Julie

We want to spend 5 days to a week visiting sites in this area. Would like recommendations on nice places to stay (prefer near water) and "must sees" Thanks.

Mona

We happened upon Tarpon Springs last year; if someone can explain to me what I missed that makes it a "must-see", I'd appreciate it.

Merilee

Tarpon Springs is nicknamed the sponge capital of the world because that was once its most thriving business. There is a boat ride you can take where a sponge diver named Ali will put on an old heavy scuba suit and dive for a sponge. Yeah, it's cheesy, but it's fun. It's also home to a predominantly Greek community and there are many fanatastic Greek restaurants and shops. They sell bath soaps from Greece that are wonderful olive oil, tabac. Everyone has a different opinion about places and things, but I thought Tarpon Springs had its own special charm.

OliveOyl

To each their own, but the person who loves Sarasota and St. Armands Circle, probably is *not* also going to love Tarpon Springs. Like Mona, we came away after our first visit scratching our heads and wondering if we'd missed whatever it was that everyone else had found.

Julie, though you may enjoy a visit to Tarpon Springs, that will most likely *not* be where you will want to stay, especially if you love the beach. The best of the best in St Pete on the beach is the Don Cesar, followed by the Tradewinds. You can drive up and see TS in an afternoon if you'd like.

I'll leave it to Sal to hop in with recs for Sarasota. As we live in the area, we go down just for the day so aren't familiar with the best beach lodging there.

If you do a search under St Pete or Sarasota you'll find more activities than you could possibly handle in a couple of weeks vacation time as well as some great dining recs.

Debra

I was down in Clearwater Beach a few years ago with my husband. While he was in his business meetings, I made dayrtrips to the surrounding towns. Sarasota was my favorite. Be sure to check out the Ringling Circus Museum. The shopping down at the circle is also worth an afternoon.

But I also enjoyed my afternoon checking out Tarpon Springs. It was kind of a quaint foreign village and the Greek storeowners were so nice. I had some wonderful Greek food and my husband loved the pasteries I brought him back.

Brad

If you're in St. Pete, go to the Salvador Dali museum. The tour guides are very informative and the tours are free and frequent. It's a very nice place (especially if you're a Dali fan!) and will take 2-3 hours to see.

If you travel another 20-40 minutes into Tampa, there's the aquarium, Busch Gardens, zoo, and other things.

Merilee

Love St. Armand's Circle and the Sarasota area, too...have enjoyed fine meals at Bijou, Ophelia's, and Cafe L'Europe...also like shopping at the Mango Bay store...have also had fun on the Duck Tours of St. Pete/Tampa Bays and visiting Solomon's Castle...but then again I also love the Weeki Wachee Mermaids.

Julie

Thanks for the replies. We enjoy diversity in our travels so a touristy Greek village with sponge divers sounds like a nice change from the quiet, classiness we expect to find in Naples. Each is better for having had the experience of the other.

Michelle

I will give a vote for the Sarasota area. We have been going down there regularly since 84 and never get tired of the beautiful beaches. I would recommend staying right on Siesta Key. The sand is like sugar and the water crystal clear.

Sal

Checking in late--I hate wrong numbers in the middle of the night--that kind of phone call means no more sleep for me, but enough about my sleep issues.

TS is definitely just a day trip. I have one more field trip there to go with my youngest and that will be my last visit! The Greek church in the heart of town is beautiful and worth a peek. There is store after store of sponges and souveniers, and as mentioned the diving demo.

IMO, you'd be very happy in Sarasota. Siesta is great, but removed from everything. I'd recommend Longboat Key. Since I don't know your budget I'll give you several price options in lodging, t the best places IMO.

High end-Longboat Key Club, full service resort, golf tennis etc. Very upscale (AAA runs a special at times). Colony-big tennis hangout, nice bungalows.

Mid range - Holiday Inn and Hilton

Least expensive - Sea Club II, a nice mom and pop type place. Beach Bungalow- featured in a recent Better Homes and Garden mag. as the inn of the month.

LBK is close to lots of shopping, golf and dining (St. Armand's circle can take a day if you enjoy good food and unique shops). Ringling has already been mentioned. Mote Marine is an excellent aquatic museum and the Mote Boat is a must do. There are deep sea charters for fishing if that's something you like. If you're here in the cooler months, Spanish Point, about 45 minutes south is a nice 1/2 day trip. You can go on a little farther south to Casperson Beach in Venice which is known to be the best place to find shark's teeth. There is a huge outlet mall about 30 minutes north and Tampa/St. Pete is an hour north.

OO, sorry to hear you've been sick. I'll be in touch soon. We're heading to Disney tomorrow for the weekend. I think you know how much I'm looking forward to that!

Julie

Thanks for the great recs. This board is very useful.

OliveOyl

Sal, It was just a cold, but I'm never sick so when it happens I'm a real wimp. gt;

I'm curious, has Ca'd'Zan re-opened? Our son's GF is arriving for several days after Christmas, has never been to FL, and I'm planning our tour routes. Think we'll come down via Bradenton to Anna Maria, lunch at the Sandbar (location location location), then down to Lido, on to St. Armands (pick up that yummy frozen yogurt cone) and home via 41 and Ringling/Ca'd'Zan. Nice day, perhaps biting off too much though. Maybe squeeze in Selby Gardens, esp if Ca'd'Zan isn't open yet.

Hope you went back to sleep! Great sales going on you know where, but I know Disney calls. Just keep in mind, you're making great memories! OL Have fun. You're a good Mom!

Scott

If you enjoy the beach scene, I recommend Pasagrille (sp?) Beach near St. Pete and Anna Maria Island to the south.

Sherry

Hi Julie!
I am a resident of St.Pete and also a tour guide so I have learned quite a bit about the area. The above suggestions are excellent! I have to admit, I do enjoy Tarpon Springs because its small town charm but I agree that a day visit is plenty. If you are going to be staying in Clearwater, I recommend the Sheraton Sand Key. A beautiful resort with all of the amenities and offering specials at the moment. website; www.beachsand.com check it out for yourself. Sarasota is a place where I take my friends and family. St Armands circle is so chic' and we sometimes pick up a few things from one of the deli's and have a picnic on the beach. Ringling is interesting and they have the trendiest little restaurant 'the Banyan Cafe'. Ask for Rick, he's the manager and tell him Sherry from Globus & Cosmos tours sent ya! Downtown Sarasota is also very trendy, I think!If you enjoy nature, I would recommend a visit to Apollo Beach, off I-75 between Tampa & Bradenton, Big Bend Rd. The have a free visitor Center and their main attraction are the manatee's, a native mammal of Florida. Absolutely heartwarming. Their website is;
http://www.manatee-teco.com/
Ybor City in Tampa, Downtown St.Pete [duck tour, 30 min trolley tour 50 cents, the Pier, Salvador Dali & other musuems]. I have plenty of websites if your interested, send me an e-mail!
Have fun!
Sherry

x

Ron! Take that dress off, you look positively gay! You moving up the coast now? Chased out of Key West? Did you see all the nominations you got for Creepiest Fodors Poster? That be you boy.