Bilmar hotel St Petes

[yourwelcome]

Stayed here a few years ago for a couple of days away from the parks, Its a lovely spot with the best "white" beach I have ever seen. If you are going in june I can tell you of an experience I will never forget. Whilst swimming in the gulf (which was actualy warmer under water than out of it,In June I ask) panic spread down the beach. people were leaving the water screaming in what can only be described as a mass exodus "mexican wave style". As we where at the latter stages of this wave i honestly thougt of "sharks" so got out pronto. Upon closer inspection the shore was being visited by a very large shoal of stingrays. June is their breeding month apparantly and "mating" has to take place in shallow waters. To touch them is a wonderful feeling as anyone who has been to seaworld will tell you. But to get them in a natural environment and in such large quantities (must have been a couple of thousand) was truly unbelievable.

apparantly they are only dangerouse if you stand on them. they have razor sharp spikes on their back.

How do you spell "chammee leather" ? that is how they feel wet.

enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We've too seen the amazing sight of 20-50 in a pod of stingray, both in St Pete's and Clearwater. They are quite huge, some of them, aren't they. Must admit all the warnings about doing the "stingray shuffle" made me very nervous about letting any of my family in the water, but having spoken to a couple of locals who showed us what to do and what to look for, it's never been a problem. From the balcony of our hotel on Sand Key at Clearwater we used to watch them floating past throughout the day.

We've seen some great fish down in the gulf coast - was floating along daydreaming one day when 2 angel fish literally jumped over me

The best, though, was last year down on Marco Island. DH was literally 2 feet away from 2 dolphin in the sea - magical. This happened on three different days and it was magical. It doesn't get much better than that