St Pete natives, I need advice please
 

My family of 6 (kids 2, 5, 5, and 19) will spend Feb in St. Pete again this year (as luck would have it my husband has business to do there and we are making a family vacation out of it).

We had so much fun last year and would love to hear from St Pete natives about some of their favorite places to go with or without young kids.


For the kids: What are your favorite parks, playgrounds, attractions, etc. Are there any children's theaters around? Can you get tickets for the Lightening on the same day?

For my husband and me: Any restaurant or bar reccomendations? Should we go to Busch Gardens? We didn't spend any time in Tampa last year, should we explore?

Last year we got a great reccomendation for Billy's on Cabbage Key and will definately return there.

Thanks so much.

Anyone?

I would highly recommend a day at Busch Gardens. It is a fun family outing. I would plan an entire day for this if I were you. Also, check Tampa's MOSI and see if they have anything that would interest your children. We get resident passes and always enjoy both. Have fun on your February vacation.

Thanks highbay. We will definately visit MOSI. Do you know of any local parks/playgrounds that are worth going out of our way to visit?

If you are looking for big parks with added attractions like Coney Island, there aren't any. But there is a great county park, very large, nice lake, lots of trees and picnic tables and pavilions, and lots of room for kids to roam and play. It's the county (or city) park -- sorry I can't remember which-- that is just off Park Boulevard in Seminole (which is just more or less a continuation of St. Pete). That's the nices, biggest, family park I know about in this area.

MOSI is a good spot to visit, especially for the kids. And Busch Gardens has improved significantly over the years. For you and your husband, Ybor City is a hot spot for night life, but I personally don't like it a lot. The "restaurant row" on Howard Avenue in Tampa is full of all kinds of restaurants (probably 20-25 of them) and you can find one you'll like. St. Pete Beach is great for beaching it, as you probably already know. If you haven't visited the village of Pass-a-Grille on the south tip of St. Pete Beach and gone to the beach or eaten a grouper sandwich at the famous Hurricane restaurant, you gotta do that. Have fun.

Wayne: Thanks for the suggestios. I really appreciate the thoughts. We'll chack them out.

ps, by parks, I do mean natural, family parks not theme parks.

The park spoken about is Seminole Lake Park on Park Blvd. Also on your way, but before the park and after past 66th Street in Pinellas Park, is the Wagon Wheel Flea Market on your right hand side, open Saturdays and Sundays from 8-4. Huge place, lots of food and things to buy!

Also, if you and your family have never been to Ft. DeSoto Park, it's a must see. You take I-275 south to the Pinellas Bayway/54th Ave. S. Exit, but stay to your right as it forks into two exits. Once you get on the Bayway, there is a small toll. Continue until you come to another large intersection, and there you will turn left. You will see signs for Ft. DeSoto Park. You go through Tierra Verde and continue into the Park, where there is a small fee. It is one of the most beautiful beaches around. Once you get into the park you will come to a T, and you turn right. There is a fort, which kids will enjoy, bike/skating trail, beach, playgrounds, pavillions w/grills, etc. There is also a family picnic area which is wooded on your right on the main road, also on the water. You can get there EARLY to get the best spot w/grill and glider to sit and relax on overlooking the water, and cook out lunch, very peaceful, and you can go walking through the woods with the kids, and possibly see dolphin too in the water.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

Linda in St. Pete
[email protected]

Is it OK for non-natives to repond? I'll give it a shot (Tampa res. here). Lucky you, first of all, because you will not believe how much St. Pete is changing. Even from a year ago when you were last there. If you liked it then, you'll love it now.

The biggest thing going right now in SP is Sunken Gardens, an old tourist attraction that's been bought by the city and up-dated. You will love it and especially with kids. They will like the dense thick fauna, swampy natural vegetation. It will keep them moving, occupied and wide-eyed. They just put in a few restaurants next door so count on doing lunch. If you want something more "real" skip the restaurant there and ask someone to direct you to either the Chattaway (outdoor oldtime burger joint) or the Coney Island Hot Dog Joint (you and your wallet will feel like you stepped into the past). If you and your kids like books, afterward make a trip to Haslam's bookstore, one of the largest and oldest in the country.

Visit St. Pete's downtown BayWalk, a retro mediterranean village with hip shops and movies. Take the kids to the SP Pier downtown, ride the trolley from the parking lot. There's also a childrens museum not too far from there, can't remember the name, it's OK, worth the price, fun for kids.

Go to Treasure Island and do some goofy golf. Disney can't do Florida like Treasure Island does it. There is a huge game room that you can't miss there on Gulf Blvd. -- murals on its outer walls (take a LT if you're taking the TI Causeway via Central Ave. from SP). Stop at the Shake Shop on TI on your way to John's Pass (opposite direction) where you can just walk around in a driftwood beach shack environment -- Red Skelton has a gallery of his paintings there (not sure if this would interest the kids...). There's a Candy Shop that I've heard is fabulous on Madiera Beach, see if someone can tell you where it is. Go to Dockside Dave's for lunch (it's gotten pricey but let the kids share burgers, they're huge). If your kids have never been deep sea fishing, take a charter boat with all the other tourists. You have to do it once.

Downtown Tampa has an Aquarium that the kids will love (very cool huge glass and metal building in the shape of a shell), it's near the St. Pete Times Forum where the Lightning play (I would imagine you can get tickets to the Lightning same day, they play many many games -- pick a day during the week not wknd). Make a day of it. Get lunch in Ybor City around the bend -- go to Carmines or Tropicana for a real Cuban experience (noisy enough for a boisterous 2yo). Or take in Game Works in Ybor City, get the kids passes then prop yourself at the bar while the kids go crazy and you watch. There's a trolley that goes from Ybor into downtown, you could take it to the Aquarium. Very very cheap parking in Ybor, look for the city parking garage (p.s. you don't want to take the kids to Ybor after dark).

MOSI is great for the kids. It's out by the University of South Florida in the north side of town. Lots to do there, IMAX, science, fun for them. Reasonable admission.

Take in Ft. Desoto Park in the southernmost beach area in St. Petersburg. Bring a picnic lunch. You could easily stay all day, be sure to visit the old fort.

Go to the beach -- Treasure Island is nice. Big wide beach...shells!

Lowry Park in Tampa has a manatee exhibit with real manatees, if you can't go see them in "the wild". This is a nice park. It's on your way to Busch Gardens, and very reasonable. Keep going after you've checked out the manatees to Busch Gardens (they don't have manatees there). BG is a great park, especially good when it's warm so if you think you'll have a warmer day, pick it for BG. There are water rides where it is more fun if you can get wet and not worry about it. I just saw in the paper that BG has a Riverdance type production going on in its theater. Yes, theatre!!! BG has a number of entertaining shows going on all day long, some song and dance, some nature shows with animals, some circus acts. Be sure to note the entertainment schedule when you pick up your ticket. Then plan your day in accordance with what shows you want to see. You'll be quite impressed with the caliber of entertainment -- Busch knows how to entertain. Very un-Disney, really good. And the animals -- this is a world class zoo -- take the monorail through the African-inspired veldt. You will want to spend an entire day there, so maybe you should do Lowry Park another day. Past BG on Busch Blvd, Mel's Hot Dogs -- you'll love it. Good food, cheap food, kid food (but mom will enjoy it too).

If it is a little chilly then don't despair -- make a trip to the Tampa Electric Company Big Bend Manatee Viewing Center (from SP, this is a 40 minute jaunt, at least). There's a large dock for tourists to walk onto, hear an on-going audio piped in about the endangered species, and lo and behold, see a manatee. In fact, many manatees. And there is an indoor center with education video and displays.

Not willing to make the trip across the bay to Tampa? Take in Wheedon Island park near the SP side of the Gandy Bridge. I can't remember the name but my favorite park has a Red Leaf Maple forest in the middle of a swamp filled with ferns, frogs, birds, and a 3-story birding tower (off I-275, somewhere near 34th -- you'll need directions, it's hard to find). Maybe some of the parks' folks can tell you what the name is, how to get there.

Rent some jet skis on TI. Get two and let the 19yo ride one, you on the other and the kids akimbo. It's a breeze (but be VERY careful). Not cheap but you won't want to do more than an hour.

Last but least, have fun!!!

tandoori_girl and all the other helpful Fodorites: I just returned from St. Pete and we had a great time. We left on the 24th of Jan., so unfortunately I didn't get your email until our return. But, WOW, I really appreciate all of your information. And we'll be going back next year, so I'll be sure to check out everything that you suggested that we didn't get to.

We did check out quite a few of your suggestions and you are right on the mark with your 'reviews'.

We spent time at Baywalk and The Pier. The kids especially love the Pier for feeding the pelicans, checking out the small aquarium, visiting the Bounty and riding the elevator to each floor to check out the view.

My husband and I liked eating at Dan Marino's. The tuna and nut crusted Mahi were super.

We went to the children's museum, Great Explorations. it is now right next to Sunken Gardens. It is a nice place and fun for the kids, but they enjoyed Kid City in Tampa so much much more. We never made it into Sunken Gardens.

We spent a few days in Treasure Island playing mini golf, visiting the Fun Center (arcade), shelling, swimming, and walking on the beach.

We all enjoyed the Florida aquarium. My 19 yr old liked walking around Ybor City.

We went to Fort DeSoto which is beautiful dispite our run in with a few scary looking racoons.

We took the shuttle boat to Shell Island and found lots of Sand Dollars.


Some other highlights:

Watching the Kids and Kubs, over 75 years old, Baseball team practice and play at North Shore Park, just north of The Vinoy. There is also a great playground and a Bay front sidewalk which all the kids loved.

Fishing in the Bay for Flounder and Ladyfish.

Riding the Trolley up and down Gulf Blvd.

Pretending we were guests and spending the day at 'the pink hotel' - The Don CeSar. The grounds, the pools and the beach there are so pretty. After spending over $100 on lunch and a few drinks, I didn't feel too guilty about using their pool and towels.

Buying local produce at the Sat. morning Farmers Market and then going to our rental home and having a 'picnic'.

We spent a day in Gulfport. There is a nice bayfront beach and playground and it is a cute neighborhood to walk around.

Next year we are sure to continue exploring and discovering St. Pete. We will definately visit Wheedon Island Park, the Power Co Manatee Park, Lowry Park, MOSI, Busch Gardens and all the restaurants you have recommended.

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions and gave reccomendations.

And to all you future St. Pete travelers: have fun, it is a fabulous and awesome city.




And finally: What happened to the Grand Prix of St. Pete this year?

The locals hate that noisy Grand Prix. I thought they got rid of it a couple of years ago. So that me be where it went.

Where is Kid City? You mean that little miniature downtown at Lowry Park?

Post next year, McSmith -- I'm sure we'll have some better recs for you then. St. Pete keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?