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Old 03-23-2010, 02:29 PM
 
974 posts, read 2,185,284 times
Reputation: 798

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Wife & I will be visiting area in April for about a week, we've read about the area and thought it would be a fun place to visit and chill out @ beach and tour surrounding areas. Who knows?... may even like the place enough to consider a pre-retirement move.

My question: If you had just 5 or 6 days.... what places should a first-timer check out? We're staying at a "surfer chic" hotel @ St. Pete's Beach for a couple nights but would like to mix it up and split our stay a couple nights at a couple other areas.... of course beachfront is preferred. Any & all suggestions are welcome...we're budget-conscious but looking at 3-Star & above.

Also: Must-sees? Historic areas that really define the area... any districts we should really make a point to visit? What about nearby communities with a one-of-a-kind feel ( Tarpon Springs, Dunedin? anything to them or others?)

Kewl hideaways...or local food establishments that are "genuine" to the area and must try?

And we're scuba / snorkel divers... any convenient place to snorkel without a hassle or current? Any dive / snorkel vendor recommendation? (Manatee tours...anything closeby or is Crystal River the only place to swim and see them in the wild?)

Also..any tips on being safe? We travel a lot so we're not idiots...but anything not-so-obvious to first-time newbies to the area?

Thanks a bunch!
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Old 03-23-2010, 02:40 PM
 
Location: Lincoln County Road or Armageddon
5,020 posts, read 7,223,411 times
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Try Ted Peter's in S. Pasadena, it's close to where you're staying. The food is about as local and genuine as it gets. If you got the bucks, book a room at The Vinoy in downtown St. Pete. First class.
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Old 03-23-2010, 05:19 PM
 
Location: Tampa
2,602 posts, read 8,302,847 times
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Ted Peter's is great. If you want a great hamburger, stop at the Biff Burger on 49th Street North.

Visit the Pass-a-Grille section of St. Pete Beach and see a beach community not overrun with condos and tacky stores. On that note, I haven't been over in awhile, but I think the Downtown Gulfport area is fairly interesting.

Fort DeSoto is a very nice beach and the fort itself is cool, if you're into that kind of thing.

I wouldn't worry too much about safety. The beach communities have no serious crimes, just occasional drunk people and maybe a car break-in here and there. There is a rough section or two in St. Petersburg, but it is easily avoidable and you probably won't end up there anyway.
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Old 03-23-2010, 08:33 PM
 
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Is there a sight seeing tour bus (a double decker) that goes through the different parts of St. Pete or Pinellas County? If anyone is from NYC you would be familiar with the Gray Line tourist buses that tour different parts of the city.
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Old 03-23-2010, 08:57 PM
 
1,500 posts, read 3,332,609 times
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Tampa Electric - Manatee Viewing Center
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Old 03-23-2010, 08:58 PM
 
Location: East Tennessee
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Two must try restaurants are "The Lucky Dill" in Palm Harbor and "Mama's Greek Cuisine" in Tarpon Springs. Both have excellent food and they're each an experience in of themselves
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Old 03-24-2010, 07:17 AM
 
Location: South Tampa - Bayside West Neighborhood
1,824 posts, read 8,378,211 times
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Some unique things to consider while visiting:
Fort DeSoto - rent bikes, kayaks, take ferry to Egmont Key for snorkeling, North Beach area is beautiful.
Canoe Escape - Tampa - Kayak down the Hillsborough River, amazing Florida wildlife and scenery.
Ybor City, Tampa - National Historic Landmark District - take a ghost tour, catch a Flemenco Show with dinner at the Columbia Restaurant, Cigars at King Corona, Cuban Coffee at La Tropicana - a bar, club, restaurant, shops, art galleries, etc. for anyone and everyone.
Pass-a-Grille is a great little beach town - grab a cocktail on the rooftop of the Hurricane during Sunset.
Gulfport is another quirky artsy little town on Boca Ceiga bay - check out Backfin Blue or Pia's for dinner.
Must go to Mazzaro's in St. Pete for lunch - authentic Italian Deli/Bakery/Shop.
Frenchys Rockaway in Clearwater - great Grouper Sandwich's and views.
HB Plant Museum at University of Tampa - Historic Building and unusual minarets - ask for a tour to the top of one of the minarets for great views of downtown Tampa.
Just a few suggestions...
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Old 03-24-2010, 04:50 PM
 
974 posts, read 2,185,284 times
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Thanks to all who've responded so far.....I've been taking notes and looking things up. Big help...many thanks. I'm assuming that some of the places to dine have seafood? Hate to miss out on a local seafood favorite...so any suggestions?

I think we'll start out 2 days on St. Pete's Beach... might head north to check out Dunedin / Calidesi-Honeymoon Isles / Tarpon Springs. Wife wants to swim with the Manatees so I'm checking into Crystal River for a Friday nite stay / Sat AM Swim and then head back to T/SP/CW area for the rest of the trip.

Besides St. Pete Beach....what other beach areas are best? Clearwater? Anna Maria Island?

Thanks again!
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Old 03-24-2010, 05:36 PM
 
Location: Lincoln County Road or Armageddon
5,020 posts, read 7,223,411 times
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Clearwater has a pretty beach, but that's about it. I'm partial to Treasure Island/Maderia Beach, but I grew up there so I could be a little biased. Again, Ted Peters for smoked, local fish and probably the best burger and German Potato Salad. Agree with tampaguy on Backfin Blue Cafe-get the crab cakes and meatloaf, side order of sauteed squash. Now I'm hungry.
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Old 03-28-2010, 07:06 AM
 
Location: Sanford, FL
596 posts, read 1,706,716 times
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Check out Keegan's In Indian Rocks Beach! Great fresh seafood, casual environment in a quieter beach town. Our Best of the Beaches Seafood Menu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp14NwAw3so
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