I had my Cinderella themed wedding nine years ago this month. I have had so many great date nights here in the Tampa Bay/Clearwater area and I would love to share with you some of my best ones.
10 Great Date Ideas in Tampa Bay
MOSI. The Tampa Museum of Science and Industry is a super fun museum. They have a lot of interactive exhibits. You and your date can have a lot of fun playing. Check out MOSI.org for more information and ticket prices.
Lowry Park Zoo – The zoo is not just for little kids and families. My husband and I enjoying visiting the zoo and seeing all the different exhibits. Bring along a picnic lunch. The Lowery Park Zoo has picnic tables right outside of the entrance for you to enjoy an affordable lunch.
Photo Shoot in Downtown Tampa. Downtown Tampa is just gorgeous and has so many photo opps. To make it an extra frugal date, have lunch at Subway or Precinct Pizza. 
Visiting the Sponge Docks. Tarpon Springs is home to the Sponge Docks, our own little Greece. Such a beautiful, touristy place to visit. My favorite restaurant is Hellas. Be sure to sample the wines in the Sponge Exchange, they are so good! You will also want to bring home one of the great sponges!
Tampa Photography Museum. This is a really small museum but has different exhibits all the time. My husband and I love talking about the subjects and the photographers take on them.
Sunset at Pier 60. Though my favorite beach is Indian Rocks, I love hitting Clearwater beach for Sunsets at Pier 60. During the summer there are free movies, street performers, and craft vendors. 
Dunedin Art District. Dunedin is this little town right off of US Highway 19. It is a really small town, but they have a lot of artsy areas. The downtown area is so cute and they have art & craft fairs all the time, free movies in the park, and other free events. The best restaurants are Casa Tina’s (with acrobats performing on the weekends) and Pan Y Vino’s (most romantic pizza eatery). (Related Post: 10 Reasons to Visit Dunedin)
Florida Aquarium. A great aquarium to see all of your favorite marine animals. They have a really fun touch tank and some great family events.
Florida Orange Groves Winery– Make sure to sample The Hurricane. We haven’t taken the tour yet, but have sampled the wines many, many times. We always end up leaving with a bottle or 2 to take home. The prices are very reasonable.
Fun-Lan Drive-In. Just like in the old days, though I never grew up with one in my area. This is an honest to goodness drive in movie theater. Such a fun way to see a new movie without noisy theaters and expensive popcorn. They do offer concessions, though. Check out Fandango Showtimes for the Fun-Lan.
Tips to Enjoy a Tampa Bay Date Night on a Budget
Set a Budget. Budget your fun! Make sure to include attraction tickets, gas, and food.
Try to Plan Your Date Night. Sometimes you want to be spontaneous, but planning a date ahead of time allows you to search out great deals on local attractions and restaurants. If you are packing a picnic, it gives you time to plan and prepare your meal. (Related Post: Tips for a Frugal Picnic)
Look for Groupons. Groupon specializes in offering discount admission to many local places in Tampa Bay, including restaurants and spas.
Find Local Festivals. Check local news websites for free and cheap festivals to attend. Since Florida has sunny weather all year round, there are festivals all year long.
My husband and I haven’t even touched the surface of all the fun things Tampa has to offer. What is your favorite Tampa Bay area date location?