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 to Hudson and have a fun-filled adventure with your kids, here are the best things to do!
1. Fill yourself with thrills at Busch Gardens (from USD 104.0)
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
2. 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
3. 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
4. Explore the old mines at Sunwest Park
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
SunWest Park 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
5. Visit the memorial parks of Hudson
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
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
6. Three Lakes RV Resort
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Three Lakes RV Resort is an ideal place to stay at 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
7. 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
8. Have a cold one
Photo is only for illustrative purposes
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
9. Make a splash at Adventure Island (from USD 59.0)
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. Drive through there to see and experience fun, family-friendly features in town.
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our privacy policy for more information on how we use your data
You can buy and claim online, even after you've left home. Travel insurance from WorldNomads.com is available to people from 140 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travellers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.
*5% off when you book with our promo code: TRIP101
*For our Canadian and US travellers, unfortunately due to financial services laws, we cannot provide a discount. This promotional code cannot be used with any other discount offer, including World Nomads Members’ discount for travel insurance policy holders.
Create an account to bookmark our articles, like local expert tips, receive great stories in your inbox, and follow writers and topics that you love.
Log in with Facebook Log in with Twitter Log in with Google ×