We will be at St. Pete Beach over spring break. Besides the beach and Busch Gardens, what other activities would you suggest. We have 3 kids (teens and pre-teen). I've checked some of the spring training sites for baseball and most appear to be sold out for the dates we're there. Any other suggestions? Is the drive over to Sea World worth it, we've done Disney. Also looking for fun dining reccomendations with kids this age.

You all might enjoy a little excursion to Shell Island. It's just a spit of land right off St Pete, reached by the channel, not the Gulf. There's a place on the back side of Pass-a-Grille where you can catch a boat over and back.

If you have a car, it's an easy drive from St Pete to Ft Desoto--voted by Dr Beach the prettiest beach in the US, last year I believe. There's nothing to do there but beach, dunes, some decent shelling...no stores, no shops, no stands for food, but that's the idea of the "most beautiful beach."

There's a large sailboat which I believe leaves from Johns Pass, comes down the Intracoastal, sails around Boca Ciega Bay then back up, which I think would be fun. Our boat is on Boca Ciega and we'd see it usually once a day when we were out. It always has a good crowd. And speaking of John's Pass...it's fun to poke around the shops there too.

How long will you be there? Unless you are there for a good while, I wouldn't make the drive to Sea World. I don't know about your kids, but mine were perfectly content just being at the beach. They grew up in Dallas so water was a novelty in itself.

Thanks for the input. We'll be thre for 5 days, plan to do one at Busch Gardens. Thanks also for the advice on Ft. DeSoto and the beach, I wondered if there was much to do there. I see where Adventure Island waterpark opens in March, wondering what it is like and if a waterpark is worth it with the beach option. also, will the daytime temps be warm enough for a waterpark. Any advice?

We have a 16 yr old son and have been going to the Madeira Beach / St Pete area for years. He says yes to Adventure Island. Also, a favorite is one of the snorkeling tours to Egmont Key. Everyone we've taken there has loved it...from young kids to G-mother. The kids liked a few hours at the greyhound races also (very inexpensive). The first week in April AFTER the pro teams leave spring training the single A teams start up. If you're there at that time, try the Clearwater Threshers or Dunedin Bluejays. There is a little beach bar / restaurant that has all-you-can eat crab legs one night a week that is our teens favorite. Very laid back, karoke, great staff....cannot remember the name? Let you know if i find it. Hope this helps.

I second Ft Desoto. It has wonderful beaches, the Fort and paved trails, where you can rent bikes or the multiperson bikes, to travel around the island.

Also, the St Pete Beach Pier is nice.

Tampa, maybe 45 minutes away, has the Aquarium which is nice. Can't remember is if it's hockey season or Arena Football season too, but you may want to check that out at the St Pete Times Forum.

Sorry it's the St Petersburg Pier in downtown, NOT the St Pete Beach Pier.