Visting Tampa and Busch Gardens
 

Hello, <BR>We will be visiting the Tampa Bay area in April. We are planning on visitng Busch Gardens as well. What are some of the best beaches in that area also what would be recommended on places to stay? We would like something very nice and family oriented. <BR>Also, what are some other places not to be missed while we are there? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. <BR> <BR>Thank you,

Debbie, <BR> <BR>You'll have to drive to Clearwater or St. Pete to go to the beaches. Either of them are nice, but you're looking at at least an hour drive from the Busch Gardens area of Tampa Bay. As far as accomodations, do you want to stay close to the beach or close to Busch Gardens? Tampa Bay is a big area, so there are a lot of options! Some other things to consider doing would be the Florida Aquarium, or maybe the Museum of Science and Industry which has an Omni Max theatre. Have fun!!

I would definitely visit the acquarium. Although it is not as good as the Monterey Bay Acquarium (at least in my opinion) it is very interesting and kids will love it. You might also want to see the Dali museum. I'm not a huge art fan but when we went on the one hour guided tour they explained the paintings and showed the hidden meanings and drawings in the paintings that made it really interesting. His artwork is a little out there, so it may be more interesting to kids than a gallery of impressionists. The museum of Science and Industry is great. Try the hurricane simulator. It is really close to Busch Gardens if I remember correctly.

Debbie...If you are only planning on spending a day at Busch Gardens and are otherwise planning a beach vacation, then I'd stay at the beach (Clearwater or St Pete) and drive up to Busch the day you want to go. It's sort of a hard drive from Busch to the beach, complicated this year by the round-about that Clearwater Beach has built. I'm predicting monumental traffic jams at that point for spring break. It's already terrible! <BR> <BR>For "very nice" on the beach the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach would be my first choice and that gets you away from the roundabout as well. The beach isn't as broad as Clearwater but still very very nice. Sheraton Sand Key is another "very nice"--it's not in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of Clearwater, but close enough to get anywhere you want with ease (providing you avoid the roundabout :)) Tradewinds (St Pete Beach) is supposed to be very nice too. <BR> <BR>Everyone had great suggestions for other things to do. There's currently a new IMAX movie, Alaska, playing at the Mus of Science (MOSI). The Dali is fantastic and surprisingly interesting even to those who aren't huge art fans. Aquarium great, a nice surprise. You may have had enough zoo type adventures with Busch, but there's a zoo here as well...Lowry Park Zoo. Some like the historic area of Ybor City, not one of my personal favorites but worth a mention. I wouldn't go with kids at night though, when it sort of becomes a bar scene. <BR> <BR>April can be crazy here so make your reservations early!

Boca Raton is a drive, but well worth it to see the museum of cartoon art if you like cartoons & popular culture.

Debbie, <BR> <BR>Caladesi Island, a short, cheap park service boat ride a few minutes off of Clearwater has been rated by many organizations in the past as one of the best beaches in the US. It's not fancy, but when you pull into it you immediately think of Gilligan's island. There are nature trails, picknicking areas, food concessions, bathrooms and changing areas combined with a very picturesque cresent beach. The park service only allows visitors limited hours there. Our favorite beach in the Tampa area is anywhere on Longboat Key, just off the coast of nearby Sarasota. There are a selection of various priced hotels, some that allow you to walk right out of your hotel onto the beach. (We stayed at a not-so-fancy but comfortable on the beach efficiency-hotel called the Seahorse for $60 a night) Don Caesar in St Petersburg is a beautiful hotel, but quite expensive, and a bit formal for kids. Sheraton Sandy Key on Sand Key (by Clearwater beach) is in an area that I feel provides a more tropical air, away from the heavy commercial stuff that is by the Don, and a safer neighborhood, but is close enough to the touristy stuff at Clearwater beach. Like the Don it is on the Gulf which is a good 45 minutes or more in traffic from Busch, but worth it. They also run specials. Fun Stuff recommended would include Weeki-Wachi Springs, Silver Springs, both north of Tampa, campy but fun pirate cruises out of Clearwater beach, and canoeing along the Little Manatee, Alafaia, or Withlacochee rivers where you will experience real Florida and you may spot manatees in the wild, an experience never forgotten. <BR>Have fun