Father's Day 2022: Here Are Some Ways To Make Dad Feel Like A King

TAMPA BAY, FL — He's been there to coach your Little League team, fix the leaky plumbing in the bathroom and teach you to ride a two-wheeler. Now it's time to pay Dad back a bit, even if it's just for a day.

Father's Day is Sunday, June 19, and Patch has put together a selection of activities, dining options and freebies especially for Dad:

New Up-Close Birds Of Prey Experience

On Father’s Day, visit The Florida Aquarium to be among the first to experience "Raptors!," a new interactive and educational experience featuring birds of prey from around the world.

With birds that include the Aplomado falcon, European common buzzard, European eagle owl and Harris’ hawk, the flighted exhibition will take place three times daily on The Florida Aquarium’s scenic rooftop terrace overlooking Tampa Bay. "Raptors! Birds of Prey Experience" is free to members and included with general admission.

Guests of all ages will gain a new appreciation for these birds; learn about each species' natural history and adaptations, their impact on the ecosystem and what can be done for species’ protection while experiencing the birds in flight and up close. Crowd participation is often part of the daily demonstrations.

The exhibition begins on Sunday, June 19, and runs through Labor Day Weekend.

In honor of Father’s Day, the Aquarium is offering two-for-one admission on tickets purchased at the ticket window on Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19. Click here.

Celebrate With Summer Glow

Spend the weekend hanging out with rescued animals at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

The aquarium will celebrate Father's Day Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, with free adult admission for Dad with the purchase of any admission ticket.

Stay late and enjoy the aquarium's Summer Glow.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will host the Summer Glow every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening from 4 to 8 p.m. through July 30 with live entertainment, family-friendly activities, festive food, drinks and sparkling views of the water, or float away on a free boat tour. It gives visitors a chance to experience a different atmosphere throughout the aquarium and watch rescued marine animals interact in new ways.

Or give Dad a gift that will keep giving all year. Now through June 26, take advantage of the aquarium's 50th anniversary membership special. Enjoy six months of membership free with the purchase of an annual membership. CMA members enjoy perks like unlimited visits, retail discounts, program discounts and more.

Click here for tickets.

Pirate Adventure Aboard Lost Pearl

Dad and the family are invited to have a pirate adventure aboard the Tampa pirate ship, Lost Pearl, docked at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St.

On Father's Day Sunday, Dads will receive some extra bounty and a free boarding photo.

We’ll have both child and adult beverages that are free at sea and dad will also get some extra bounty, a free boarding photo.

Tickets include the 90-minute cruise, pirate entertainment and swashbuckling activities, dolphin sightings and complimentary soda, domestic beer, house wine and house spirits. Adult tickets start at $30.

Cruises times are:

• 2 to 3:30 p.m.
• 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• 7:15 to 8:45 p.m.

Click here to book passage.

Dad Fest

The Relevant Church, 1704 N 16th St., Tampa, will host a Dad Fest Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.

It will include a golf simulator, bounce houses, corn hole, ping pong, basketball, koozies and axe throwing.

In addition, there will be a BBQ Cook-Off. To sign up for the cook-off, click here.

Monkey Around With Dad

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, 4600 Alternate U.S. 19, Palm Harbor, welcomes fathers for free Sunday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a paid admission.

The nonprofit, volunteer-run organization that provides a safe haven for more than 130 residents chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys, reptiles and birds.

Click here.

Dads Love Cars

Celebrate Father's Day at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum, 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park, Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tickets for Dad are just $5 all weekend long.

Give Dad a tour of vintage cars from 1770 to 1982, including steam, electric, front-wheel drive, rear engine and air-cooled. Regular tickets are $8 to 12 with children 12 and under admitted for free.

The museum features a collection of rare, historically significant and 14 one-of-a-kind vintage vehicles from France, United States, England, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy and Japan. Historians will be on hand to share the history and engineering behind the collection.

Cars, Canoes And Cravings

Speaking of car enthusiasts, Dad can get his fill this week at Armature Works, 1910 N Ola Ave., Tampa, when it hosts its Father's Day Edition of Rides by the River Saturday, June 18 from 8 to 11 a.m.

There will be collector cars, hot rods, imports and exotic cars on display.

And to satisfy those sweet cravings, the Buddy Brew & Craving Donuts trucks will be on hand, providing coffee and donuts. Dad can sip his brew while the kids expend their energy at the nearby bounce house.

Additionally, Dad can enter the Father's Day Raffle for a chance to win a Wild Turkey gift basket June 17 to 19 at Bar AW. Dads will receive a raffle ticket for each Rock 'n' Rye they purchase. The winner will be chosen Monday, June 20.

Or head over to Urban Kai on the Hillsborough River at Armature Works for an guided paddle adventure through the river's mangrove ecosystem for a chance to see shore and wading birds, dolphins and manatees.

Dads paddle free on Saturday with three or more family members.

Click here.

Family Fishing Tournament

Hillsborough County will host the second annual family fishing tournament Saturday, June 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Carrollwood Village Park, 4680 West Village Drive.

There will be free bait, cast netting and knot-tying seminars, prizes and giveaways. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will provide rod and reel rentals and the Tampa Bay Jr. Bass Club will be on hand to help with weighing and recording catches.

Children age 2 to 16 are welcome to enter the tournament with Dad. There will be 60 teams of two.

The event is free.

Register here.

Take A Hike

There is no shortage of places to go wild with Dad in Tampa Bay.

So, this weekend, lace up your hiking boots and take to the trails.

Between Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, there are thousands of miles of trails to explore, some more wild than others.

The trails are designed to offer something for everyone, from hiking rookies to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, with hikes rated easy, moderate or strenuous. Lengths range from 5 miles to less than a mile.

Hillsborough County offers 26 trails at 22 locations.

Here are some of the top trails:

• Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve
• Alderman's Conservation Ford Park
• Bell Creek Nature Preserve
• Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve
• Cockroach Bay Preserve
• Edward Medard Park Preserve
• Flatwoods Conservation Park
• Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve
• Lettuce Lake Conservation Park
• Lithia Springs Conservation Park
• Lower Green Swamp Nature Park
• Triple Creek Nature Preserve
• Trout Creek Conservation Park
• Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park

Pasco County's top trails to explore include:

• Aripeka Sandills Preserve
• Boy Scout Preserve
• Crews Lake Wilderness Park
• Eagle Point Park
• Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
• Key Vista Nature Park
• Moon Lake Park
• Pasco Palms Preserve
• Starkey Ranch District Park
• Suncoast Trail
• Upper Pithlachascotee River Preserve
• Withlacoochee River Park

In Pinellas County, outdoors lovers can literally hike the entire length of the county on the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, a linear multi-use trail currently extending from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. The trail, created along a portion of abandoned railroad corridor, provides a unique, protected greenspace for walking, jogging, skating and biking.

Off the beaten path, families can explore 30 community trails including:

• Lansbrook Trail
• Honeymoon Island Trail
• Oldsmar Trails
• Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail
• Druid Trail
• Friendship Trail
• Weedon Island Trail
• Island Loop Trail
• Historic Booker Creek Trail
• Gulfport Tangerine Greenway
• Fort Desoto Park Trail
• Neri Park Trail

Dad's Day At The Museum

• American Victory Ship Mariners Museum
• Dunedin Historical Museum
• Pioneer Florida Museum and Village
• Veterans Memorial Park & Museum
• Henry B. Plant Museum
• Palm Harbor Museum
• Tampa Bay History Center
• Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
• Tampa Museum of Art
• Ybor City Museum
• Tampa Baseball Museum
• Museum of Science & Industry

Life's A Beach

• Honeymoon Island State Park
• Caladesi Island State Park
• Clearwater Beach
• Sand Key Park
• Redington Shores
• Madeira Beach
• Treasure Island Beach
• Sunset Beach
• St Pete Beach
• Shell Key Preserve
• Fort De Soto Park
• SunWest Park

Walk On The Wild Side

• Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center
• Big Cat Rescue
• Lowry Park Zoo