Tampa Bay's urban core is a hip, happening place with lots to recommend. But the beauty of this destination is that the slow lane is just down the road.

Dive, hunt, and swing

Just east of downtown, in suburban Brandon, lies an entertainment and shopping complex that will keep you busy all day. Start off with a jumpsuit and a flight of fancy at iFly Tampa (right), the area's only indoor skydiving facility. Afterward, hop across the road to Bass Pro Shops, a sprawling temple to all things outdoors. Then, it's back across the road to work on your back swing at TopGolf Tampa, which features a triple-decker driving range, restaurant and rooftop bar.

Jurassic jungle

Near Plant City, keep an eye out for the parade of Brachiosauruses along the highway. An enormous Tyrannosaurus Rex standing guard by the highway exit will tell you you're in at Dinosaur World. Unlike that other Jurassic park in the movies, nobody's on the menu here. These monsters are purely for show. The kids can try digging up their own dino bones. They can also get wet panning for gem stones in the park's sluice. Bring the pup along -- Dinosaur World is dog friendly.

Manatees on the move

The stacks of the Big Bend Power Station are a fixture on the Tampa Bay horizon. But it's at the base of those stacks where the action happens from November to April. That's when West Indian manatees frolick in the spa-temperature water flowing from the power station. The free TECO Manatee Viewing Center lets visitors observe the gentle giants from a deck and a boardwalk. The nature center includes lessons about manatees. The mangrove-covered nature trail reveals more aquatic wildlife. Check the shallows for eagle spotted rays and spinner sharks.

Into the woods

Make your own adventure off the beaten path in Tampa Bay's best wilderness parks. Expert river guides from Canoe Escape will help you experience Florida's unique creatures minutes from downtown. Hillsborough River State Park boasts Florida's only Class II rapids. Historic Fort Foster re-creates the lives of soldiers in the early 1800s. Alafia River State Park, a reclaimed phosphate mine, has hilly terrain in an area that's pretty flat. The park is popular with mountain bikers, so bring your wheels or keep an eye out for riders.

Down on the Farm

In the countryside north of downtown, Old McMicky's Farm lets city kids hold a chicken, take a hay ride, milk a cow, and ride a pony. It's a great place to learn about life in Old Florida before everything came pre-packaged and processed.

Take a guided tour of the 40-acre farm, complete with a visit to the baby animal barn. The barn maze even includes a twirling slide!

Bring a picnic and spend the afternoon lounging beneath the shady oak canopy.