Aside from its beaches, Florida is known for being the hub for amusement parks. At Hudson, you will be able to gain access to some of these, as the town is in close proximity to where these rides are. Bring your family over and have a fun-filled adventure with your kids, here are the best things to do in Hudson, Florida!
1. Go diving at Hudson Grotto
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Hudson Grotto on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Those who love to go diving are in for a treat at Hudson Grotto. This prehistoric limestone sink is composed of a magnificent mix of freshwater and saltwater. It is 100 ft (30 m) deep, which means there are a plethora of things for divers and explorers to see.
Nature lovers will also be delighted to know that there is a variety of bass, catfish, koi, and turtles that tend to swim about in the more shallow areas of the water. There is also a picnic area and shelter by the water’s edge for visitors to have a nice meal while enjoying the sights and sounds of this natural wonder.
Hudson Grotto
Address: 6840 Tower Dr, Hudson, FL 34667, United States
Website: Hudson Grotto
2. Cool down with some ice cream at Hudson Beach Ice Cream Parlor
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
What is your favorite ice cream in these delicious decorated cones?
Posted by Hudson Beach Ice Cream Parlor on Thursday, February 17, 2022
Hudson Beach Ice Cream Parlor describes itself as a family-owned, old-fashioned ice cream parlor. The parlor takes pride in the quality of its homemade ice cream and has 40 different flavors for visitors to choose from.
Some of these options include sherbet, Italian ice, sugar-free, and low-fat. To those of you feeling hungry, the parlor also serves beef hotdogs that are cooked using a steaming method to ensure great quality and taste. All the food is complemented by the parlor’s outdoor waterfront seating which creates a great dining experience for visitors.
Hudson Beach Ice Cream Parlor
Address: 6930 Clark St, Hudson, FL 34667, United States
Website: Hudson Beach Ice Cream Parlor
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm
3. Have a nice beer at Craft Life Brewing Company
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
OLD SKOOL. On tap at Florida Cracker Tap Room . #itsacraftlife
Posted by Craft Life Brewing on Sunday, February 20, 2022
From the name itself, Craft Life Brewing Company is a brewery that takes pride in serving great craft beer for about a decade now. It uses the best local ingredients for its brewing process and guarantees visitors that the beer tastes great. It’s also a live music venue where local bands come in and play some music for the customers which complements the beer.
In 2019, the brewery entered the Best Florida Beer Competition and won 2nd place with their entry, Me So Jalapeno Honey, which is a honey ale fermented with candied jalapenos.
Craft Life Brewing Company
Address: 6810 Tower Dr, Hudson, FL 34667, United States
Website: Craft Life Brewing Company
Opening hours: Wed - Thu: 4pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 1pm - 10pm; Sun: 1pm - 7pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
4. Dine at Fisherman's Shack
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Described as a hidden gem in Florida, Fisherman’s Shack is a dive bar that boasts a laid-back vibe that visitors will enjoy. Being a waterfront bar, customers are treated to a magnificent view of the water, especially from the patio.
It doesn’t end there as the bar serves a variety of beer and drinks at affordable prices alongside live music performances. All of this creates a friendly and chill atmosphere that guarantees customers a great experience when they choose to stop by.
Fisherman's Shack
Address: 14519 Old Dixie Hwy, Hudson, FL 34667, United States
Opening hours: 9am - 2am (daily)
5. Shop antiques from Junque From The Trunque
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Junque From The Trunque on Thursday, May 6, 2021
Yup, you may have had to double take on that name, which is not the only thing that’s funky and eclectic about the establishment! Junque on the Trunque is where you want to go for trinkets, curios, and all things collectibles. This antique store in Hudson is a slice of vintage heaven, and if antiquing is something you enjoy, you must not miss out on the collector’s items featured at the store. The place is pretty popular among locals and special items get sold out fast, so get there as soon as you can!
Junque From The Trunque
Address: 12209 US-19, Hudson, FL 34667, United States
Website: Junque From The Trunque
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
6. Satisfy your shopaholic soul at Fairway Oaks Plaza
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Shopping on vacation? Some say it’s a must. Your trip to Hudson, Florida, is no exception, especially when you visit Fairway Oaks Plaza. This shopping mall on Little Road isn’t only a haven for shoppers, though. It’s your one-stop shop for everything that you may need while you stay in the city. There’s a fitness center, a pharmacy, and a few other essential shops as well. Granted, it isn’t the most flashy of commercial centers, but to an avid shopper, it is a worthy place to visit, all right!
Fairway Oaks Plaza
Address: 13700 Little Rd, Hudson, FL 34667, United States
Opening hours: 8am - 9pm (daily)
7. Fill yourself with thrills at Busch Gardens (from USD 111.0)
Like Adventure Island, Busch Gardens is an amusement park owned and operated by SeaWorld Entertainment. As with other amusement parks, the Busch Gardens in Florida is filled with rides, and it is also home to Sheikra, the first “dive machine” roller coaster in the United States. Beyond the rides, it is also where one of the largest zoos in the country, housing over 2,700 animals in its facility.
Busch Gardens
Address: 10165 N McKinley Dr, 33612 Tampa, FL
Price: from 89.99 USD
Opening Hours: 10 am – 9 pm
Contact: +1 813 884 4FUN
Website:
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Admission Ticket
Duration: 8 hours
8. Caladesi Island State Park
Caladesi Island State Park features white sand beaches, where visitors can enjoy all sorts of water activities, from swimming to fishing and kayaking. Recognized as having the best beach in North America in 2008, the park is also home to a nature trail, where trekkers can spot a variety of wildlife. Those who want to spend an entire day at the beach can do so, as there are picnic tables where they can hang out at. There are also picnic pavilions within the park grounds, although these have to be reserved for a fee. Boat camping is allowed on the island.
Caladesi Island State Park
Address: 1 Causeway Blvd, 34698 Dunedin, FL
Price: from 2 USD
Opening Hours: 8 am to sundown
Access: The park can be accessed via Honeymoon Island State Park. Ride a Caladesi Connection ferry from there.
Website: Caladesi Island State Park
9. Ride the rapids at Hillsborough River State Park
Hillsborough River State Park may not be at the beachside, but it more than makes up for this with the number of activities that can be done here. The park has nature trails, which both hikers and cyclists can traverse. Adventurers can try riding the rapids at the Hillsborough River. For those who want a more sedate time in the water, they can go canoeing there.
There is also a pool for those who want to go swimming. History fans meanwhile can visit Fort Foster State Historic Site, found within the park, which is a reconstructed fort from the Second Seminole War, although access to this is dependent on the weather, and you will need to get a ranger to guide you through there. Nonetheless, you can still get your dose of history by dropping by the Interpretive Center, which provides additional information about the aforesaid war. The park has campsites for those who want to stay the night there.
Hillsborough River State Park
Address: 15402 US-301, 33592 Thonotosassa, FL
Contact: +1 813 987 6771
Website: Hillsborough River State Park
10. Explore the old mines at Sunwest Park
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Pasco County Florida Department of Health (DOH) has lifted the swim advisory at Sunwest Park. To find out more about...
Posted by Sunwest Park on Wednesday, June 16, 2021
One of the fun things to do in Hudson is exploring the hidden gems of Sunwest Park. The place used to be SunWest Mines, where limestone was collected. However, this park has more than just remnants of that. At the center of the park is a spring-fed lake. Its white sand makes this resemble a beach. Visitors can go swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding at the lake. Also in the park is the Aqua Park, which has an inflatable obstacle course.
SunWest Park
Address: 17362 Old Dixie Hwy, 34667 Hudson, FL
Price: from 5 USD
Opening Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Contact: +1 727 569 6472
Website: SunWest Park
11. Visit the memorial parks of Hudson
Hudson is home to two memorial parks: Veterans Memorial Park and Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park. Veterans Memorial Park is for sports buffs. It has basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields a swimming pool, and a recreation center. It also has a fitness trail.
Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park, meanwhile, provides you access to Hudson’s beach. It’s quite a bit smaller compared to the beaches in the neighboring areas. The advantage, however, is that since most tourists prefer the larger, more popular beaches, you don’t have to worry about crowds here.
Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park
Address: 6345 James Clark Street, New Port Richley, Florida
Contact: +1 727 861-3010
Website: Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park
Veterans Memorial Park
Address: 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson, Florida
Website: Veterans Memorial Park
12. Three Lakes RV Resort
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Three Lakes RV Resort on Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Looking for things to do in Hudson this weekend? Why not camp at an RV resort? Three Lakes RV Resort is an ideal place to stay for families traveling together in an RV, as this puts them at the doorstep of the different attractions in and around Hudson.
Among the many amenities of the resort include a swimming pool, an on-site fitness center, and a recreation room. The beach is a 10-minute drive away from the resort.
Three Lakes RV Resort
Address: 10354 Smooth Water Drive, Hudson, Florida
Website: Three Lakes RV Resort
13. Marvel at the structural oddities
Within the vicinity are two oddly-shaped structures: an ice cream cone-shaped building, and what is promoted as the world’s largest bowling pin. The ice cream cone-shaped building is actually the Twistee Treat Restaurant, best known for its soft-serve ice cream. As such, going there will not provide you with a photo opportunity, it can also allow you to get a meal. Similarly, the world’s largest bowling pin, located in Tampa, Florida, features more than just the structural oddity. It is actually located in a mall, so visitors can also spend some time shopping, watching a movie, or having a meal in one of the restaurants there.
Twistee Treat Restaurant
Address: 7449 Laredo Dr, 34667 Hudson, FL
Website: Twistee Treat Restaurant
World’s Largest Bowling Pin
Address: 615 Channelside Drive #120, Tampa, Florida
14. Have a cold one
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Florida is known for having a warm climate, so why not cool off by trying a cold one? Florida Avenue Brewing Company, formerly known as Cold Storage Craft Brewery, a local craft brewery known for its four brews: Ale, Blueberry, IPA, and Brown. Aside from these, it also develops seasonal beers as part of its product line. Beer tours are provided for guests should they wish to explore the facilities of Florida Avenue Brewing Company.
Florida Avenue Brewing Company
Address: 4101 N Florida Ave, 33603 Tampa, Florida
Website: Florida Avenue Brewing Company
15. Make a splash at Adventure Island (from USD 55.0)
One of the best things to do around Hudson, Florida, is spending a day at this water park. Adventure Island is a theme park that has just about everything you can ever imagine in a water park. From different kinds of all pools to all sorts of slides, this park has something to offer children and adults alike. The park is owned and managed by SeaWorld Entertainment.
Adventure Island
Address: 10001 N Malcolm McKinley Dr, 33612 Tampa, FL
Price: from 10 USD
Opening Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Contact: +1 813 884 4FUN
Website: Adventure Island
Tampa Bay Adventure Island Water Park with Wave Pool
Duration: 4 hours
Hudson: A holiday for everyone
Hudson offers activities that every member of the family can enjoy. After you experience the best Hudson, Florida beaches, make sure that you add the above list to your itinerary. Drive through there to see and experience fun, family-friendly features in town.
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