If you want to experience Ybor City with your family, then you need to go on a Saturday morning. On the weekends, the Ybor Market is almost always open and there are tons of fun things to buy and sample, like local honey, produce, crafts, and more. On a beautiful day, it's fun to window shop around Channelside and we also recommend a lunch at The Creperia. The crepes are huge and what kid (or adult for that matter) doesn't love pastry stuffed with chocolate (or Nutella and bananas, or ham and cheese...). Just be prepared to start heading home before 4pm, when people start arriving for early happy hour and the nightlife gets going. NOT for kids in the evening.

If you are coming to Tampa for the first time and you want to experience something quintessential to this area, you need to eat Cuban food. And while locals like myself will likely point you to little hole-in-the-wall dives for a pressed sandwich, you do really need to eat at the Columbia at least one time. :) It is gorgeous and the food is phenomenal. Might be a little bit of a challenge with a little one on a crowded day, but no more than a regular, nice restaurant.

It is the best of both worlds - Disney-themed fun and a zoo all in one! Our little one (almost two) is fascinated by animals but also loves Mickey Mouse, so this let us show him both in one day. This park is also shady and gorgeous, with plenty of rides that are fairly low key for resting. This is big benefit if you go on a hot day. And Expedition Everest (for big kids and grown ups) is probably the best ride in all four DisneyWorld parks. SO fun!

The Downtown Disney area is tons of fun...for two adults who have time to leisurely shop in cramped stores and want to sit down for a nice dinner alone. :) Don't get me wrong...I loooove Downtown Disney. But our last trip with our little one left a little to be desired, only because there is very little for them to do. On a perfect summer day, when we have no where else to be that day, we would let him play in the pop up fountain in the middle of downtown and the Disney store and Lego store there huge and fun. But otherwise...it is mainly grown-up stores and fancy restaurants. I'd say, with little kids, plan a couple hours there at the most...and that would include a trip to Rainforest Cafe to fill out the time. :)

We just took our first child (nearly 2) to the Magic Kingdom this past October. We specifically went for the Not So Scary Halloween Party - the evening event around Halloween that usually ensures an empty park, short lines, etc. And...it did not disappoint. Our son had plenty to do but we did not have to deal with the crush of 4 hour lines and terrible heat. We have also attended the Very Merry Christmas Party and liked it even better (cool evening temperatures and much fewer people). Highly recommend this park, but especially for evening events with kids!