Going to stay on St Pete beach second week of October, does anybody know of any good daytrips to make from here. We have two children aged 16 and 8.
thanks

Tampa:

-Busch Gardens
-Lowry Park Zoo
-Florida Aquarium

St Pete/Clearwater:

-Salvador Dali Museum
-The Pier (downtown St. Pete)
-John's Pass Marina or
Clearwater Marina (parasailing, dolphin watching trips etc)
-Shuttle to Shell Key (from Pass-a-Grille)
-Screamer (high speed but LOUD) boat ride
-Capt Memo's Pirate Cruise (CWB marina)

Longer side trips:

-Sarasota: Mote Marine Aquarium, Ringling Museum, St. Armands Circle shopping, pretty beaches

-Tarpon Springs

Dali Museum, though terrific, probably wouldn't be much fun for your 8 year old, but most of the others appeal across all your age groups. 'Course,the big activity is beach, beach, and more beach. October should be beautiful with a break, finally, in the summer's oppresive heat and humidity, and less rain than we have May through September.

thanks for your reply - which beaches do you recommend?? Also are there any
water parks around??

Olive Oyl just gave you excellent and thorough advice. Busch Gardens has a water park called Adventure Island. I've never been, but Busch Gardens is a top notch theme park so their water park is probably fine too. My parents live in Indian Rocks Beach which is just South of Clearwater Beach. I love that area. We always see dolphins and the beach is wide and clean, although a bit shelly. Have fun!

If you don't mind a long and full day, go to Disney World.

We often stay on St. Pete Beach (at the Bon-Aire) and occasionally make the trip over to Orlando, leaving about 7 a.m. or so, and getting back by 9 or 10 p.m.

Paul,
I think CWB, just north of Pier 60 (where hwy 60 hits the water in CWB) is the prettiest in the area. It's broad, with fine white sand, but I sure wouldn't make the drive up from SPB just to see it. It's not far distance-wise, but the traffic and red lights can make it a frustrating trip.

Two local beaches are consistently named in the list of best beaches in the US. One is Caladesi Island, no longer an island and accessible by walking north from CWB for about 2 miles. It's a pretty walk as you leave houses behind and are just among dunes and water, but may be a bit much for your 8 yr old.

Closer to SPB and accessible by car is Ft Desoto Beach. I believe both find their way into the list because they are the only two undeveloped beaches in the area. That means...no shops, no restaurants, no nothing. Just beach, and actually as far as sand quality, CWB is better than Ft Desoto, IMHO.

Beaches: Fort Desota Park (even has a historic Fort) is great along with Sand Key County Park. Some of the best beaches are in St. Pete's beach. Are you staying on the water?
Busch Gardens is great. No need to go all the way to Orlando just for the day. Plenty to do there.
Make sure to take a trip to the Pier. Your 8 year old would enjoy the children's museum there and there is a look out on the top. Great place for lunch.

thanks to everyone for their replies, that has given us lots to think about, a week dosent look like it will be enough, we will print the replies off and take with us.