St. Pete Beach Florida Vacation
Feb 18th, 2006, 09:01 AM
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St. Pete Beach Florida Vacation
We just booked a trip to St. Pete's beach on a whim. We needed a quick vacation. Flights were cheap and we booked a hotel on Priceline (Sirata Beach Resort). We've never been to St. Petersburg but we have been to Clearwater Beach before. We're only going for 5 days so we want to lay on the beach, find a few restaurants/bars on the water and relax. Is there anything close to where we are staying? We will have a rental car but would also like suggestions for walking distance places in case we're tipsy. Any suggestions you have would be helpful. By the way it's 5 degrees here in Chicago. Thanks in advance! HB
Feb 18th, 2006, 10:21 AM
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There arelots of beach front restaurants and bars in St Pete. We've never had to drive while there. There is a shuttle bus that goes up and dfown the beach and you can pay a flat rate and come and go as you please. It's one of my favorite Florida locales for just chilling out. Not any beauty, as in vegetation, etc, but some fun seafood places, calm water for swimming (usually) and a great airport which runs efficiently.
Feb 18th, 2006, 02:51 PM
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I'm not sure what Linda means by "not any beauty" but I guess she means it's very developed and there is little natural vegetation. Well, frankly, there wasn't much there before, just lots of sand.
You will be very near the Swigwam which is a fun funky place, made out of driftwood. It's at the back of a hotel that has a "Shells" restaurant (you will see Shells from the street, a Holiday Inn maybe?). YOu can order food from Shells and they'll bring it back to the bar and you can eat outside. There are two other bars with music next to these (Ricky Kay's?).
If you're driving then the best beach bar with live music is on Treasure Island at Sunset Beach, called the Ka'Tiki. And Caddy's is also fun, just across the street. TI is the next island north of St. Pete (the natives get aggitated if you call it st. pete's). There are a few restaurants on the waterfront Gulf-side just off Corey Avenue which is the main street in tiny downtown St. Pete Beach -- Woody's is one, I can't remember the names of the others. Leverock's is on the bay-side but I heard it's falling to condos.
A few good spots for on-the-water dining: Groupers, Sea Critters. We are losing more and more places to condos, sadly.
You will be very near the Swigwam which is a fun funky place, made out of driftwood. It's at the back of a hotel that has a "Shells" restaurant (you will see Shells from the street, a Holiday Inn maybe?). YOu can order food from Shells and they'll bring it back to the bar and you can eat outside. There are two other bars with music next to these (Ricky Kay's?).
If you're driving then the best beach bar with live music is on Treasure Island at Sunset Beach, called the Ka'Tiki. And Caddy's is also fun, just across the street. TI is the next island north of St. Pete (the natives get aggitated if you call it st. pete's). There are a few restaurants on the waterfront Gulf-side just off Corey Avenue which is the main street in tiny downtown St. Pete Beach -- Woody's is one, I can't remember the names of the others. Leverock's is on the bay-side but I heard it's falling to condos.
A few good spots for on-the-water dining: Groupers, Sea Critters. We are losing more and more places to condos, sadly.
Feb 18th, 2006, 02:53 PM
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BTW, it's unseasonable warm right now. Like summer weather! I don't know what's going on but it is just gorgeous!
When you're in St. Pete you should go to the Salvador Dali Museum. And spent a little time in downtown St. Petersburg which is on Tampa Bay. It is very cool, art galleries, antiquing, museums, restaurants. Z Grille is good downtown.
When you're in St. Pete you should go to the Salvador Dali Museum. And spent a little time in downtown St. Petersburg which is on Tampa Bay. It is very cool, art galleries, antiquing, museums, restaurants. Z Grille is good downtown.
Mar 4th, 2006, 05:02 AM
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We just recently stayed at the Sirata and have to tell you it was pretty dingy particularly for the price we paid. I know many Florida beach side resorts get away w/ old rooms for high prices but some of the rooms were ridiculous. We were there for a wedding. My aunt and uncle had a room w/ a pull out bed, their plumbing didn't work and there were ashes in their coffee pot. Our room was just dingy and we paid $200/night. The service was fairly prompt whenever we needed something at our hotel room. Food was below average. The only good thing was the pool and beach bar so if you don't plan on staying in the room much you should be fine. We have a new baby so didn't have much of a choice.
Mar 4th, 2006, 05:49 AM
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i used to go a couple of times a year
mom had a condo on tierre verde
there is a beautiful state park at the end of tierre verde - ft desoto if i recall correctly-and glorious homes to see- and around the corner- the don cesar- where i would stay were i you- the darling nearby neighbohood of passegrill- then in st pete- sponge docks and yborcity and so much to do and neato shops and good food- you can go out on a dingy from tierre verde on the intercoastal to shell island- and the dali museum- wow- to stand in front of his huge paintings-- have fun! (nows the time to head down before it gets any warmer- generally id go in late fall and winter)
mom had a condo on tierre verde
there is a beautiful state park at the end of tierre verde - ft desoto if i recall correctly-and glorious homes to see- and around the corner- the don cesar- where i would stay were i you- the darling nearby neighbohood of passegrill- then in st pete- sponge docks and yborcity and so much to do and neato shops and good food- you can go out on a dingy from tierre verde on the intercoastal to shell island- and the dali museum- wow- to stand in front of his huge paintings-- have fun! (nows the time to head down before it gets any warmer- generally id go in late fall and winter)
