Pre-Trip Fun for Tampa, Florida

Jurassic Park -- This Oscar-winning fantasy/thriller will get kids in the spirit before their visit to Dinosaur World. (School-age and up)

"Pirates of the Caribbean" -- Hunting for treasure aboard Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise will be even more exciting after watching this film, the first in a trilogy. (Pre-teens and up)

Cuban Sandwich -- Cuban immigrants to the Tampa Bay area settled in Ybor City alongside Spanish and Italian immigrants. Give kids a taste of Cuban culture with this tasty sandwich.

Crab Crusted Grouper -- Several types of grouper are caught in Tampa Bay's warm waters; introduce kids to the succulent fish with this delicious recipe.

"Alligators All Around" -- Maurice Sendak's playful alligators teach kids the letters of the alphabet. (Preschool)

"Dinotopia" -- Humans and dinosaurs co-exist in this fantasy/adventure illustrated novel. (School-age)

"Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise" -- In this autobiography, Myrtle Scharrer Betz describes the childhood she spent living on Caladesi Island in the early 1900s. (Teens)

Kids will be thrilled to see the real thing after making these fun alligator crafts:

Action Shadow Puppet: Toothy Alligator and Hungry Alligator.

Coloring Page: Budding marine biologists can test their knowledge of manatees and alligators, and then grab a crayon to color the page.