Museum
• The Chihuly Collection OR The Museum of Science and Industry (You get a choice and you can choose when you get there)

At a price of only $119 for an adult and $99 for a child (3-9), you have already saved more than your CityPASS price in 2 attraction visits!

You can purchase your Tampa Bay CityPASS Tickets online and either have the booklets shipped to your home or have a voucher emailed to you (the voucher will need to be exchanged for a booklet at a ticket line). You can also purchase CityPASS booklets at any of the CityPASS attraction vendors. Just ask at the ticket counter.

2. Show your CityPASS at the Gate and Skip the Line

This was my favorite part of CityPASS. Your booklet IS your ticket to get inside the attraction. So how do you use you CityPASS booklet at the attraction?

• Take your booklet right up to the turnstiles at the attraction you’re visiting. No need to stand in the ticket line!
• Show your CityPASS booklet to your ticket attendant.
• Your ticket attendant will tear away the attraction ticket AND write down your first visit date on the side of your booklet. You now have 9 days from that date to use your other CityPASS tickets
• Head in to see your attraction!

3. Enjoy Tampa Bay’s Top Attractions for a Stress-Free Vacation

I love that CityPASS really took the time to find exciting attractions in the Tampa Bay area that are geared towards families.  We really enjoyed having the option to see the attractions we wanted in the order that we wanted to visit. I love having that flexibility, especially with kids! I love that the back of each ticket shows a mini map, address and hours for each attraction so you can plan out your days accordingly too.

So how did we do? WE got to see so much of the amazing Tampa Bay attractions in one weekend! Check out our pictures from The Florida Aquarium (above), Busch Gardens, The MOSI, and Lowry Park Zoo!

The surprise of our visit? Our Museum of Science & Industry tickets included a FREE IMAX movie!

We knew we would have to stop at Busch Gardens, but we would have never have visited the Museum of Science and Industry or the Florida Aquarium without the guidance of CityPASS. We had such a fantastic time AND enjoyed some wonderful family memories. The stress of planning a Tampa vacation was taken out of the equation so I could relax and enjoy our time together.

How Much My Family Saved in One Vacation to Tampa Bay

I’m a visual person, so here’s our vacation rounded up into our savings breakdown! While we didn’t hit every attraction, we still managed to save over 33%! Plus the added benefit of skipping the ticket line and searching for separate ticket discounts….this price is just fantastic!! I know that my family will definitely be using the new Tampa Bay CityPASS again. In fact, my son keeps asking me when we’re going to the Aquarium!

CityPASS provides a fabulous staycation option for my fellow Floridians, out-of-towners, and those who love exploring the jewels of a wonderful Florida city. CityPASS Ticket booklets also make great gifts! With long expiration dates (February 29, 2016 if you purchase today), you can give a gift of a memorable vacation and they can decide when to visit.

You’re All Booked to Visit Tampa Bay. Need a hotel recommendation?

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Only minutes from all of the CityPASS attractions (including the ones in Clearwater), you are centrally located for easy commuting. The rooms were immaculate, clean and family-friendly. The included covered parking was a nice bonus too. I definitely would recommend this hotel for your next Tampa Bay CityPASS visit.

And check out this view! The hotel overlooks the beautiful Tampa Bay nature preserve. Just beautiful!

How about a FUN family-friendly Tampa Baby eatery?

Check out the spunky and eclectic Datz! Filled with unique decor, craft beers and wonderful kids meals, your family will love the casual and relaxed atmosphere! I couldn’t help but giggle at the “Hello My Name” is tags. But don’t be fooled, this place has high class food including homemade chips, creamy shrimp & grits and I just loved the kids meals, presented on adorable bento style plates! They’re known for their slow cooked meat, so my husband devoured his “Carolina on My Mind” slow-cooked pork sandwich. Even with a teething (and at time screaming) baby, we didn’t feel embarrassed or out of place. Loved this place for family-friendly eating!

Our Tampa Bay visit could not have been better! I hope you’ll consider visiting Tampa Bay soon for your next family vacation! The new Tampa Bay CityPASS makes traveling with kids so much easier. I couldn’t have been more pleased with our trip. If you need more Tampa Bay vacation ideas, head over to VisitTampaBay.com for more inspiration!

What would you love to see at Tampa Bay?

Disclosure ~ We received a free trip of a lifetime, thanks to Visit Tampa Bay. CityPASS tickets, hotel stay and family meal were all included in our little adventure. But my love for Tampa Bay and Florida are my own, which is why I’m so excited to share the new Tampa Bay CityPASS with you! Be sure to follow Raising Whasians via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube for more reviews, giveaways and more.

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