St Petersburg Beach Ideas??? About This Page:

[roundupgang]

I'm going to St Petersburg Beach Dec 3-7,2010. This will be my first time going and am looking for ideas of things to do. I would like to do something fun like parasailing or a dolphin watching cruise with reputable place. This is basically a trip for relaxing and being lazy. Busch Gardens is 45 minutes away acording to the hotel website but I'm not interested in doing a park.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[DrDolphin]

I was just in Clearwater Beach last week (just north of St. Pete beach) for work - so no help on the dolphin watching or parasailing (although I did see dolphins and parasailers). Clearwater beach has a really nice beach walk area with a wonderful white sandy beach with some great dining/hotel options. The Hyatt is brand new, and the Hilton we stayed at was really nice.

[Papa Mouse]

Dolphins, parasailing, cruises, things to do and sightdeeing are available in the St. Petersburgh, Clearwater and the Tampa area.

Click on the below sites and it will take you to many more that you have requested plus Tampa which I added as being in the general area.

Pick what interests you and open them as I have set them up for you.

dolphin and parasailing trips cruises near petersburg clearwater tampa fl - AO

Things to do see activities sightseeing photos in St

[modisney]

Where are you staying while there? I've been vacationing in that area for as long as I can remember.
Parasailing etc. is available on the beach by the Tradewinds resort (the one with the blue slide on the beach), the Dolphin resort (it's orange) or the Don Cesar resort (the pink one). They also have shelling/dolphin watch trips too. For the shelling I think they go over to Snell Island. You can also drive up to the John's Pass area fro dolphin trips. The big yellow Dolphin Racer boat leaves from there and they're pretty successful at finding the dolphins. We saw about 5 dolphins right in the water close by us this year and one lone manatee. It's not a dolphin mecca or anything but each year we see a few. There also are wave runners rentals in front of a pinkish-beige, pyramid shaped condo resort, St. Pete Beach Wave Runners. They have a hut with a blue top and usually a sailboat set up. Good prices. For any of these you'll need a credit card and river's license. You should find an orange Guide-Map in your hotel lobby that has a map, ads for various things to do and restaurants as well as some coupons to use. For restaurants right on Gulf Blvd. there are two really great places, Snappers and Madfish. They're owned by the same people and have great food. some folks would say they are pricey for the beach (some entrees at $25--$30) but worth it. Madfish is a little newer and the pricier of the two. Snappers often gets a wait. Over in an area called South Pasadena (about a 15 min. drive) is Ted Peter's Smoked Fish. It's been there forever and has great smoked fish and awesome burgers (they're closed on Tuesdays). Crabby Bill's is another St. Pete' favorite right on the beach. They have large windows so the view is nice (go around sunset time),it's not fancy and can be noisy but the food is good. Another great place is Oyster Shucker on Corey Ave. If you're in for a drive, about 30 minutes north of there is a great place called Salt Rock Grill. It's on Gulf Blvd. up by Reddington Beach Great everything. There is a Publix grocery store there on Gulf Blvd. for the basics (it's really in need of a make over though). If you are into the shells then be sure to visit the Shell Shop on Corey Ave. If you drive south on Gulf Blvd. toward the Pass-a-Grill area there's a neat little gallery on the right side just past the Don Cesar called the nancy Markoe gallery. It's in a white building. Nice hand crafted things. If the weather isn't great there's plenty to do in the area other than Busch Gardens. Downtown St. Petersburg has the Salvador Dali Museum. A very interesting museum dedicatied to Salvador Dali. In Tampa there's the Florida aquarium, there's the Museum of Science and Industry. You can drive up to the John's Pass area in Maderia Beach (a 15 min. drive) where you'll find plenty of touristy shops, restaurants, one of those floating casinos that goes out into the Gulf along. There's a new parking garage but otherewise it's metered parking. There are a couple of more local like restaurants and a Bubba Gump's now. From St. Pete's you can also drive to Ft. DeSoto state park. There's an old unused fort there, beaches, a playground, bike trails, picnic facilities etc. If you wanted to drive 45 minutes or so south to Sarasota there's the John Ringling circus museums and home to tour. In Sarasota you'll also find Saint Armands circle which is a nice shopping area. About a 20 minute drive south from St. Pete's and just over the Sunshine Skyway bridge is an outlet mall. I will say there's no Starbuck's but there are a couple little coffee places. There's a small, very old putt putt place down by the IHOP. Just north up by Treasure Island and Madiera Beach there are a couple of better places if that's your thing. If you have any other questions, just let me know.

[modisney]

I forgot one, there's also a stand with info. on different types of tours down by Publix right by where the CVS is. also, if you're more interested in local type eats, go south on Gulf Blvd. to Pass-a-Grill to Sea Critters and The Wharf. Nothing fancy at all about these places but good food. Still in Pass-a-Grill is the Hurricane and the Brass Monkey. Both are right across from the beach. Hurricane has good grouper.