Adventure Island in Tampa Florida is the place for vacationers to spend a day in the water, whether they're sliding, rafting, or going down a flume ride. Situated a short distance from Busch Gardens, Adventure Island is a popular destination with visitors and residents alike for cooling off when temperatures are at their highest.

Situated on 30 acres filled with waterfalls, pools, slides, rides, and a rambling river, the Tampa Adventure Island water park has plenty of activities for the whole family. On the Riptide, a four-lane mat slide, riders twist and turn their way along a 55-foot drop into a pool, and on Gulfscream's 225-foot long slide, you can reach speeds of 40 miles an hour before splashing into the pool.

There is more excitement waiting on the Calypso Coaster flume ride, the 230-foot Caribbean Corkscrew and Wahoo Run that twists and turns along 600 feet of churning water and waterfalls. And for the ultimate drenching at Tampa Adventure Island, don't miss the six-story Key West Rapids, which has 700 feet of water slides ending in a pool. If you're looking for something tamer or are with your family, consider Fabian's Fun Port, the designated kids' area at Adventure Island, which is designed with water elements for young children.

If you're looking for a break from the slides altogether, there are plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the pools, such as Paradise Lagoon, Endless Surf, and Splash Attack. To slow things down even more, Runaway Rapids gives visitors the opportunity to leisurely float around the waterways in the park, while enjoying a rainforest and waterfalls, while Aruba Tuba and Water Moccasin provide additional sliding activities for when you're ready to speed things up. Adventure Island Water Park has plenty of amenities including lockers, changing areas and showers, a picnic and beach area, gift shop, and restaurants, so it's easy to spend a full day here.

Dining options at Tampa Adventure Island provide a variety of choices for every taste that include Mango Joe's for burgers and chicken, Bayou Beach Club for nachos and Surfside Café for hot dogs and pizza. For cool desserts, Gulf Scream Ice Cream serves funnel cakes, sundaes, shakes and floats.

For the convenience of guests to Adventure Island Water Park, private cabanas are available for rent and Caribbean Coin wristbands are available, free of charge; they allow guests to load money onto the band instead of carrying a wallet and cash. The waterproof band has a barcode and can be used throughout the park for purchases. The band is only good for the date of purchase and any unused balance on the band is refunded at the end of your visit.

Safety is a key factor when visiting Adventure Island in Tampa Florida and to ensure the guests stay safe and happy, the rides have height restrictions in place. The park has a first-aid station with certified staff and employs more than 50 certified lifeguards to monitor and oversee all water activities and rides. The dress code at Adventure Island allows swimsuits, T-shirts on rides only, and shorts. Thong bathing suits are not allowed in the park and T-shirts are not allowed on body flumes. Coolers larger than sixteen quarts are not allowed in the park, and only designated areas allow smoking. 

Adventure Island in Tampa Florida is open from mid-March through August with various open and closing times. The park is open daily through August with a limited operating schedule in September and October. For anyone on a Tampa vacation who is interested in checking out the animal attractions, rides, and tours at Busch Gardens, consider getting a two-park pass to both attractions, which is valid for two weeks once activated.