Tampa area and North
Dec 17th, 2013, 05:46 AM
#1
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Tampa area and North
We'll be staying north of Tampa, in Hudson FL, for a week in March. Looking for suggestions for beaches in the area, and other things to do in the Tampa/Hudson area. Will have 11 and 9 yo with us, so we may do a day at Busch Gardens (is BG worth it if we are doing 3 days at Disney later in the trip?). Also interested in visiting one of the state parks with the crystal clear springs for swimming and snorkeling. My wife is a birder and I'm a photographer, so we want to visit some of the nature preserves for birding and hiking also. Some of the preserves along the coast like Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, and Crystal River Preserve State Park look interesting. Any thoughts or suggestions for this area?
We'll be spending a few nights at Disney World, but that's a whole different topic.
We'll be spending a few nights at Disney World, but that's a whole different topic.
Dec 17th, 2013, 09:19 AM
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Homosassa Springs is very nice. Should see lots of manatees and birds. Don't know about swimming and snorkeling in any of the parks. I'd go to the websites for each individual one and see if it is permitted. But should be good for birding and photography.
Beaches: Clearwater Beach, and other beaches south of there reachable from Clearwater Beach. Be aware that it is difficult to find places to park, as the whole western edge is built up. Try to get the Clearwater Beach early in the day on a warm and pretty weekday so you can find a place to park near the beach. You can drive from Clearwater Beach to St. Petersburg Beach along Gulf Boulevard, something we like to do when we're in the area.
Tarpon Springs would be fun for you and for the kids. Settled by Greek sponge divers, so lots of sponge-type souvenir shops, Greek restaurants, etc.
Beaches: Clearwater Beach, and other beaches south of there reachable from Clearwater Beach. Be aware that it is difficult to find places to park, as the whole western edge is built up. Try to get the Clearwater Beach early in the day on a warm and pretty weekday so you can find a place to park near the beach. You can drive from Clearwater Beach to St. Petersburg Beach along Gulf Boulevard, something we like to do when we're in the area.
Tarpon Springs would be fun for you and for the kids. Settled by Greek sponge divers, so lots of sponge-type souvenir shops, Greek restaurants, etc.
Dec 18th, 2013, 05:35 AM
#7
Another vote for Ft Desoto, tho I wouldn't go to the pier. Drive to the north end where the road dead ends in a parking lot. You'll cross a small foot bridge to a beautiful beach. You can get away from people if you wish by continuing to walk from the entrance of the beach north to the point. It's excellent shelling too. Parking is plentiful and not metered, which is the pain of Clearwater Beach. You pay $5 entrance plus a .35 toll and that is it. Stay as long as you wish. You can also rent kayaks there (you'll see them along the right side of the road as you head to the aforementioned beach). You can then kayak through the mangrove/backwater area for an opportunity to catch shots of egrets, roseates, herons, the occasional osprey etc. I doubt he manatee will be there that early as the water is still pretty cold for them, but they certainly are in the summer.
Ft Desoto has been named Best Beach in the US in the past, which had the unfortunate effect of making it more popular, thus populated, but that and Caladesi Island are still the prettiest in the area, especially for nature lovers. Caladesi is more difficult to reach. You'll have to catch a short ferry ride from Honeymoon Island over. Once there, as on Ft Desoto, there are restrooms but no food. You'll have to bring your own.
Both are gorgeous but I prefer Ft Desoto for its easier accessibility.
Traffic getting to Clearwater Beach from the mainland can be horrendous during the height of spring break. If you do go there, and it's a pretty beach, be sure to go very early to avoid the mad rush, and to get parking. We went to that beach often when we lived in Tampa, and there were a couple of times we fought traffic, drove all the way out, then had to turn right around and come home because we could not find parking!
I would say do Busch, but because you are already doing Disney, no, it would just be more of the same, and only slightly less expensive!
Ft Desoto has been named Best Beach in the US in the past, which had the unfortunate effect of making it more popular, thus populated, but that and Caladesi Island are still the prettiest in the area, especially for nature lovers. Caladesi is more difficult to reach. You'll have to catch a short ferry ride from Honeymoon Island over. Once there, as on Ft Desoto, there are restrooms but no food. You'll have to bring your own.
Both are gorgeous but I prefer Ft Desoto for its easier accessibility.
Traffic getting to Clearwater Beach from the mainland can be horrendous during the height of spring break. If you do go there, and it's a pretty beach, be sure to go very early to avoid the mad rush, and to get parking. We went to that beach often when we lived in Tampa, and there were a couple of times we fought traffic, drove all the way out, then had to turn right around and come home because we could not find parking!
I would say do Busch, but because you are already doing Disney, no, it would just be more of the same, and only slightly less expensive!
