st pete beach
 

we are heading for st pete beach late october. will it still be warm enough for snorkelling? is the water there clear enough? what else is there to do there? we like sport fishing and just playing at the beach. we'll have a car so driving to better places is not a problem. staying at the tradewinds sandpiper...please tell me it's better than some of the reviews i've read! thanks in adavance! =)

The Tradewinds feels sort of like a comfortable old shoe. A bit worn in but none the worse for the wear. It's not all new and shiney but it still has some compelling moments and the beach is really nice there.

These are clear sand beaches and you might be able to come face to face with some little bait fish, you might be able to snorkel along the shore and see seashells buried in the sand, and there could be a horseshoe crab or ray in the water. But mostly it's just sand. The water should be fairly clear along the shore but is clouded by the waves, the weather.
You can rent a wave runner or a bicycle. Buy a kite. There are quite a few places to walk to. Head south to Passe-a-grill to eat at bayside and gulfside restaurants, all good. Head north to downtown St. Pete Beach, there's an alternative movie house (Beach Theatre), Corey Avenue old town shops. Head further south to Treasure Island, go to the VIP lounge for a drink and Mexican food at the bar. Stop by the Shake Shack for ice cream. Play goofie golf. There's a trolley that goes all along the Gulf beaches. Drive to Clearwater one night to enjoy the activities at the pier at Sunset, stop by Keegan's or Guppie's for dinner. Or if you want to go upscale, try the Island Way Grill. Go to downtown St. Petersburg for antiques, shopping, the Dali museum. Have an outdoor burger at the Chattaway. Go to Sunken Gardens. Try kayaking at Wheedon Island, or go to a canoe outpost on one of the five rivers that empty into Tampa Bay. Head to Tampa and visit historic Ybor City.

And most important, watch a sunset, and sip a cold one. Relax. Unwind. Enjoy...

thanks t_girl. we'll have our 11 yr old daughter along so that prly rules out mexican food and museums. the kite idea is great! as is the relaxing and having cold ones at sunset. mmmm can't wait. =)

There is a large blow-up slide on the beach there. Some have complained it is expensive but check into all day passes and let her do it for a day. Might be cheaper. She'll like all the funky beach shops. Larry's Ice Cream is yummy. Best pizza is Alberico's (delivery only).

This is the BEST beach for teens. She'll have plenty of others to share it with.

TGirl has great ideas, doesn't she?

Speaking of kites, every Saturday afternoon there's an informal kite get-together on Treasure Island's beach, just a couple of miles north of your hotel. You can park at the municipal parking lot on 104th avenue, beachfront. The same beach has a "drum circle" on Sunday evenings before sunset...kind of a hippie family thing, bring something percussion if you like!

Enjoy that sunset cold one at a trio of watefront bars: Woody's, Philthy Phil's, and Ferg's (not sure if that last name is right), all located at the north end of St. Pete Beach, at 75th Avenue. Have a great time!

i can't believe we still have to wait a month to do all these great things. just the name treasure island suggests an air of excitement. i don't know why so many people complain about places and prices...it's vacation after all, time to just enjoy and relax. beach resorts especially. any input on the trolley? is that easier than driving to the other beaches?

Check it out:
http://www.psta.net/beachtrolley.htm

I've never taken it but I've always wanted to try it. They use busses that are painted beachy and funky. Traffic on Gulf Blvd. can be a bear during the season, so it will most likely be slow. The trolley will be slower for sure with all the stops it would make. At one time, you had to change routes in Clearwater, which is another county, but I think they've worked out those kinks.