ZooTampa at Lowry Park: A Family Day Trip from Anna Maria Island 🦩🐘🌴

Looking for a fun family adventure while vacationing on Florida’s Gulf Coast? A day trip to ZooTampa at Lowry Park offers a change of scenery from the beaches of Anna Maria Island, with Florida wildlife, tropical habitats, exciting attractions, and animals from around the world.

Home to more than 1,000 animals, ZooTampa gives visitors the chance to see everything from Florida manatees and river otters to giraffes, elephants, orangutans, rhinos, penguins, flamingos, and more.

One of the things that makes ZooTampa such a fun family attraction is that there’s much more to experience than simply walking from exhibit to exhibit. Different areas of the zoo introduce visitors to wildlife from Florida, Africa, Asia, Australia, and beyond.

Watch colorful birds overhead, explore habitats featuring native Florida species, visit giraffes and elephants in the Africa area, or spend some time watching the zoo’s Bornean orangutan family climb, play, and interact.

🐾 Fun ZooTampa Animal Facts to Share With the Kids

Turn your ZooTampa day trip into a mini wildlife adventure with a few fun animal facts along the way.

🦧 Orangutans have four “hands”—almost!
Like humans, orangutans have opposable thumbs, but they also have opposable big toes. This helps them grip branches while climbing through the trees. ZooTampa is home to a multigenerational family of Bornean orangutans.

🐧 Not all penguins live in freezing weather.
African penguins are a warm-weather species, so seeing penguins in sunny Florida isn’t as unusual as it might seem. Each African penguin also has its own unique pattern of spots on its chest, similar to a fingerprint.

🐘 African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth.
Visitors can see these impressive animals in ZooTampa’s Africa realm, along with giraffes, white rhinos, pygmy hippos, okapi, and other African wildlife.

🦦 River otters are made for the water.
ZooTampa’s Otter Oasis offers both above- and below-water viewing, giving families a chance to watch these playful Florida natives swim, dive, and explore.

🐋 Manatees get a second chance here.
ZooTampa is well known for its work rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for sick, injured, and orphaned Florida manatees. The zoo’s expanded Florida Waters area gives visitors a closer look at Florida wildlife while highlighting important conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

🦩 Flamingos really do get their pink color from their food!
Pigments called carotenoids found in the foods flamingos eat contribute to the beautiful pink and coral shades of their feathers.

🌊 Explore the New Florida Waters at ZooTampa

One of the biggest reasons to add ZooTampa to your 2026 Florida vacation itinerary is the newly expanded Florida Waters, part of the zoo’s largest expansion to date.

Designed to celebrate the wildlife and waterways of the Sunshine State, the area brings visitors closer to animals found right here in Florida.

Highlights include Manatee Rescue, Otter Oasis, jellies, reptiles, amphibians, and other native species. It’s an especially worthwhile stop for families visiting from outside Florida who want to learn more about the animals and ecosystems that make the state so unique.

🎠 Family Attractions and Things to Do at ZooTampa

There’s plenty to keep the family entertained between animal sightings.

Depending on attraction schedules and weather during your visit, kids can cool down at the Billabong Splash Pad, take a ride on the carousel, or brave the three-story splashdown on Roaring Springs.

ZooTampa also offers animal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences for visitors interested in getting an even closer look at some of the zoo’s residents. Availability, schedules, and additional fees may vary, so check ZooTampa’s current offerings when planning your visit.

🌴 Planning a ZooTampa Day Trip From Anna Maria Island

If you’re staying on Anna Maria Island, ZooTampa can be a fun addition to a Gulf Coast vacation—especially when the family is ready to trade one beach day for a wildlife adventure.

Give yourself plenty of time to explore. Families will want several hours at the zoo, particularly if you plan to enjoy animal presentations, rides, splash areas, or special experiences during your visit.

Comfortable walking shoes are a must, along with sunscreen and your camera—you’ll definitely want plenty of pictures.

It’s also a good idea to check the weather before leaving Anna Maria Island. Some attractions and experiences may be affected by weather conditions, and Florida temperatures can get warm during the middle of the day.

After a few days of white-sand beaches, sunshine, and beautiful Gulf views, spending a day surrounded by flamingos, giraffes, manatees, orangutans, and elephants is a pretty wild way to shake up your Anna Maria Island vacation.

📍 ZooTampa at Lowry Park Visitor Information

ZooTampa at Lowry Park
1101 W. Sligh Avenue
Tampa, Florida

Regular zoo hours are generally 9:30 AM–5:00 PM, although hours may change for holidays, seasonal events, and special programming.

Before making the drive, check ZooTampa’s official website for current hours, admission information, attraction availability, animal experiences, and special events.

Plan Your Visit: Official ZooTampa Website

🏖️ Make Anna Maria Island Your Gulf Coast Home Base

One of the best parts about an Anna Maria Island vacation is being able to enjoy laid-back island time while still having plenty of Florida attractions within reach.

Spend your vacation mornings walking the beach, exploring local shops and restaurants, or relaxing beside the pool, then mix things up with a family day trip to ZooTampa and other destinations around Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Planning your next getaway? Browse Anna Maria Island vacation rentals with Island Real Estate Vacations and find the perfect home base for your family’s beach vacation and Florida adventures.

Meet the Author - Midline Lozin | Vacation Rental Specialist

As one of the newest members of the Island Real Estate Vacations team, Midline brings a strong background in customer service and vacation rental operations. She enjoys helping guests find the right vacation rental and supporting them throughout their stay to make their Anna Maria Island experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. She is excited to be part of the team and looks forward to helping guests create memorable island getaways.