We got back to the UK on Sunday after 2 weeks in Orlando and a week in New Port Richey. Our villa backed on to a lake, and in the first hour we fed the turtles, spotted a snake, lizards, squirrels, moorhens, herons, seagulls, wagtails nesting, and a pelican diving for fish. We all found it refreshing after 2 weeks in the sterility of Orlando.
We, were myself (40), the wife (29 and some months !), my mum (59), and my daughters, Zoe (almost 8) and Hannah (almost 12).
We all enjoyed the change in pace.
The main "strip" the US 19 is similar to the 192 in Kissimee, with all the usual, and some more unusual sights. The places to eat are all pretty similar. We spend time on the beach, and in one of the National Parks (can't recall the name). We also spend the afternoon, and evening in Ybor City in Tampa. It's dead until 9-ish when the bars are jumping, and the clubs are opening. If you've seen Coyote Ugly, it's there in all of it's glory, including the dancing on the bar. We took some time in a cinema to while away some of the time, and were the only people in the theatre. You MUST go to the Columbia restaurant. The food is unbelieveable, especially for the price and you can pay $6 extra to see the Cuban Flamenco show. Not the best I've seen, but it's different.
If you want a little more life, Busch Gardens is the top spot for thrill rides, and refreshingly different to the usual parks.
We took a drive through St Pete's and Clearwater, and they were too developed for our taste. Some of the areas were on a par with Benidorm.
On the drive back from Clearwater we happened upon Crabby Bills restaurant. Man, what a place. We arrived at 16-30 and got one of the last tables. By the time we left, at about 18-00 the queue was around the building and must have had about 60 people waiting. This and the fact that a lot of the customers were local tells you a lot. We each ordered, crab, crab, lobster, a salad, and shrimp scampi (the real stuff, not the battered stuff we get in the UK). The food was out of this world, and I'm not easily pleased. The service was so good we left a tip of 25%. The bill was $90 including tip. Try getting food of this type and quality in the UK for under £90. No chance. We expected dressed crab, but got claws and tiny mallets. The waitress saw our looks and offered to show us what to do. Take a serviette, wrap it around the claw, and tap it gently with the mallet. Crab meat in seconds. The same applied to the lobster.
Try Hooters on the 19 for the view. No not the serving staff, although that was pretty good also. We ate on the deck, overlooking the river/sea/estuary, whatever it was. We watched boats tying up, and the "sailors" walk straight into the bar. As we finished the meal, we were rushed into the safety of the bar. "Lightening on it's way" we were told. Sure enough, 15 minutes later we had a huge downpour. with thunder and lightening.
If you think Orlando is the dog's, and has everything you need, you will be disappointed at New Port Richey. Otherwise, it's what you make of it. My daughters loved it as much as their parents, and we will go back, no question.
There's loads and loads to to - as little or as much as you want
), lovely little shops to visit, mini-golf, or just take a little time and drive around a little and you see all sorts of other beautiful beach resorts.
