Want to spend a week in Tampa, suggestions for a place to stay and things to do?

[BucFan]

Thanks. I'm culturally illiterate. I guess I've lived here long enough to take a day and go visit the museum.

[Sunshinecc]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Thanks. I'm culturally illiterate. I guess I've lived here long enough to take a day and go visit the museum.

LOL! I know the feeling. I just bought tickets and going to my first Monster Truck Jam this weekend

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by SoulJourn

Well that's the question! We've always wanted to vacation on Florida's Gulf Coast, but some how always would up in Delray Beach or Orlando. (we have relatives in the first place)

Now one of our children is looking at a couple of colleges on or near the Gulf Coast. We will be leasing a car.

What are some moderately priced places to stay? We lean vegetarian but eat sea food and love to try local places. Any suggestions?

We are combining the college visits with a much needed vacation. Any ideas?

We will be traveling in March. Thank you.

Clearwater is nice. The silver sand beaches of Navarre Beach (more up towards Ft Walton) are beautiful as well.

Avoid Orlando. Here is one place we loved when we lived down in Boca, used to take trips all over the Gulf Coast. Sanibel Island and also Captiva. Captiva has beautiful, un-commercial beaches, small shoppes and no strip malls. Its more natural beauty. You have a nice mix of quaint B&B's on Captiva. many are mid-range price. Restaurants are varied, some very good seafood and non-chain restaurants in Clearwater, from what I recall.

Best Florida Beaches on the Gulf of Mexico

Siesta Key Florida | Best Florida Beaches

Manasota Key Florida | Best Florida Beaches

Have a great vacation!
The gulf coast was always our favorite, SE Florida is overcrowded this time of year.

[herryjohn]

Originally Posted by romes591

I'd say stay in the Channel Side district of Tampa, but if by Tampa you mean the Tampa Bay area I'd go to Pinellas to be closer to the beaches.

Colleges around here to check out would be 1) University of South Florida (Northeast Tampa), 2) University of Tampa (downtown), Eckerd College (South St. Petersburg), USFSP (downtown St. Pete).

They vary from large to small campuses and public to private and pricey. Personally I'd check out USFSP, beautiful campus.

In Tampa you can check out a Lightning hockey game, a Yankees spring training game, Busch Gardens theme park, some great shopping at international mall, Lowry Park Zoo, Big Cat Rescue, but as far as beaches I'd stay away from Hillsborough county beaches.

In St. Petersburg I would head downtown, especially if you are veggies. A walk down Beach Drive will give you plenty of good veggie options. Also St. Pete is has all the museums, modern art, Salvador Dali, Holocaust, museum of fine art. You can head to St. Pete Beach and check out some local landmarks like PCI, or the Thunderbird. And downtown St. Pete is much more vibrant than Tampa as far as foot traffic and walkable things to do, especially on weekends.

In Clearwater you will find the nicest beaches in the area. A little more dead of a downtown area. You can catch the Phillies play springs training in Clearwater or the Blue Jays in nearby Dunedin. Clearwater is the best place to grab seafood in the area IMO. A good spot that is not pricey is the Palm Pavillion on Clearwater beach.

All three of the cities in Tampa Bay have unique things to offer. A lot of it is spread out though so prepare to drive, good luck.

Nice suggestion. You should follow this advice for an enjoy with your trip.