If you or your kids are animal lovers, the St. Pete area is the place to be! In addition to being one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country, St. Pete is also surrounded by incredible wildlife. Walk along the St. Pete Pier or North Shore Park and see dolphins, manatees, sting rays, and wild parrots. Head to Sawgrass Lake and spot alligators, raccoons, turtles, and more. If you’re looking for interactive or educational animal experiences, the St. Pete area has that too!
As a local parent, massive animal lover, and creator of Sunshine City with Kids, you better believe I have all of the details. Keep reading to discover some of the best family-friendly animal encounters in and around St. Pete.
Boyd Hill Bird Sanctuary
Boyd Hill Birds of Prey Sanctuary offers a fun and educational opportunity for families to observe raptors like owls, eagles, and hawks in a natural setting. With interactive educational programs and up-close encounters, kids can gain a greater appreciation for these majestic birds and their roles in the local ecosystem. See how you measure up against some of their largest birds of prey, and then step inside the Nature Center to encounter more native wildlife like snakes, lizards, and turtles!
1101 Country Club Way S, St. Petersburg
Sunken Gardens
Sunken Gardens is a famous St. Pete attraction that offers more than its name describes. From the moment you step into this tropical escape you are whisked away into a dream, where A Secret Garden meets The Jungle Book, meets Jurassic Park. It is a place of rich history and botanical diversity. With kids in tow, Sunken Gardens offers hours of shaded exploration and play through meandering paths, koi ponds, chatting flocks of flamingos, and stunning squawking parrots.
1825 4th St N, St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, located in the middle of the famous St. Pete Pier, offers a variety of educational and fun animal experiences. Inside the center, visitors can interact with a touch tank filled with local sea life and observe a variety of native animals. Additionally, families can experience animals in the wild with chartered dolphin tours, snorkel tours, and eco tours!
700 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg
Alligator Wildlife and Discovery Center
The Alligator Wildlife and Discovery Center has reopened in a temporary location after experiencing a devastating fire at its original location along John’s Pass in 2023. The sanctuary provides humane care for orphaned and surrendered animals that cannot be safely returned to the wild. Over 170 animals, including lizards, small mammals, lemurs, amphibians, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators call the Discovery Center their home. This indoor adventure allows visitors to experience safe and engaging animal encounters and is a place that your kids will love to learn and explore.
Temporary location: 14805 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach
DK Farms and Gardens
DK Farms and Gardens is a local spot for families to enjoy animals, nature, and farm life. Located just 15 minutes from St. Pete, this larger-than-life petting zoo is close to everything! You should plan to spend about two hours at DK Farms doing activities like playing yard games and putt-putt, going on tractor rides, bunny cuddling, hitching pony rides, and receiving sweet goat kisses. Bring your own water and snacks and have a joy-filled day on the farm!
1750 Lake Ave SE, Largo
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is so much more than an aquarium! A variety of incredible wildlife, from dolphins and sea turtles to otters and stingrays call this special place home! Your kids will love seeing wild animals up close and engaging with the interactive education along the way. This is a top-notch place to have a fun-filled day while teaching your kids about the importance of our relationship with wild animals and the positive and negative effects we can have on their habitats.
249 Windward Passage, Clearwater
Seaside Seabird Sanctuary
Seaside Seabird Sanctuary is an amazing non-profit that offers visitors FREE admission (donations suggested) to explore their sanctuary, observe their rescue birds, and learn about Florida’s native marine environment in their eco-discovery center. The sanctuary is located on 3 acres of beachfront property and also offers an absolutely stunning view of the Gulf of Mexico from the Observation Tower. Bring a snack and have a little picnic in the shaded and breezy tower. Be sure to visit the gift shop on your way out!
18328 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores
Suncoast Primate Sanctuary
Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is located about 30 minutes north of St. Pete in Palm Harbor. This non-profit sanctuary is a safe haven for over 100 exotic rescue animals. Visitors gain a unique experience to observe chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys, reptiles, tropical birds, and more. This volunteer-run sanctuary does incredible work and will give your children the chance to learn firsthand about the importance of animal conservation and wildlife protection. The sanctuary is open Thursday-Sunday.
4600 US-19 ALT, Palm Harbor
IN TAMPA
HorsePower for Kids
HorsePower for Kids is an animal sanctuary and family fun farm that offers a petting zoo, pony rides, playgrounds, a train, a tree house, a corn maze & more. By choosing to visit HorsePower for Kids, you’re not only treating your family to a day of joy and connection, but also supporting a wonderful non-profit animal rescue. HorsePower officially opens September 1 so plan your visit now!
NOTE: reopens in September and remains open through May
8005 Racetrack Rd, Tampa
For more family and kid-friendly things to see and do in St. Pete and Tampa Bay, follow Sunshine City with Kids on Instagram!
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