Planning FLA trip. The one definite is St. Petersburg, staying at Don Cesars - where to go from here and what to do in the area?
Jan 18th, 2007, 03:33 PM
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Planning FLA trip. The one definite is St. Petersburg, staying at Don Cesars - where to go from here and what to do in the area?
My husband and I want to take a trip to FLA this February. Two years ago, while touring colleges with my son, I stayed at the Don Cesars in St. Petersburg for one night and really liked the area. We wished we could have stayed longer, my son and I, but we had to press on. Now, with a trip coming up, I've proposed to my husband that we stay at the Don 2 or 3 nights, but I'm wondering what there is to do in the area. He's a big boat person, and I know it's a boating community, but I'm not sure if there's a lot of nice restaurants, shopping, or what else might be around to keep us busy during the daytime. (My son and I took a dolphin tour which was fun, but that wouldn't be something my husband would have at the top of his list). We have about 7 nights to spend in FLA. If anyone has suggestions on some kind of itinerary, such as where we might want to start out from, and end up at... we do have a daughter in Orlando we could visit as well during the trip (how long is the drive from Orlando to St. Pete's, 3 hours)? We don't have a strict budget so anything goes. Thanks so much!
Jan 19th, 2007, 03:01 AM
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Central Florida is a great area. WInter Park is very upscale with Park Avenue. This is an area with great restaurants, shops and museums. It is a very European looking quaint place. There is even a scenic boat tour just off the avenue that goes into a chain of lakes. See www.winterpark.org. Also, just north of us (I am in Maitland) there are several state parks, one that even has the manatees come in - Blue Springs Park. This is a whole different and wonderful type of Florida!
Jan 19th, 2007, 02:28 PM
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St Petersburg and the entire Tampa Bay area is full of things to do. The beach is full of activities including day trips to Honeymoon Island, one day cruises, etc. As for restaurants, on the beach there are a few notable, but for truly fine cuisine, you should venture into St.Petersburg.
Take the trolley from the beach and venture into Downtown St. Petersburg, have brunch at the Renaissance Vinoy, visit Baywalk. If you visit Tampa, check out the Aquarium, MOSI, and Lowry Park Zoo. And of course, there is Busch Gardens which is so much more fun as an adult. For more information and to assist with your planning check out these two sites:
www.tbo.com
http://tampabay.citysearch.com/
These will give you the local going ons and links to various activites.
Enjoy your trip!
Take the trolley from the beach and venture into Downtown St. Petersburg, have brunch at the Renaissance Vinoy, visit Baywalk. If you visit Tampa, check out the Aquarium, MOSI, and Lowry Park Zoo. And of course, there is Busch Gardens which is so much more fun as an adult. For more information and to assist with your planning check out these two sites:
www.tbo.com
http://tampabay.citysearch.com/
These will give you the local going ons and links to various activites.
Enjoy your trip!
Jan 19th, 2007, 05:18 PM
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Thank you so much for your advice and for your tips! It's interesting you mentioned Winter Park! Our daughter goes to school at Rollins, and we do love Winter Park. (I heard Mount Dora's a nice place to visit... we hopefully will get a chance to visit Mount Dora - any recommendations for this area)? I was looking into the Renaissance Vinoy, it looked like a nice hotel, but I think we are better off at "the Don's" because of the beach, but I was wondering if Downtown St. Petersburg, where the Renaissance is, has more of a walking downtown with a nice boating kind of community... I was also wondering if anyone knew which rooms have better views, the Bay side or the Gulf side? My husband enjoys seeing boats... Blue Springs Park is a wonderful suggestion... I would love to see the manatees! Thank you for the site to assist me with seeing what's going on while we're there - this is all so very helpful! I'll check back!
Jan 20th, 2007, 05:36 AM
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If you are a Rollin's Parent you probably have heard of Leu Gardens? We have many Rollin's parents stay with us and they love this place owned by the City of Orlando. It is truly beautiful!
http://www.leugardens.org/ They are actually having a camellia show today.
http://www.leugardens.org/ They are actually having a camellia show today.
Jan 20th, 2007, 01:07 PM
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I have not heard of Leu Gardens, so this is good to know! We have done the boat tour, which we love, and we went to an old historical home (yellow home on the lake) that has a lot of sculptures, etc., I can't remember the name, but it was a very interesting place. I will have to check out Leu Gardens for sure!
Jan 21st, 2007, 03:08 AM
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If you are staying in the St. Pete area, you could also go over to Apollo Beach south of Tampa to view manatees here:
Tampa Electric Company
Manatee Viewing Center
(open November through April 15)
Apollo Beach, FL
813-228-4289 for an information recording
www.tampaelectric.com/manatee
Check out their Manatee Web Cam!
See the Tampa Bay manatees in SMC's Adopt-A-Manatee program
Tampa Electric Company
Manatee Viewing Center
(open November through April 15)
Apollo Beach, FL
813-228-4289 for an information recording
www.tampaelectric.com/manatee
Check out their Manatee Web Cam!
See the Tampa Bay manatees in SMC's Adopt-A-Manatee program
Jan 21st, 2007, 03:26 AM
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I forgot to tell you from St. Pete Beach, get back on the Pinellas Bayway eastbound (leaving the beach) and follow the signs to get onto I-275 southbound and take it over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge ($1 toll). Then exit off of I-275 onto I-75 northbound and get off at exit 247 (Big Bend Road) to get to the Big Bend power station. Very pretty drive too going over the Skyway, and you can stop at the nice rest areas on either side of the bridge to enjoy the views, etc.
Jan 21st, 2007, 06:49 AM
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Teadrinker, you are right, it's about a three hour drive from St. Pete to Orlando. And St. Petersburg is very walkable downtown with an active boating community. Not sure which hotel you're meaning with your bay view/gulf view question, but if it's the Don, definitely go gulf view. Gorgeous sunsets! The Vinoy couldn't have a gulf view, only a bay view - get a room facing southward and you will enjoy the marina, the pier, and even a small airport a mile away. Both hotels have a similar architecture, one is city/marina, the other is beach (no marina). Both also have very good restaurants. You will need a car if you stay at the Don. Your concierge at either can hook your husband up with some charter fishing ($$$).
Also, ingridshawn gives some great ideas for things to do. (S)he only left out the Dali Museum, a must see.
Also, ingridshawn gives some great ideas for things to do. (S)he only left out the Dali Museum, a must see.
Jan 21st, 2007, 06:52 PM
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I agree that the trip from Orlando to St. Pete COULD take three hours with traffic, but in 18 years of making that drive at least monthly, it rarely took more than two hours. Unless, of course, you're leaving from north or east of Orlando.
