So many beaches, so little time. which do i pick? Looking at gulf coast beaches near Tampa/St. Pete for a long weekend. Which is good for a family with teenage boys. we'll want access to shops, restaurants, when we're not at the beach. An area safe enuf, but with enuf activity where the kids can roam on their own. What are the "personalities" of each of these areas. Thanking you in advance for your help.

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St. pete beach is the best area, great beaches. can walk

They are all close together. I would probably choose St Pete's with teens although we stayed on Treasure Island so cannot recommend a hotel. However, just type in ST Pete above and you will get ton's of info.

Hi Rachel. I have a son who is 15. I love TI but he claims all the kids his age go to St. Pete Beach. I've seen plenty of kids his age at both beaches but now I can't get him to go to TI, even though they area soooo close to each other. A lot of his friends stay in SP at either the Tradewinds or the Alden resorts. Either of these beaches are safe. As for their personalities, they are very similar but SP has more upscale resort-sized hotels. There is a shopping center on SPB and an older quaint "downtown" area that they won't care about but you might like. The grocery store on TI is not my fave so I go to the one on the road btwn. TI and SPB. As for what the boys will like, there is a video arcade on TI that is very popular, next to the TOPPS grocery store (you can't miss it). And on Blind Pass Road at the corner as you head towards TI, there is a place to rent bikes and an older video arcade. All the kid love the older arcade because it has some recent games but many of the older games that you can't find anymore -- it's like a retro arcade and the price is cheaper than the TI one. Also, there are a couple of ice cream places at both locations. Larry's for one on SPB, and another place across the street from Larry's that looks like a huge ice cream shop. On TI, there's the Snack Shop, which is just OK, but further north on the opposite side of the street is another place that is really great, you will see the line.

Consider renting a sea-doo waverider. The boys will enjoy them. Make sure they stay on the calm bayside where they won't drive all the swimmers crazy and where they will be safer.

Thanks for the good info Tandoori Girl. We've decided to stay in St. Pete Beach and to accomodate everybody's desires (pool, beach, gym stuff, this/that) we booked at the Holiday Inn. Not my favorite chain, but the price was right! On to getting tickets for a Yanks Spring training game now! My guys will love the wave runner idea-any places better than others for renting them?

I don't know of places to rent on SPB but there is a place where I've rented on Treasure Island which is a short drive north of SPB. The waverunner rental is located near Robby's Pancake House on Gulf Blvd., just past the Thunderbird Hotel (look for the Thunderbird with its huge neon sign on the Gulf side, then once you pass it look for Robby's on your right -- you'll see signs for the waverunner rental).

Let me know what you find out about tkts. to Yankees spring training. I'd heard they were sold out. Lemme know.

I have rented wave runners on the Gulf.

If memory serves, I rented them at Johns Pass which is Treasure Island / Maderia Beach. The boys may also enjoy a fishing trip from there or shopping and eats. Or perhaps para-sailing which we did at Clearwater Beach.

When my husband went to the Yankees website about 3 weeks ago(when the Yanks acquired Randy Johnson), tickets were said to be sold out; when i looked yesterday, it connected me to a ticket master website and it looked like i could buy tickets. I didnt go thru the whole process because we're not sure of the day and i didnt want to get stuck with something. It also looks like a few hotels in Tampa have tickets because they offer packages, including extra tickets. We should be doing the tickets soon, so i'll let you know. another avenue-We've had great success getting Yankees tickets at Yankee Stadium thru ebay, and thats where we'll go if we cant get them elsewhere. We are also considering 1 night in Tampa to get tickets thru a hotel package

Just back from St. Pete's Beach and enjoyed staying at the Don Cesar, however, what's up with the limited elevators!?!?! There were only 2 elevators and it took like 20 minutes to get to the lobby. And how about the toll you have to pay every time you enter or leave St. Pete's Beach area!?!?!? What's up with that?

Gail, I don't know anything about those elevators, but I sure would love to see a trip report!

If that 50 cent toll was too much, you could always use the bridge at the other end of St. Pete Beach - it is free. Often more convenient anyway, depending where you're headed on the mainland. The barrier island bridges can get confusing, but basically they're all free, with the exception of the one you chose ('cause it was right outside your door) and the Treasure Island bridge (slated to go to free in a few years).

P.S. To Rachel: You should be able to rent waverunners or go parasailing right from the beach in front of your hotel - then you won't have to drive around in your wet bathing suits afterward, or waste precious rental time going under the congested bridge to get to the open gulf. TGirl, I think they set aside lanes for waverunners to come and go from the beach there...

Your kids will enjoy SPB - lots to do, but safe enough for them to walk around at night alone. Have a great time.