ComeSailWithME

We will spending a week in Maderia Beach this summer and want to take the time to explore the little beach towns along Gulf Blvd there. We plan to hit up Johns Pass village, Pier 60, Pass-a-Grille and head over to Gulfport.

We are looking for some restaurant recs in these neighborhoods. My husband and I LOVE conch fritters, so we will be on the hunt for some good ones! I know we definitely want to try Sloppy Joe's.

We are debating a half day cruise to Egmont Key/Shell Island if anyone has any experience with this. We will be traveling with an almost 2 year and a 3.5 year old.

Also, debating a trip to Caladesi Island, is it worth the ferry ride? I was looking at Fort de Soto Park too.

The trip is with my family and my cousin's, so we hope to switch off nights and be able to take a date night.. so any tips for area bar/grille's for a fun time (we like the rowdy crowd) are welcome.

I appreciate any feedback! Thanks

cd

While at Johns Pass, you and the children will enjoy: http://www.thepirateshipatjohnspass.com/ It's a fun trip with free beer and wine for mom and dad and free soft drinks for the kids (we even had refills)

ComeSailWithME

Thanks, I had looked at that and considered it. I was leaning more toward the tropical island getaway to Egmont Key out of Gulfport instead though.

cd

Have While in Clearwater you might want to eat at Frenchy's they have more than one location but we like the one on the beach. It's a wide huge beach but the kids could play and you could watch the sunset. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/30/34205...ill-Clearwater

ComeSailWithME

Thanks, I had Frenchy's Saltwater Cafe on my list of potential dinner spots the evening we go to see the sunset at pier 60.

happytrailstoyou

On a recent road trip around Florida, we especially enjoyed the time we spent at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Eighty-two miles north of Clearwater, it features a pleasant boat ride and a board walk through outdoor displays of birds and animals native to Florida (except for the hippo).

We also went to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park which was a much less well organized place.

What we heard about Cedar Key tempted us to go there, but our time was running low so we headed toward St. Augustine.

HTTY

ComeSailWithME

I looked into Weeki Wachee Park but decided 90 minutes in the car each way was too much, since we are driving 2 hours to do Disney the one day. We hope to spend the rest of our time within the area.

nlg

Ft. Desoto Park is beautiful. There is also a small playground and picnic tables.

ComeSailWithME

Thanks, nlg. I was considering that vs Caladesi Island since it would be less traveling to get there. How is the shelling and nature trails there? What kind of animals do you see?

gmoney

We go to Treasure Island often and our favorite thing to do is rent a boat and go to Shell island, explore the intracoastal, cruise through John's pass (stopping at the sand bar) and then run out into the gulf for a bit (must have a deck boat for this as pontoons cannot go into the gulf).

Favorite restaurant is the Sloppy Pelican in SPB.

ComeSailWithME

Thanks for the response, gmoney! We are going to do the 1/2 day cruise out of Gulfport to Egmont Key/Shell Island. We considered renting a boat, but decided it might be too much for the kids. I grew up spending my summer vacations in Sarasota and deep sea fishing/cruising in the Gulf. My godfather had a huge boat and I have fond memories of dolphins come right up to the boat for us to pet. Many when the kids get older.

Sloppy Pelican is on my list of potential restaurants, I will make sure to highlight it.. thanks!

tarfan24

We always enjoy tarpon springs. Old Greek community, several Greek restaurants around, kind of a kitschy, tourist place but we like it.

ComeSailWithME

tarfan24, I grew up going to Captain Jack's in Tarpon Springs!! My uncle used to drive the boat there. We looked into going buy it's a little too far for just dinner.