Go Beyond the Boardroom on Florida’s Sports Coast

Florida’s Sports Coast has everything you need to make your next meeting, incentive trip, conference or event a slam dunk. Located 40 minutes from Tampa International Airport, Florida’s Sports Coast is home to a large variety of venues, unique meeting spaces and some of the best breweries and restaurants in the Southeast.

But it’s the opportunities for adventure and teambuilding that makes the region the perfect place to host an unforgettable event. From snorkeling to skydiving, here are some of the top ways to go beyond the boardroom on Florida’s Sports Coast.

Go on a Team Safari at Giraffe Ranch

Give your group a taste of Africa at Giraffe Ranch in Dade City. Spanning more than 45 acres of lush forest and Savannah-like pastures, this wilderness reserve features dozens of local and exotic wildlife. Your team can feed the resident giraffes, pet camels and get a fabulous look at rhinos, Brazilian tapirs and pygmy hippos. Giraffe Ranch is also home to one of the largest herds of tiny Irish Dexter cattle in Florida. Family-owned and operated for almost 20 years, Giraffe Ranch isn’t a typical zoo or theme park; it’s a real working game farm that offers an agritourism experience your group will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Book a safari or treat your team to a camelback tour of one of the Sports Coast’s best-preserved stretches of Old Florida wilderness.

Zip Line Through the Trees

Build trust and camaraderie while having a blast at TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park in Dade City. Your group will climb, crawl and soar their way through eight treetop courses that offer everything from sky-high walkways to heart-pounding zip lines. Color-coded trails mark beginner paths that are less challenging and closer to the ground, while the expert-level course will give thrill-seekers an adrenaline boost. At TreeHoppers, your group will get closer as a team while getting closer to nature. The adventure park is set in one of Florida’s famous old-growth forests.

Make a Splash at Lift Adventure Park

One of the most exciting places to explore the Sports Coast’s beaches and shorelines is the Lift Adventure Park in Hudson. This waterpark and recreation center features an offshore jungle gym, wakeboarding course and a private beach perfect for relaxing in between teambuilding events. Your group can challenge oneanother to see who can get the best time on the overwater obstacle course or host a kayaking race across the park’s spring-fed lake.

Host an Island Excursion

For more offshore adventures, arrange a boating excursion with Windsong Charters in New Port Richey. Enjoy a group fishing cruise or take a manatee-spotting tour of Anclote Island Preserve State Park. For a memorable group meal, hop aboard one of Windsong Charters’ famous island outings. Windsong will bring your team to a remote Gulf of Mexico island where your private chef will be preparing a scrumptious beachside meal. After lunch, your group can play cornhole or compete in an island scavenger hunt. Coolers, fishing gear and snorkels are also available for rent.

Soar High at Skydive City

Give your group a literal high by hosting a teambuilding event at Skydive City in Zephyrhills. Recognized as one of the world’s premier dropzones, Skydive City has welcomed divers from all over globe. Whether your group is full of first-time flyers or free-fall pros, Skydive City’s experienced staff is ready to put on a teambuilding event your crew will never forget. You’ll climb to heights of around 13,000 feet on one of the center’s large turbine aircraft before taking a thrilling leap into the Sports Coast sky. The center’s experienced videographers can capture the action and provide plenty of great stills and videos to promote your next event. Back on the ground, your group can recap their adventures at Skydive City’s restaurant and bar.

Hit Some Clay

Improve your team’s aim at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, a 260-acre archery and sporting clay range located in Land O’Lakes. Its event space features multiple challenging courses for even the most experienced shooters. Tampa Bay Sporting Clays offers several packages for groups, all of which include golf cart rentals for exploring the wooded terrain, ear protectors and access to the 4,000-sq.-ft. covered pavilion.

Hit the Links

The Sports Coast region is home to several courses where your group can let off some steam after an eventful meeting or conference. Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity features an engaging 18-hole track with long, winding fairways, challenging water hazards and an exciting final test. The nearby Heritage Springs Country Club is another Trinity favorite. Its 18-hole championship golf course covers more than 870 acres of sprawling conservation areas, lush ponds and park-like amenities that make it popular with beginners and pros alike. Finally, the award-winning Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel is famous for its two Arnold Palmer Signature golf courses. With their rolling hills, emerald drives and palm-shaded ponds, these courses are designed to challenge and entertain golfers of all experience levels while offering a taste of the Sports Coast’s natural beauty.

Choose Your Own Adventure

In addition to all of the Sports Coast’s golf courses, water parks and wildlife preserves, you’ll find several outdoor event spaces where you can host everything from Tough Mudder–like competitions to endurance events to cycling championships. Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City has more than 2,000 acres of working ranch space perfect for concerts, festivals and races. There’s also an on-site horse track and miles of lakes, forests and wetlands for your group to explore. In nearby Wesley Chapel, the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus is getting ready for its summer 2020 debut. When it opens, the complex will feature a state-of-the-art athletic center complete with 16 volleyball courts, eight basketball courts, and facilities for wrestling, fencing and cheer competitions. There will also be indoor soccer and lacrosse surfaces as well as plenty of dining and entertainment options. An on-site Marriott hotel ensures your group has everything it needs for an event that will help your team build trust, improve their communication skills and boost morale inside and outside the office.