Tampa / Clearwater - Fun, family-friendly activities?
 

My family, including two daughers ages 9 and 7, will be in the Tampa / Clearwater area for about one day. We are flying into Tampa, and then driving to Orlando to visit Disney World.

Besides going to Clearwater Beach (which we are definitely doing), what are some other interesting, inexpensive things to see or do in the area?

Thanks in advance!
Ryan

If my focus were Clearwater Beach, then I'd opt to drive up the coast to Tarpon Springs (or until the kids got cranky)

Busch Gardens is a popular amusement park located in Tampa if you aren't going to get your fill of theme parks in Orlando. Also probably doesn't fit your parameter of inexpensive.

Big Cat Rescue
Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center
Serengeti Night Safari at Busch Gardens
Florida Aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry
Glazer Children's Museum
Hillsborough River Canoeing/Kayaking

<Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center>
You don't say when your trip will be, but the manatees only show up near the TECO plant in the winter, or whenever the water gets cold enough that the warmer water near the plant attracts them. It's a great spot, though, for rays, too, and free.

As beautiful as Clearwater Beach is, I find it to be expensive and very crowded. I have been there twice in the past 5 years and I am just really not impressed. If you insist on going, make sure to stick around in the evening for sunsets on pier 60 - a daily "Festival" with street preformers and vendor tables along the pier.

If you want to try something else, I highly recommend driving 30 minutes south of Clearwater Beach to Treasure Island.

Spend the afternoon at John's Pass Boardwalk - 2 blocks of cute shopping and sweets stores. On the boardwalk you can take a pirate cruise (check online for coupons), fishing trips, rent waverunners, go on a dolphin cruise, etc. Stop at the boardwalk grille for deep fried oreos and down to Kilwin's for ice cream and fudge.

A few minutes away, in the Beach Bilimar Resort (note, you must park across the street next to CVS) and eat at Sloppy Joe's on the beach for dinner. It has a great view (going during sunset is a great idea) and it is fun for the kids, my 2 year old son and 3.5 year old niece were well behaved. The food is amazing - I recommend the pulled pork eggrolls for an app, blackened fish tacos with a side of rice and beans, cuban sandwich, sloppy joe or taco salad for an entree and save room for the banana cream pie dessert (big enough to split). Happy hour provides $1.50 drafts and $3 amazing margaritas for the adults :)

If you want to stay in John's Pass for dinner, we ate at Sculley's the Hut (walk downstairs from boardwalk) and they had great beer bucket deals and the conch fritters were like I was in St Thomas Paradise Point again. They also have a pier with seating and you can literally watch the dolphins riding the waves right there.

We spent a week in Maderia Beach (5 minutes from Treasure Island) and took a day to drive back and worth to Disney World, just this past June. I absolutely fell in love with the area, it is so cute and so much to do. We drove to Clearwater Beach one night and I was just meh.. not impressed. We had dinner at Frenchy's - the grouper sandwich was good but everything else was mediocre, including the atmosphere since it's actually across the beachwalk from the actual beach. The beach was SOO crowded and the pier was nuts for the pier 60 fest. I am telling you, you will have a better time at John's Pass.

I agree! I stayed on Treasure Island for a week in May and loved John's Pass.

Thanks guys! I didn't know about that festival. Will also research some more on John's Pass / Treasure Island.

Ryan

I second the pirate ship at John's Pass for your kids, we (four adults) took it and really had fun! You might want to check into St Pete's beach also, or Pass A Grill Beach Great Areas!

Any opinions on Caladesi Island?

It was on my list but we never made it there cuz the beach we were on was too nice to drive 45 to another one. Here are my notes on it:

o Departs from Honeymoon Island - $8 park entry
 1 Causeway Boulevard, Dunedin, FL
o Voted #1 beach in the US
o $13/per person, kids free (website has coupon)
o Starting at 10 am, the ferry departs every ½ hour. Trip takes 20 minutes, you can stay up to 4 hours.
o Shelling, nature trails, picnic areas, showers/restrooms, beach chairs/umbrellas, playground. Last boat departs at 4:30 p.m.