Hi. I am thinking about taking my family (me, wife and 6 yo) to Tampa Bay in Feb 2003 for 4-5 days. What is the weather like in Feb.? Are there any all-inclusive resorts with on-site beach? Thanks.

Go to Clearwater Beach. Tampa is kind of a scummy big town.

Tampa is ON the bay and not on the gulf of Mexico. For that reason I would prefer to look at Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg Beach, Treasure Island or some of the islands just south of Tampa Bay like Anna Maria Island. You can find some lovely inclusive places to stay around there.

The weather in February is generally very good, nice and sunny, good beach weather BUT on occasion it can get much cooler. March is the prime month here.

I was in Clearwater Beach a few years ago in March and wound up needing a sweater and jeans. Chilly and overcast almost every day that week.

I'd agree that Clearwater Beach is better than Tampa. Isn't the 6 year old going to be disappointed not to be going to Orlando?

We live in Tampa and agree-you would want to stay on the beaches-there is no reason to stay in Tampa. If you want to do Busch Gardens for the 6 yr old you can just do that one day-it is not too far to drive and they do have a good play area for small children. February usually has very good weather but it is not the best swimming weather in the Gulf because the water is pretty cold then (at least for us!) There are a lot of really nice condo rentals that are directly on the beach from Clearwater and southward-a word of warning-Treasure Island has an extremely wide beach in parts and if you are taking a child,toys chairs etc it is a long walk from hotel to water -especially if you go back and forth as we seem to do with the grandchildren. I'm not familiar with any "all-inclusives". Do you want a fancy hotel/resort or a condo? Also, is Feb a must? Early May is much less crowded,better rates and usually more reliable weather

I would recommend the Sheraton located on Sand Key. Right on the beach. Just over the bridge from Clearwater Beach. Good Luck.

Tampa is scummy? pfft

I also recommend Sheraton Sand Key. Another place to look is the Tradewinds at St. Pete Beach - seem very kid friendly.

Thanks for the great advice. The reason we are picking Feb 2003 is because the NYC Board of Education has, in its wisdom, giving all school kids a whole week off in Feb to save energy! Therefore, we need to spend the week with her anyay, so why not as a family vacation? Why not Orlando? The less she knows the btter. And she is happy palying in the sand and in the pool all week long. I prefer if we could hold off until March, but... Is the weather that cold to avoid the beach?

Good choice not to go to Orlando-we have been there during "energy week" and it is very crowded. Even if the beaches are crowded you won't be standing in line.Most of the hotel pools are heated so even if the gulf is too cool for swimming you can swim in the pool and play in the sand.I think the Tradewinds recommendation is a good one-the Sheraton Sand Key is nice and it is quiet there but has a really wide beach-if you want a really wide beach that would be a good place to go-we just like being closer to the water. You might also consider the Adam's Mark or the Hilton on Clearwater Beach-lot's of walk around stuff on Clearwater Beach (both are hi-rise hotels-Tradewinds is lower,more spread out but St Pete is not as "walk"friendly.There is also a Holiday Inn (sunspree?) on Clearwater Beach just before the bridge to Sand Key.
Have a great time!

The Radisson on Sand Key is nice too. It is located across the street from the Sheraton. The Radisson is located on the bay - you have to walk across the street to get to the beach. The Radisson has a very nice pool, too.

as an ex-tampon, I agree Tampa is scummy, unless you consider hooters and strip clubs high class. It has its pockets of nice areas but unfortunately they are usually sepatated by large distances of high crime areas. I would describe Clearwater as a little less scummy, but scummy nonetheless. I would recommend that you go to siesta or longboat key in sarasota (50 miles south of tampa) some of the beaches in St. Pete are nice as well (around the Don Cesar) unless things have changed drastically since 96 i would avoid downtown St. Pete as well.

Dennis, you'll have to come back and visit downtown St Petersburg. You won't recognize it! You left when we arrived, just post riots. Downtown was nothing...no shops, no people, no good restaurants, no reason for going--just a neat and clean, but unpopulated, waterfront area. In comes the BayWalk development...upscale retail, 7 restaurants/bars, Muvico 20, a stadium seating theater, all in a Mediterranean style courtyard complex between 1st and 2nd St and 2nd Ave, THEN, back came the people, and in droves. You would be astounded at what a lively and attractive place downtown has now become, morning, afternoon and evening!

Francis if I were you I would head south of Tampa down to Sanibel/Captiva island or stay in Fort Meyers and go across the bridge. Most of Florida gets crowded in the winter and I just hated the Tampa/St. Petes/ Clearwater area. Further south it seemed a lot calmer. Also for your 6 year old some of the BEST seashell "hunting" is down on Sanibel/Captiva. Yes it can be expensive to stay on Sanibel or Captiva but if your budget does not permit you can stay in Fort Myers just across on the mainland. There is a toll bridge that you take to access the islands. I hope you enjoy Florida.