What to do in Tampa for two days (St. Petersburg, Clearwater: rent, loan)

[Raven1976]

I'm spending two nights in Tampa. The one night I'm going to the club Castle and I know the salvador dali museum is nearby too. Where else can I go to either see something unusual, alternative , or interesting sites?

[annaegel]

Very general question. Give us a clue on what you like to do. Parachute jumping? Nature? Theme park? Gardens (Sunken Gardens in St. Pete)? Beach?

You mentioned a club. Are you looking for another club? What kind of music? Latino, rock, jazz?

Are you travelling by yourself or with a friend?

[Raven1976]

Originally Posted by annaegel

Very general question. Give us a clue on what you like to do. Parachute jumping? Nature? Theme park? Gardens (Sunken Gardens in St. Pete)? Beach?

You mentioned a club. Are you looking for another club? What kind of music? Latino, rock, jazz?

Are you travelling by yourself or with a friend?

I like nature outings too . I'm already going to Busch Gardens and The castle club so I have clubs and theme park covered. I"im mostly looking for offbeat things like a big cemetery or a museum that might have strange artifacts or unique stores for shopping. Pretty much anything people would consider morbid or weird.

[annaegel]

Canoe Escapes is a nice 3 hour nature thing to do. You will probably see alligators, turtles, etc.

MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry on Fowler Ave in Temple Terrace (near USF) has the Body Exhibit.

Salvitor Dali Museum in St. Pet. Find a book store. Look for the book for Weird Florida. Check to see if your library can get a copy, or somehow find it in your book store. They should be able to guide you for what you are looking to do. Off hand, I can't think of anything offbeat. I will think about it. If I come up with anything, I will let you know. If you cannot find the book, let me know. I will see if our local library has it and see if I come up with anything of interest for you. The library is just down the street, so no biggie.

When is your trip to Tampa?

I moved down here from NJ. Where are you from in NJ? We lived in Fair Lawn. I miss it!

[Raven1976]

Originally Posted by annaegel

Canoe Escapes is a nice 3 hour nature thing to do. You will probably see alligators, turtles, etc.

MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry on Fowler Ave in Temple Terrace (near USF) has the Body Exhibit.

Salvitor Dali Museum in St. Pet. Find a book store. Look for the book for Weird Florida. Check to see if your library can get a copy, or somehow find it in your book store. They should be able to guide you for what you are looking to do. Off hand, I can't think of anything offbeat. I will think about it. If I come up with anything, I will let you know. If you cannot find the book, let me know. I will see if our local library has it and see if I come up with anything of interest for you. The library is just down the street, so no biggie.

When is your trip to Tampa?

I moved down here from NJ. Where are you from in NJ? We lived in Fair Lawn. I miss it!

Thanks for the info. I hadn't thought about checking that book out. I think I've seen it at Borders. Our trip is at the end of the month. My husband and I live in West New york, Nj. We've contemplated moving to FL and are going to be staying in tampa, orlando, miami, and west palm beach to check it all out during our stay.

[beachmouse]

I found the Dali Museum to be pretty overrated- a lot of the cool stuff ends up being on loan to other museums on a regular basis, and they're so terrified that someone will take a decent cell phone picture in there that they light it so poorly that you can barely see the paintings. Ended up liking the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art a lot better.

Though I did think the Dali gift shop was pretty good.

[tampaguy03]

Not morbid or weird, but very sad is the Florida Holocaust Museum in downtown St. Petersburg. Ybor City is a funky historic area of Tampa with some pretty funky shops and art galleries along 7th and 8th avenues and its side streets--the Cuban Club and some other buildings and old cigar factories are said to be haunted(featured on TV's Ghost Stories).
Downtown Tampa is home to Oaklawn Cemetary, the oldest Confederate Cemetary in the country, there are some really really old grave stones and markers, and intersting stories to read about.

I second the Canoe Escape, rent either kayaks or a canoe, and paddle down the Hillsborough from Sergeant Park(they drive you there and pick you up at Morris Bridge Park).

[Sunnydee]

I'd recommend Fort DeSoto. Every time I go there I find something to love.

[CollegeProf]

Some interesting places to visit: Plant Museum/University of Tampa (great history of Tampa), Weedon Island Preserve (in St. Pete), Ybor City (if you like bars/clubs), Clearwater Beach (top rated beach in US), drive around Davis Island (see Jeter's new mansion) to name a few...