<p>Looking for hotel recs/places to see, for a quick weekend to Tampa/St. Pete.</p>
<p>Silly, I know, but I have free hotel and travel funds that expire the end of the month, and this locale is a good match. Have a college friend there I’m trying to get in touch with, but if can’t, looking for ideas to fill the weekend.</p>
<p>Would like a hotel with a view of the water, an indoor pool, if possible, quiet, safe.</p>
<p>Need a Marriott property, as the free rooms are rewards points.</p>
<p>Not interested in museums for this trip, will return with hubby for that one, but just a restful weekend where I can look at the water, whether from the hotel room or the car.</p>
<p>This would be the last weekend in September, so if there’s anything special going on that weekend to either catch or avoid, please let me know!</p>
<p>Flying in Friday morning, flying out Sunday afternoon. </p>
<p>I think there is a Marriott right on the beach in Clearwater Beach, which is in the same general area.</p>
<p>But I doubt you will find many INDOOR pools in town.</p>
<p>there is also Busch Gardens, but unless you like going on lots of roller coasters, in my opinion there is not a lot to do there for an adult.</p>
<p>As for museums for a future visit, there is the Salvador Dali museum, which is great, even if you are not a big art fan, and the holocause museum.</p>
<p>there is also a nice little museum at the University of Tampa, which is kind of like going back in time to the 1890s.</p>
<p>And to eat, try Bern’s Steakhouse, which is an institution in the city of Tampa.</p>
<p>^^^Thanks! Husband loves Dali, so will save that for a couples trip, along with the other museums. </p>
<p>Is there anywhere I can view wildlife, like manatees, shore/wading birds? I am not in good enough shape to swamp tromp anymore, but if there’s a boardwalk nature trail, wouldn’t mind taking that in.</p>
<p>Is there anywhere I can take a boat tour of the surrounding waterways?</p>
<p>And be sure to hit Frenchy’s for a grouper sandwich. They have several restaurants in Clearwater Beach but their Rockaway Grill is the best! Right on the beach, and a nice walk from the Marriott.</p>
<p>We’ll be vacationing in the same area in mid-October.</p>
<p>Maybe checkout the Marriott Downtown Tampa Waterside Hotel if you don’t have to be right on the gulf. It is centrally located downtown next to the convention center by Tampa Bay and convenient to most everything. Clearwater Beach is a super nice beach if you actually want to swim and sun bathe, but it is a fair drive from Tampa airport. The Waterside overlooks Tampa Bay and is only about 15-20 minutes from airport. It is next to Forum where you might catch a show or hockey game, near Channelside entertainment district, by docks where cruise ships go out, and is right by Florida Aquarium. You should be able to find near there a way to get a boat tour of gulf or Tampa Bay too; I think some 1/2 day gambling cruises still go out of the nearby port which would maybe work for you too. There are lots of excellent hotels in Tampa Bay area to choose from, enjoy your visit!</p>
<p>Hey I was checking on the aquarium’s Wild Dolphin Ecotour boat ride and it will be back in service Sept. 24th after its annual maintenance which might work out for you if you want to see manatees and dolphins in Tampa Bay no matter which hotel you visit. </p>
<p>Didn’t know The Vinoy is now a Marriott. Highly recommend that property over the Marriott Waterside in Tampa. Downtown Tampa can be a ghost town on the weekends, unless there happens to be an event. Downtown St. Pete is more vibrant with restaurants, galleries and cute shops within walking distance of The Vinoy, and the beautiful Straub Park adjacent to the hotel. You can also walk over to the [url=<a href=“http://www.tampabay360.com/Attractions/StPetePier.html]pier[/url”>St. Pete Pier]pier[/url</a>] and see it before it gets demolished.</p>
<p>Thank you for the wonderful hotel recs. Unfortunately, most are above category 4, which my free room limits me to. I am very interested in dolphin/manatee boat tours, as I loved whale watching in Washington State. Don’t mind driving to the beach or marina, as long as it’s nice sightseeing along the way. Would prefer to be closer to the Gulf of Mexico than the bay, as I would love to see it down that far south! Thanks for all the help, guys!</p>
<p>Doesn’t look like a Marriott directly on the Gulf of Mexico is in the cards with your Marriott Rewards points. Maybe book a regular commercial Marriott hotel inland in Tampa Bay area near the friend you are visiting and drive to beach and sights. Clearwater/ St. Pete and Sarasota/Bradenton beaches are a little too touristy for me and finding a parking space there can get difficult on weekends. Tampa doesn’t have sandy gulf beaches, Tampa is on the bay. Ft. Desoto park by St. Pete has a beautiful beach which is popular with locals. Dr. Beach picked Ft. Desoto as America’s best beach a few years ago. The park has an old fort you can tour and there are nature walks and a pier.</p>
<p>I will be going to Pensacola Beach for our anniversary weekend, so I really do want to see the Gulf down that way. I’m considering going all the way down to the Sarasota area, as I get in midmorning on Friday and leave Sunday afternoon. Found a hotel on the Manatee River that will use my points. </p>
<p>Is there a highway that I can drive along that I would see water along the way?</p>
<p>I also found a Tropic Boat dolphin encounter tour boat on Tripadvisor and wonder if any of you have used them. I would like to see dolphins in the wild, but don’t want to go with a company that has pet dolphins that they bait with fish. We have swamp tours in Louisiana that lure the gators with marshmallows, and not a true wildlife experience, in my opinion. Looking for something like that.</p>
<p>While I don’t want to spend the whole weekend on the road, I don’t mind driving a ways to see what I’m looking for.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input, guys. Keep it coming!</p>
<p>You sound all set on the Manatee. You can drive to Bradenton or Sarasota beaches from there easily, or from Manatee county take Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay to go to St. Pete/Clearwater beaches. Stop along the Skyway causeway to take in water view and get breath of salt air, maybe bring a lunch and watch ships passing or mullet jumping in water. Enjoy your visit.</p>
<p>I did finally hear from my college friend who lives in St. Pete, so will probably stay up there so I can see her and the kids. You are right, the Manatee sounded idyllic, especially for my point limitation. I’m afraid I’ll be too far to visit my friend in St. Pete, though, if I stay there. Would it be hard to get to St. Pete from that area?</p>
<p>However, I wouldn’t mind just taking the rental car and driving over those causeways and seeing the water. The highway from Miami to the Keys is one of my favorite drives, and if there’s something similar on the west coast, I’d love to do that.</p>
<p>Finally settled on a Fairfield on Gulf to Bay Boulevard. It’s either a Clearwater or St. Pete address. My friend is in St. Pete, but don’t know if we’ll get together, as she’s in the middle of a move. </p>
<p>Would love recommendations for a casual seafood restaurant, must serve scallops, with a gulf view. </p>
<p>Also would love recommendations for scenic drives.</p>
<p>Gulf-to-Bay (Fl SR 60) is a main drag in Clearwater running from Gulf of Mexico to the west and to Tampa Bay to east. Are you flying or driving? If you are coming from Tampa airport, just head west on SR 60 and cross Tampa Bay to your hotel. The stretch of SR 60 crossing bay is called Courtney Campbell Causeway and it is scenic and you can stop to side to look at water. To get to Clearwater Beach just head west on Gulf-to-Bay to gulf. You can just hang out by the beach for the weekend and enjoy yourself so you don’t wear yourself out driving all over Tampa Bay…or</p>
<p>if you are more adventurous, from Clearwater Bch drive down Gulf Blvd along gulf to Johns Pass in Madiera Bch. for lunch and continue later south to Ft. De Soto Park below St. Pete. It’s not the most scenic drive, but Gulf Blvd will allow you to get peeks of gulf. Or, go north on Alt. US Hwy 19 from Clearwater, as IllinoisMom suggested above, and visit Caladesi Island. Clearwater Beach has activities by its Pier 60 most evenings at sunset, don’t miss the sunset on the beach. Some restaurants are mentioned in below links.</p>
<p>Something I overlooked telling you about that you must check out on your trip is the Florida Marine Aquarium in Clearwater Beach right off Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. It is the home of Winter a dolphin with an artificial rear fin. A big Hollywood movie “Dolphin Tale” starring Harry Connick, Jr. is opening Sept. 23 nationwide; the movie is about the dolphin which lives at the aquarium. You can watch the movie first and when you get to Clearwater Beach you can go right to the movie star’s home–Winter’s …not Harry Connick’s!–to visit and get photos at his place.</p>
<p>Anyone familiar with the Courtyard St. Pete Downtown? It used to be a historic hotel. I could use my free night there as well. They do have a shuttle to the pier and restaurants, have valet parking and an indoor pool, and I could possibly get a waterview room. Hoping it’s not too far from these wonderful nature opportunities you guys are suggesting, though.</p>
<p>A visit to Winter is definitely in order. And pulling over from the causeways to waterwatch is something I will definitely take advantage of. I hear there’s a seabird rehab place, so that’s a must for me. I love birds, and having a chance to see some up close is an opportunity I don’t want to miss.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all your help. I am so looking forward to this trip!</p>
<p>Courtyard Downtown St. Pete is convenient for activities downtown by nearby water’s edge, and it is also centrally located in Tampa Bay area to see other area sights. Personally, I’d rather be downtown St. Pete than on Gulf-to-Bay. You can just hang out by pier, and parks, etc. downtown St. Pete and keep yourself entertained for a full weekend too.</p>
<p>So excited. Back at the Clearwater Bayside hotel. Getting an early check in, and hope to see Winter on Friday. Will feel guilty seeing him without my son, but don’t want to miss the opportunity to see him while I’m in the area.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much. </p>
<p>Now I need restaurant recommendations with water views who serve scallops. I don’t drink, so don’t worry about a wine list!</p>
<p>I will tuck the Bern’s Steakhouse rec away for when I return with my husband, as he loves steak, but I’ll go there if they have a great view and scallops!</p>
<p>Ha, just cross posted with lizard. </p>
<p>So hard to decide between downtown St. Pete and the Gulf to Bay. My friend says not much going on in Clearwater, but I’m kind of looking for a quiet place on this trip. I think Downtown St. Pete will be a good choice when I return with husband to see the Dali museum, though. He’s a city guy, where I’m a nature girl. </p>
<p>Still keeping both reservations, though, and will make my final decision the week before I leave. Both have good reviews on tripadvisor, and since I’m going to be spontaneous on this trip, the parking hassle of downtown will probably be an aggravation.</p>