When summer rainstorms threaten to drown your plans, turn to these unique dating options around the Tampa Bay area. Whether perusing melting clocks, touring a local brewery or catching a matinee in a 1920s theater, these rainy day date ideas are sure to keep you and your special someone happy (and dry).
Here are a few of our favorite rainy day date ideas:
Tampa Museum of Art
120 W Gasparilla Plaza
Tampa, FL 33602
813-274-8130; TampaMuseum.com
With over 4,500 items in its permanent collection, you can easily spend several rainy days exploring the Tampa Museum of Art. In addition to rotating visitor exhibits, the museum also boasts the largest collection of Greek and Roman antiquities in the Southeast. Enjoy weekend brunch, lunch, coffee or gelato in the museum’s Riverwalk Café overlooking the Hillsborough River. $20 admission. Monday – Sunday 10am-5pm, free admission for college students with valid ID. Thursdays & Fourth Fridays open until 8pm. “Art on the House” is on Thursday evenings from 4 – 8 pm with pay-as-you-will admission. Parking available next door at Poe Garage (fees vary).
Tampa Bay Ale Trail
Various locations
tampabaybeerweek.com/tbat
If Brewery tours are your favorite rainy day activity, then you’re in the right city. Tampa is home to some of the best breweries in the country. From award-winning beers at Tampa Bay Brewing Co. to unique pop culture themed beers at Hidden Springs Ale Works, there is something for all tastes. To enhance your experience, the Tampa Bay Ale Trail can help you navigate your way through the breweries. Purchase a Passport online or directly through a participating retailer for $25. Visit a participating brewery and present this passport when you purchase a beer (pint, flight, package-to-go, crowler or growler fill) to receive a “First Visit” passport stamp. The more unique breweries you visit earns incentives directly from TBAT at one of their Trailhead Meetups. Earn incentives such as free beer with each visit. With over 77 breweries participating, it’s definitely a great way to fill up those rainy days.
Salvador Dali Museum
One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-823-3637; TheDali.org
Inside the museum and safe from rain, the only thing melting are the iconic “Dali Clocks.” Surrealist imagery abounds as you and your date get a glimpse of legendary artist, Salvador Dali, and an unparalleled exhibit of his finest work. View the haunting melted image – The Persistence of Memory – that was his first painting in the U.S. after escaping Spain, or see if you can spot the artist’s face hidden in the painting Hallucinogenic Toreador. Open daily 10am – 5:30pm, Thursday until 8pm, $29 admission (military, law enforcement and educator discounts). Admission is $14.50 on Thursdays from 5-8pm.
Dual Membership: If you’re a fan of date night at The Dali, consider getting a dual membership for $100. Your admission to the museum will be free for an entire year plus you’ll get a few other perks, such as free parking and tours.
Tampa Theatre
711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
813-274-8981; TampaTheatre.org
Romance isn’t only in the movies, it’s also evident in the Victorian architecture at the Tampa Theatre. Built in 1926, and considered one of America’s most elaborate movie palaces, the theater is a community landmark, and one heck of a place to take your date for a movie. Enjoy an independent film, an old classic, or even a Theatre Tour and be awed by the Mediterranean-style indoor courtyard and realistic night-sky ceiling with twinkling stars. Check the schedule for movie titles, times and to buy advance tickets.
Florida Aquarium Downtown Tampa
701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
813-273-4000; FlAquarium.org
At the Florida Aquarium in Tampa’s well-known Channelside district, there’s no need to worry about staying dry. The aquarium has a large number of indoor exhibits including Journey to Madagascar, the Wetlands Trail and an indoor Coral Reef exhibit. Open daily 9:30am – 5pm, $30-35 admission varies daily – view prices online. (Ticket prices fluctuate based on several factors weather, day of week, local events, attendance patterns, etc.)
BTW: An annual membership for two people is $115 and gives you unlimited admission for two people for the entire year plus free parking.
Vertical Ventures
116 18th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
727-304-6290; VerticalVenutres.com
5402 Pioneer Park Blvd Suite E, Tampa, FL 33634
813-884-7625; VerticalVenutres.com
Bring the excitement of an outdoor excursion inside at Vertical Ventures. Whether you’re an aspiring climber or a seasoned pro, you and your date will be challenged by 40-foot walls and over 80 climbing lines with climbing routes that are constantly changing. St. Pete is open Tuesday through Thursday, 9am – 10pm, Friday 9am – midnight, Saturday 10am – 10pm, and Sunday 10am – 6pm. Tampa is open Tuesday through Thursday, 12pm – 10pm, Friday 12pm – midnight, Saturday 10am – 10pm, and Sunday 10am – 6pm. Single visits are $20-$25 and multi-day passes are available for $75-130.
Tampa Bay History Museum
801 Old Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602
813-228-0097; tampabayhistorycenter.org
Located in Channelside where the Riverwalk ends, you will find the Tampa Bay History Museum. Open daily 10 am – 5pm, it is recommended that you plan 2-3 hours to enjoy the entirety of the museum. $16.95 admission per person ($14.95 with college ID). Members get in free. Explore the ever changing exhibits like Florida Railroads and Beer & Brewing in Tampa, or the permanent exhibits that span 3 floors! After your history fix, grab dinner or a drink at the historic Columbia Cafe. The Cafe offers a sampling of the Spanish and Cuban-inspired dishes that made the 109-year-old Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City famous. Cafe is open daily from 10am-5pm.
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