<p>Heading to the Tampa area in a few weeks. Never been to that side of the state. We have four and a half days to explore. Anyone have any recommendations? Restaurants? Shopping?</p>
<p>Is Busch gardens worth the admission price? </p>
<p>This is a girl trip ages 30 and 24. </p>
<p>looking for things to do outside to enjoy the warm weather as its been in the twenties here!</p>
<p>For a relatively unspoiled beach look up the Caladesi Island State Park. The ferry ride is part of the fun.</p>
<p>Clearwater Marine Aquarium! It is home to Winter the Dolphin. It is a wonderful aquarium, all around. Feed sting rays, see dolphins, sea turtles, otters. It is a rehab facility/aquarium, so a great cause all around. </p>
<p>Clearwater Beach, by the Pier, is a great beach as well. You can park and go out to the pier just to watch the water, or just go on the beach.</p>
<p>There is also Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, not too far away from Clearwater, where you can see all different species of birds in a rehab facility. They are quite funny, watching huge herons just walking around like stray cats.</p>
<p>I took a trip last year where I drove down to Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota. A bit of a drive, but worth it for this aging birdwatcher. There were dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, and sharks there. Also, a bird rehab place across the road. A good marine museum, too,including a giant squid!</p>
<p>Never been to Tampa, but I think there is a Dali museum there and lots of other things. There is a website where you can get free info sent to you for your upcoming trip.</p>
<p>Edit, oops, saw girls, thought bringing the kids, although I think you will enjoy the marine stuff. </p>
<p>Clearwater Beach Pier does have nightlife, concerts, etc, so you may enjoy a trip over there.</p>
<p>There are some good restaurants there, too.</p>
<p>I ate at Salt Rock Cafe, I think the name was, twice with my college friend and her family. Lots of your age group there, enjoying themselves.</p>
<p>Also, check out Diners, Drive In and Dives website. There are plenty of Triple D restaurants in the area that should be worth checking out.</p>
<p>Lots of beautiful, untouched places in the area that will be a welcome change from your frosty home!</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>Are you staying in Tampa or in St. Petersburg? Will you have a car? Do you like “antiquing”, galleries, clubs? Do you like to kayak or hike? We are staying in St. Pete Beach and I can give you lots of suggestions.</p>
<p>We are staying in Clearwater. We do have plans to go to two spring training games. It’s my sister and I.</p>
<p>We will have a car. After our days in Florida were going on a cruise so I’m sure there week be lots to do there as well.</p>
<p>We love Shopping, Italian food, cafe type places with sandwiches, movies music, etc.</p>
<p>I love laying out on the beach and reading. I love art and galleries and on two prior trips I’ve purchased paintings and brought them home with me. I saw they have movies on the beach there but unfortunately not on the days we’re going.</p>
<p>I have to keep in mind that this is a ten day trip so I can’t buy everything from everywhere!!! There will be no room in the returning suit case for my clothes!! I bought a painting so big once that I had to put half my stuff in my sisters suit case. Don’t think that will be an option this time. ;)</p>
<p>I also don’t want to go broke on activities when I’ve already spent so much on this trip. That being said, I don’t want to lounge in my room for five days so there is some room in the budget for fun ;)</p>
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<p>St. Pete is on west side of Tampa Bay, Tampa east side. Causeways link two communities. Above suggestions are all great. In Tampa: Tampa Bay Downs horsetrack is now open; Lowry Park Zoo; Tampa Aquarium; Cruise port is downtown Tampa–maybe take day cruise for day; Hyde Park and Ybor City districts for cafe type shopping–be sure to eat lunch at Columbia in Ybor–get Cuban sandwich; Mosi Modern Museum; BUSCH GARDENS IS WELL WORTH ADMISSION PRICE–GET THERE EARLY FOR FULL DAY–after they cut you off for free beer, walk across street to Yuengling brewery for more free beer; jog, roller blade, or walk along Bayshore Blvd; visit my college’s (Univ. South Florida) 1700 acre campus to relax in sun watching baseball, soccer, softball game in our new stadia or a basketball game in remodeled Sun Dome on campus. Maybe drive up to Weeki Wachee State park to see live mermaid show. MLB winter camps are just opening…Yankees train in Tampa by Tampa Airport. Tampa’s fanciest shopping Mall, International Mall, is between Yankees’ camp and Tampa Airport.</p>
<p>Too, downtown St. Pete on weekends usually has some kind of festival or activities going on, lots of shops and it is pleasant to just walk around right next to the Tampa Bay. Ft. Desoto Park just below St. Pete has beautiful beaches and is worth visiting.</p>
<p>I heart the Clearwater Beach area! A couple of restaurant suggestions would be 1) Frenchy’s Rockaway which is right on the beach (great grouper sandwiches) and 2) Clear Sky Beachside Cafe on Mandalay (not actually on the beach, but on the beach block).</p>
<p>A fun place to visit that’s not far is Dunedin. There are cute shops and cafes and a few galleries. It’s only about a 15 min drive north from CWB.</p>
<p>A bit further north is Tarpon Springs, where there is a Greek section of shops and restaurants located by the sponge docks. A fun half-day trip.</p>
<p>So jealous. Enjoy!</p>
<p>If you can go down to Sarasota, the Ringling Museum is really neat. The tour also includes the home where they lived, and a large art collection. And Siesta Key beach, off Sarasota, is always ranked one of the best in the world.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone these are great. Erik definitely be doing a few.</p>
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<p>If you can stretch the budget - Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa is a special treat. It is also very popular with ballplayers and announcers. Probably the finest steak I’ve had and the desserts are fantastic. The wine list is almost as thick as the telephone book and they are proud to give you a tour of the kitchen and wine cellar upon request. For first time visitors, the decorations may seem a “little heavy” (thick red curtains, statues etc.) - kind of like a turn of the century bordello, but the food is great.</p>
<p>Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores was a nice restaurant with atmosphere for your age group. It’s on Gulf Beach Boulevard. The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary is nearby. There is also a public beach in the Indian Shores/Beach area that was very nice. Pay for parking but walk right from the lot onto the beach.</p>
<p>I really loved driving along Gulf Boulevard, then crossing over a bridge onto the mainland to drive down to Sarasota.</p>
<p>On the way to Mote Marine Lab, went through Sarasota, and looked like a nice place for your age to visit.</p>
<p>I loved the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, or whatever it was called. Just gorgeous!</p>
<p>I loved the Clearwater area, and I’m really pushing for son to go to USF for grad school!</p>
<p>My parents live near Tampa. Most of our visits we just spend with them, but have enjoyed Busch Gardens in the past. </p>
<p>You may also enjoy the Manatee Viewing Center:</p>
<p>[Manatee</a> Viewing Center - Tampa Electric](<a href=“http://www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/]Manatee”>Manatee Viewing Center)</p>
<p>Our last visit in June for my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary, my brothers and I (all in our 50s) really enjoyed the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg:</p>
<p>[The</a> Dali Museum (Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersburg, Florida USA)](<a href=“http://thedali.org%5DThe”>http://thedali.org)</p>
<p>Just retired to Tampa several months ago. Clearwater is an excellent gulf area. Pier 60 in Clearwater is excellent- nighttime fireworks. Worth paying the 50 cents to go to the end of the pier. You will be staying in a different peninsula and county than Tampa. Do look at some maps of the area before you come. Geographically large area. Traffic is horrendous- and people don’t signal turns, rush hour on freeways very slow. This area is very casual. Expect T shirt and shorts will work just about everywhere. The Sweet Tomatoes chain is an excellent salad bar with soups and pastas- mainly vegetarian. Check locations online, in both counties. If you do cross the bay between cities consider using different routes each way- there are 3 different choices.</p>
<p>While in Clearwater consider driving south along the barrier islands for different beaches. Find out if the Red Tide is in bloom- heard reports that this bad algae may be blooming in the Gulf soon.</p>
<p>The Florida Aquarium is good. Plenty of tourist brochures at hotels. Publix and SweetBay are the two main good grocery stores all over the area. All of the franchises for fast and casual food are in the area. The Mediterranean cultures- Italian and Greek especially, plus nonMexican Hispanic influences are in the area. Ybor City part of Tampa may appeal to you. Do the Wikipedia searches. </p>
<p>You can’t do it all, especially in one trip and wanting to enjoy the weather. Concentrate on enjoying the beaches and taking in area attractions on the spur of the moment. You do not want to spend hours in the car getting to a specific restaurant. I would not bother spending the travel time to go south to Sarasota or other places just to find better sand. Orlando is 90 miles away from Tampa and Legoland replaced the old Cypress Gardens somewhere in between. But better to spend your time on the coast with a Busch Gardens day if you want a theme park. MOSI not worth it. Malls range from average to upscale Westshore near downtown Tampa, Tampa airport. There is a manatee viewing area along the coast somewhere- city water treatment plant area I believe.</p>
<p>Remember your sunscreen and sunglasses!</p>
<p>I’ve been to Orlando a few times and have been to the eastern part of FL all the way Down to Miami. </p>
<p>Were going to try to iron out some plans today.</p>
<p>If traffic is bad and there is more then one way, do you have a suggestion on the best route?</p>
<p>I’m used to traffic in the north East but I know the roads up here and ways around it.</p>
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<p>I did the criss crossing between the barrier islands and the mainland on my Clearwater visit, mainly just to get a variety of birdwatching in.</p>
<p>I agree, don’t spend your time in the car. My college friend and I were marine bio majors, so Mote was a dream trip for us and a special time for us together.</p>
<p>I stayed at a Fairfield, I believe, right next to a bridge, as I wanted a water view. Osprey nests on the street light poles, and I enjoyed watching them out my windown. I drove on Bay to Gulf Boulevard, I believe, and it was a lot of traffic. It took me a lot longer to get to Clearwater Aquarium than I expected just because of the traffic. Think of lunch hour traffic in your suburb. </p>
<p>I would stay on the beach during the day, and then go to the Pier at night for the nighttime fun, since you have limited time and want to enjoy some warm weather.</p>
<p>Have fun! I am so jealous!</p>