Things to do & places to visit in Ruskin, Florida, United States

Ruskin's location on the Little Manatee River, part of Tampa Bay's South Shore, gives residents and visitors easy access to traditional Floridian pursuits like fishing and boating. Simmons County Park has white sand beaches, mangrove trees, wildlife and views of Tampa Bay. Long an agricultural community focused on vegetable farming, Ruskin hosts its own farmers' market and a Tomato and Heritage Festival.

Ruskin city in Florida, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 18:18.

Top things to do (29)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Latitudes Tours (179 reviews)
- Worth the Money
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Boat Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Bus Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing

We went on the afternoon nature tour. The guide Melissa was very knowledgeable on everything from the trees, the plants,the fish etc. The tour lasted for 2 hours. $25 a person which we booked online and put a 15% gratuity on there also. See more..
5.0 Fishing Charters with Captain Matt Santiago (39 reviews)
- 2 Awesome Days of Fishing - Tarpon, Cobia, Redfish, Snapper, Grouper!!!
Fishing Charters & Tours

I have fished with Capt Matt Santiago several times over the past 10 years and I've always had a great experience and caught some great fish. This trip was no exception. I booked 2 days and the bite was on fire!! The 1st day we caught 2 tarpon about 50 lbs each and lost a BIG ONE estimated about 150lbs - unfortunately the hook pulled after about a 10 minute fight and a few incredible jumps. We also caught a nice cobia, snapper and grouper that came home for dinner. 2nd day we targeted redfish and the action was non-stop with double and triple headers of nice fish averaging 24-30". I lost count, but we probably caught 20 or 30 redfish. We caught a ton of great fish and Capt Matt is a great guy to fish with, not to mention, his new boat (Sabalo 27) is absolutely incredible. I highly recommend Capt. Matt and look forward to fishing with him again soon See more..
5.0 Little Harbor Watersports (35 reviews)
- Boat rental smooth operaton
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Boat Rentals

Renting a boat for the day was a good experience. Online booking was easy and taking out the boat was no problem. The boat came with a GPS. As with any boating make sure you know where you are going with a map. Tampa Bay boating waters will be shallow at places. I will rent from here again and would recommend this business for rental of a boat. Doug from Pennsylvania See more..
5.0 Instinct Fishing Co. (20 reviews)
- Grouper, grouper & more grouper!
Fishing Charters & Tours

What a great trip we had with Captain Travis. Friendly, knowledgeable, respectful, funny and best of all we caught some serious groupers. Advice, be ready to catch fish! Thank you Captain Travis for a great day on the water. See more..
5.0 On the Bay Fishing Charters (14 reviews)
- NY transplant learning to fish Tampa Bay
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fishing Charters & Tours

Recently moved to Tampa Bay Waterfront from NY Long Island Sound. Avid fisherman and boat owner looking to experience the bay and its fishing opportunities. Met Capt Jason through another captain and what an awesome experience he provided for my 24 yr old son and myself. First off he couldn’t be more accommodating for set up pick up and times that worked for us. His boat is absolutely perfect for bay fishing and Captain Jason knows the bay. We were on our first spot of the day and within minutes we were scoring Schnook left and right. This is a trip that we will always remember thanks to Captain Jason. Besides being great Captain and excellent guide he is a wonderful person. I recommend him highly from a person who has fished all over for 50+ years. Thank You Captain Jim n Ryan See more..
5.0 Firehouse Cultural Center (13 reviews)
- Great concerts
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Theatre & Performances

The room the concerts are held in is intimate. We have been to a number of concerts over the past year and everyone of them has been fantastic. They have a wide variety of concerts, and some would be a style that I would not normally choose, but even those were enjoyable. The price of the tickets is extremely affordable, especially for the quality of groups they bring in. Highly recommended. See more..
5.0 PADDLE @ SouthShore (5 reviews)
- Amazing!!!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Fishing Charters & Tours • Gear Rentals • Boat Rentals • Stand Up Paddleboarding • Day Trips

It was amazing, the paddle boards are really nice and he picks the best areas to make sure you enjoy your experience!! See more..
5.0 Exum’s Local Honey Farm (3 reviews)
- Fantastic learning experience
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Cooking Classes • Day Trips

We loved meeting Judy and Elwin! They are a exceptional and loved learning all about the honey bees & honey harvesting process. Great for my 9 year old to experience, highly recommend a visit! The honey was amazing too! See more..
5.0 Ott's Off Leash Dog Sanctuary (3 reviews)
- Excellent large dog park
Tuesday: Spent 1-2 hours Parks
This is a lovely dog park. It is huge, has lots of seats. Dogs can run and the dogs we were looking after, were tired after this visit! Hint: make sure you check the times. It is closed Mon, Tues, Wed, I think. This is to allow the recovery of the park. Definitely recommend. See more..
5.0 Zoffingers (3 reviews)
- Fantastic Place for all Ages
Boat Rentals

Our family (ranging in ages 13-73) spent the day at Zoffingers and had an absolute blast exploring mangroves, watching wildlife, paddling, and sometimes just sitting still and soaking it in. This is such a relaxing and also adventurous place. A hidden gem. Marty is the most welcoming person you'll ever meet and deeply appreciates your business and interest. His mission is to just help people find some happy time. It's so rare to find someone willing to give you their time. Just an awesome experience. See more..
5.0 Aqua Serenity Charters (2 reviews)
- Quiet tour
River Rafting & Tubing • Boat Tours • Eco Tours • Private Tours • Speed Boats Tours

We had a great time and saw sights that I haven't seen in years. Capt. Wade was safe, pleasant and informative. See more..
5.0 Heart to Home (1 review)
- So cute!
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops
Heart to Home offers Vintage, Shabby to Chic, Coastal, Cottage, and Farm House home decor and furnishings, Candles, Jewelry, and Gifts. See more..
5.0 Reel Memories Fishing Charter (1 review)
- Great times on the water
Fishing Charters & Tours

Todd was fantastic. Put us on fish and was extremely helpful for my grandson's first salt water fishing experience. This was my second trip with Reel Memories and I wouldn't go out with anyone els. See more..
5.0 Trading Latitudes Sailing Excursions (1 review)
- Relaxing Day
Boat Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching • Nature & Wildlife Tours

On the last day of our vacation we decided to book a sailboat excursion with Capt Marty and Janice. What a lovely day on the bay, and to watch the sunset behind St Petersburg was spectacular! The food Janice laid out was beautiful as was their boat, Dragonfly. I was initially worried this would be too much for me because I thought you had to be leaned over sideways. However, Capt Marty kept everything on an even keel so we were comfortable the whole trip. I highly recommend this cruise for anyone looking for the beauty of nature coupled with the friendliness of this couple. See more..
5.0 All Water Tours (1 review)
- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! So much fun!
Tuesday: Dolphin & Whale Watching

Although it's new to Tampa bay, It has a two hour cruise that will bring you photo opportunities and enjoyment for all ages. I enjoyed the boat ride and it was comfortable even when the heat index was 100. It was shaded by a full canopy and has liquid refreshments that kept us hydrated. This is an awesome way to get out on the water without having all the costs and headaches of owning a boat. They have several scheduled trips so you can choose the time that is convenient for you. Plenty of parking and many other attractions around the Little Harbor Marina. You can't beat it for the price. They also offer specialized trips for large parties. Its the only one in the area that tours on the east bay and can carry 38 passengers comfortably. The captain is very experienced and was able to get the dolphins to come up to the side of the boat. Lot of fun. Will definitely be back again! Allwatertours.com See more..
4.5 Ruskin Family Drive-In (122 reviews)
- Affordable family outing
Theaters

Quaint, charming, family treasure! What a great way to spend the evening. We went on a Thursday night. Double feature for just $6 each. Bathrooms are clean. Concession was affordable. We got large popcorn $5 and small pop for $2.50. We could hear the speakers clearly without having to put them into the car. See more..
4.5 Hydro Harvest Farms (21 reviews)
- Great Experience and Tasty Products
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent 1-2 hours Farms

We provide Hydroponic gardens for schools and backyards. We have a full line of hydroponic and garden supplies, organics, growing media,parts and service. From a one tower patio set up to a full size farm, we do it all. See more..
4.5 Tampa Bay Boat Rentals (11 reviews)
- Family fun!!
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Boat Rentals

Jim was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Called the day before to go over everything and update us. We rented a Pontoon boat, it was perfect for our family of 8. The boat was clean and well taken care of. We will be renting from him again. See more..
4.5 Blue Collar Fishing Charters (10 reviews)
- Fishing
Fishing Charters & Tours

From start to finish. Captain Don had us catching fish and giving us tips on how to catch fish out on the Water. We had a blast. Book now See more..
4.5 Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center (6 reviews)
- Fun place to check out
Nature & Wildlife Areas
This is a nature education center with classrooms displays hiking canoeing and kayaking and a fossil museum they also have quite a few trails to learn about nature on the west coast of Florida wonderful volunteers highly recommend checking it out See more..
4.5 Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store (3 reviews)
- Interesting place with interesting things
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Thrift store located in the heart of Ruskin. We have been offering compassion to the community since 1989. Stop by to browse our one-of-a-kind items. We sell clothing and shoes for everyone. Books and movies for entertainment, as well as electronics. We also have a great selection of gently-used furniture. We often have vintage and antique furniture for the upcyclists. Vintage in abundance! See more..
4.5 De Stijl Art Gallery (2 reviews)
- A gem of an art gallery
Tuesday: Art Galleries
This art gallery is wonderful!! Lots of different art styles from a variety of local artists. The owner Cynthia Spring is very friendly and a delight to talk to. We will definitely return the next time we are in the area and plan to buy a piece of art then. See more..
4.5 Saint Anne Catholic Church (2 reviews)
- Simplicity
Churches & Cathedrals

Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of St. Petersburg, FL. Established over 50 years ago, serving over 2,500 registered parishioners. Dedicated to Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon entrance to the Church you will notice you are surrounded by stained glass windows. See more..
4.0 E. G. Simmons Regional Park (148 reviews)
- Gorgeous Park
Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Parks

We camped here for the month of March and didn’t want to leave. We were at site #78 and it was on the water and across from the bath house. The bathrooms are kept super clean and they have 2 family bathrooms/ shower-houses. We kayaked and saw lots of manatees and dolphins. The only downside was all the bugs. No matter how much bug spray you used they still bite. See more..
4.0 Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve (20 reviews)
- My favorite place to kayak.
Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas

I love kayaking at Cockroach Bay. If you want to stay on the marked trails, you can, but there are a lot of islands that you can leave the trail and explore. You can drive right up to the water to unload your kayak or boat. If you go on a day that is not windy it is calm and shallow, usually 2 to 4 feet deep for a good part of the area around the mangroves. There are tunnels to go through and if you go to the right from the launch to marker number 10, turn to the right and go around the sand bars to the bouys to the channels that lead to the bird watching area. There are no markers though so you have to remember how you got there. Lots of fish jumping and birds to see. If you go to the left from the launch there is another marked trail that I found is best at high tide. All in all, a great place to kayak, especially if you are willing to go slow and watch the water for things like crabs and rays. See more..
4.0 Fringe Benefits Salon (8 reviews)
- The best hair salon ever!
Spas

This is the by far the best kept secret of Ruskin, Fl. The prices are far more reasonable than any shop around and the quality is by far at its extreme best. I always, have people ask me where I have my hair done. I love listening to their funny stories of the day as well. These ladies are the sweetest at its best! Also, do wraps here as well and let me tell you they work! See more..
4.0 Mann's RC's (1 review)
- Quality work and service.
Game & Entertainment Centers
Never had problems with thier work. They don't take shortcuts. You can rely on work being done right the first time. See more..
4.0 Ruskin Branch Library (1 review)
- Libraries are indispensable
Spent < 1 hour Libraries
I got my library card and immediately put it to use. I am glad and now am one of many people nationwide who knows how to use our local, state and national library system. Oh how wonderful that is where words are as bounteous as a book of a thousand words. See more..
3.5 Bradenton MX TTTTrack (3 reviews)
- Best time ever
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Adrenaline & Extreme Tours

Me and my family had a excellent time great experience my lady and lil ones loved it definitely will be coming back See more..
SouthShore Regional Library (0 review)
Spent < 1 hour Libraries
See more..