Good music venues? Recommended restaurants? Thank you in advance!

What kind of music do you like? Palladium and the Mahaffey have concerts. Jannus Live has world class talent, generally geared for a younger crowd. Vinoy Park is the scene for outdoors concert throughout the year (e.g.blues fest, reggae fest).. Regular free music at the Ale and the Witch, a downtown bar with outside courtyard seating. All of these are downtown locations not the beach.

Same thing with restaurants. There are all kinds. Beach or downtown?

Thanks, we'll be staying at the beach. That info is very helpful.

My husband and I always visit Skippers Smokehouse when in the Tampa area. Fun music venue .

Head down to Pass-a-Grille for at least an afternoon, for a very different type of beach destination. If nothing else, eat breakfast or lunch at the Sea Horse.

There should be live music at the beachfront Paradise Grill in the afternoons/ evenings.

In St. Pete, pretend you're taking a side trip to Paris and have breakfast or lunch at the Cafe Soleil -
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...h_Florida.html

There’s more to do in St Petersburg than just head to the beach. We’ve compiled a list of free and paid things to do in the city.
ST. PETERSBURG SATURDAY MORNING MARKET
The market, which is located in Al Lang parking lot, has about 200 registered vendors that sell everything from seafood to pastries. They are open every Saturday from October to May.Enjoy fishing or sightseeing on the longest fishing pier in the world! When the middle of the bridge was demolished, the concrete and steel rubble was strategically placed to form artificial reefs along both piers and offshore. Pack a picnic and enjoy magnificent sunrises and beautiful sunsets from the pier, which is open 24 hours to the public.
MAZZARO ITALIAN MARKET
This is an incredible indoor market where you can find anything from fresh roasted coffee to handmade pasta. Stop by before you head to the beach to grab yourself an unforgettable meal.
3 DAUGHTERS BREWING
This is not your average Brewery! Check out their events page to discover what’s going on when you're in town. From Yoga to live music, this is not a place you want to miss.
DOO’S AMAZING TOURS - SEGWAY TOUR
Head out with this Historic Segway tour. You’ll explore 3 miles of the historic city and 5 miles of waterfront. The tour also includes free admission to the Museum of History. Turn your ticket price into an afternoon of learning about the city’s past.
THIRSTY PELICAN TOURS
Have the booze cruise bus pick you up at your hotel. Opt-in for the $85 package that covers premium pints & flights. You’ll get to explore three breweries on this trip. With 75 local establishments to choose from, you can guarantee you won’t see the same brewery in a weeks time, so feel free to head out twice while you're on vacation.
FLORIDA ORANGE GROVES WINERY
While most wineries make their products from grapes, the Shook family turned to other fruits. Starting in 1991, they began fermenting batches of juice from mangoes, red raspberries, limes, and oranges. This wine tasting will have your taste buds exploding.
BEST PRO KITEBOARDING CENTER
Kiteboarding is a thrilling sport, whether it’s your first time or you’re a pro. Group lessons are a great way to get out into the water and test it out. All lessons are customized to fit the needs of the group.
WATERMONKEY
Get out on the beautiful waters of St. Pete and take a stand up paddleboard lesson. If you’re a first timer this lesson will take you through how to stand on the board, paddling techniques and how to maneuver out on the water.
ST. PETE BEACH BANANA BOAT RIDE
Head out on a banana boat that holds up to six people. You’ll have tons of fun on a ride tailored to your group. Have your captain pick up the speed or enjoy a nice cruise, taking in the views of St. Pete Beach.
SAND DOLLAR ISLAND DOLPHIN TOUR
With a maximum of 15 passengers, this has the ability to be a perfect, intimate tour. The boat beaches itself on a half mile sandbar between Fort De Soto and Shell Island. On the island keep your eyes peeled for shells and sand dollars. Enjoy a swim or just relax on the sandy beach with a picnic.
FLORIDA TIKI TOURS
Grab your cooler and climb aboard your own private island. Take a relaxing tour around the Johns Pass and Boca Ciega Bay area on a Hawaiian style Tiki Hut boat with you and 5 of your friends. Don’t worry, this boat comes with an experienced captain.
DOLPHIN RACER SPEED BOAT
Take a high-speed adventure across the Gulf of Mexico. Keep an eye on the back of the boat for bottlenose dolphins playing in the surf and diving along the side of the boat. Next, relax and take in the scenery as the tour finishes with a narrated island cruise.
MINI SPEEDBOAT GULF TOUR IN ST. PETERSBURG
On this guided narrated tour with a twist, you are the captain of your own speedboat. Follow your trained and knowledgeable guides to experience 13 miles of St Pete Beach. View the beautiful Florida coast, including national wildlife refuges and the sunshine skyway bridge.
EVENING YACHT CRUISE WITH OPTIONAL DINING FROM ST. PETERSBURG BEACH
Get ready for a dazzling dinner and night out! Enjoy a cruise on smooth inland waters, departing from St. Petersburg Beach, with musical entertainment and options to purchase dinner and beverages onboard this classy yacht.
SUNDAY MUSIC CRUISE WITH OPTIONAL DINING FROM ST. PETERSBURG BEACH
Get tickets for a delicious Sunday cruise, including a DJ and dancing on this sightseeing tour along the inland waterways from St. Petersburg. Enjoy two hours of listening and dancing to your favorite music and the option to purchase luncheon items and full bar beverages onboard

Nice comprehensive list, Bubba, especially since you listed favorites of ours like the Saturday Morning Market and Mazzaro’s. But you forgot a few things in downtown St. Pete:

Museums: Dali (best Salvador Dali museum in the world including the one in his hometown in Spain) and the newish James Western Art Museum.

And there’s also the Museum of Fine Arts, the Imagine Museum, the Holocaust Museum, Chihuly Glass, and the Museum of American Arts and Crafts (coming soon) and a ton more smaller places (from local artists to the largest collection of autographed baseballs anywhere).

Tropicana Field: Can’t get tickets to Yankees or Red Sox games. You can in St. Pete, home of the Tampa (actually St. Petersburg) Rays. Normally deserted stands can sometimes yield $5 tickets.

Events: Watch for them: Music of all kinds including annual blues fest and reggae fest, many in the beautiful waterfront Vinoy Park; the St. Pete Grand Prix, the annual opening act for the Indy car racing season, in March and a really popular triathlon

Coming soon. The reincarnation of the famous St. Petersburg Pier, which will probably be the biggest attraction in the area once open. They are hoping to re-open sometime during next winter season.

Last minute not always a good option. But last year, we saw the Yankees a couple times, and we usually shoot for $20 seats, usually a couple days ahead of tim. This year we had front row outfield twice for the Dodgers for $15 each. And we could have gotten tickets to the Twins from 7/11 for $7.11 (plus the usual ticket fees). We are away for the month, but our daughter got tickets to two Angels games the last couple days at $5 each, and the 5,000 tickets allocated for that promotion did not sell out. And, the Rays themselves are even with the Yankees at this point.

I would also recommend Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa. A fun place that is super casual.