Mark

I will be traveling to Tampa in Late February for a Buffett concert. The concert is at the Ice Palace on a Thursday night. We will probaly stay the weekend. Is there a hotel that would be good for this that is close to the Ice Palace and a good place for nightlife and weekend activities in Tampa. Never been there before so any info is appreciated. Thanks, Mark from Colorado

Leone

What do you like to do? If it's dancing, I'd suggest the beach scene in Tresure Island and St. Pete Beach. And you can always catch the sunset while you have a drink or two on Gulf Blvd. - try Ricky T's place near 107th Avenue in TI. Or try a few bars on Sunset Beach - strictly for the under-30 crowd. Or down at Passe-Grille on the beach. For dinner on the Gulf, you cannot beat the Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores (you'll need to phone for a reservation.) Nice area, so have a good time. Ciao

Sal

FYI, parking is tight for the Ice Palace. Buffet did this concert there last year and many people got there early and tail-gated. It was a low-key crowd (of course!)and a fun way to start out the evening.

tampa mom

there is the Marriott Waterside Hotel by the Ice Palace..Hyatt...Wyndham.........Radisson..all close..nightlife in Ybor City is close(new orleans style) and I think there`s a Holiday Inn there..there is Newk`s Bar and Grill and the Outpost B&G across from Ice Palace...I know Newk`s has party for parrotheads..check travelocity.com for hotel info and call and make your own reservations before there isn`t any..too cold for the beach anyway..ybor is the Hilton Garden Inn .. radisson is the riverwalk..Ybor City has any intertainment you can think of..I`m just a Parrothead in paradise too..fins up!

CMcDaniel

As the "Tampa Mom" says, the Marriott Waterside is the closest hotel to the Ice Palace, but Wyndham Harbor Island and the downtown Hyatt aren't far off either.

Frankly, if it were me coming in to Tampa from almost anyplace else, I'd head to the beaches to stay, rather than downtown. True, the water is way too cold to swim, but maybe, just maybe, we've cast off our extraordinarily cold (thus far) winter. The beaches are beautiful (St. Pete Beach up to Clearwater) and I'd take that any day over downtown! Air temp is currently 72 at 5 PM...pretty nice..

Our favorite weekend hangout after a day on the water, Woody's Waterfront at Blind Pass, near Upham Beach. Live music on the weekends. If you like Buffett, you'll like the guy that sings there as well. Sit outside, enjoy the music from their patio, a great sunset, and super water views. Also you might enjoy the Hurricane at Pass-a-Grille. Make reservations early, whichever location you select.

CMcDaniel

Re-reading my note, I should clarify that the reservations I was referring to that should be made "early" were not for Woody's or the Hurricane, but for the hotels. I'm sure you'd make Woody's day though, if you called and asked for a reservation! gt;

M

Woody's at Blind Pass sounds like a good candidate for the next visit down - terrific little street there, along the Pass, if I'm remembering right, with the view across the water to Sunset, I believe. C