help w/ florida vacation (not disney)

[bellebud]

we've been to disney about 2x's a year for the past 7 years (have gone other places too). we've also gone to the keys the past 2 years (dh and ds8 really love fishing). DD10 and I love spending mommy/daughter time while the boys fish.

So, we want to go to florida next month for about 7 - 10 days. I'm thinking we need something different (we've also done universal, and disney vero beach).

So for something different, I'm thinking maybe Busch Gardens, then Sanibel Island.

Basically, we enjoy theme parks (of course, duh)... will we be disappointed in Busch Gardens? Is it like 6-flags? It would be fine if it were somewhere in the middle of 6-flags and disney - I wouldn't expect it to be disney. I'm thinking 2 days there? Then off to Sanibel - or anywhere else on the Gulf... any recommendations? Siesta Key? Marco Island? Sarasota? I'm honestly just typing places I've heard of - I have no idea! Fishing and beach are the only things that are important. DH and ds8 love fishing in the keys, around all the islands, in the shallow clear waters. Anywhere in the gulf like that?

Thanks for any input!

 

[bellebud]

bump

 

[AshleyW]

DF and I just went to Busch Gardens in December with my parents - they live in Clearwater, right outside of Tampa. Anyway, it was pretty fun. It was kind of like a mix between Six Flags and a zoo. They had a few roller coasters and some kids' rides. There's a train ride and some safari rides that take you to see a bunch of the animals. DF and I really enjoyed it - the rides were okay, but we liked seeing the animals the most. We don't have a zoo around here, though, so I'm not sure if most people would be interested in the animals or not.

As far as beaches go, I'm partial to Clearwater Beach, as my parents live right there. It's a really big, nice, clean beach and the water is pretty nice there. There's a long pier there - my dad fishes off that sometimes. Plus they have "Sunsets at Pier 60" every night.. when I was there in December, there was live music, some street performers, craft tables, etc. for a few hours before and during the sunset.

Have fun!

 

[Planogirl]

I would add that Busch Gardens should be way cleaner and overall nicer than Six Flags. At least it was many years ago when we went. We had a nice time and would go back if we ever had the time!

 

[cabanafrau]

IMO you can't go wrong w/ Sanibel. Truly spectacular.

 

[jodifla]

Busch Gardens is nice. The waterpark next to it is nice as well. (And I remember Busch Gardens when it was basically just a beer garden! My dad used to give me sips of beer there when I was about 9.)

As for beaches, there's a lot of good ones around there. I really like Clearwater Beach. Sanibel is beautiful, but quieter. St. Pete Beach is nice as well....like the small dunes and the waving sea grass of Pass-a-Grill beach.

 

[NotUrsula]

For fishing on the Gulf side, Venice is ground zero. It is the shark fishing capital of Florida. You're not too far south of Sarasota/Siesta Key there, but Venice Beach itself is very quiet and not that great for swimming/playing because the drop-off is steep. (It's fun to look for fossil shark teeth on the beach, though.)

The best mix of beach kitsch and fishing that I've found on the Gulf side at affordable prices is St. Pete Beach. The beach has lots of concessions, but there is GREAT fishing not far away, at Ft. DeSoto County Park. (There is also a really neat mangrove kayaking opportunity there, along with one of the most beautiful semi-primitive beaches that I've been to in Florida; the park's north beach.) St. Pete also has a plethora of charter companies if your DH wants to get offshore and go for some big game fish.

 

[bellebud]

OP here...

dh usually charters a boat in the keys, and they regularly go for sharks, etc, but they don't have to go too far out for that, so I've been comfortable w/ ds8 going.

Venice sounds like it might be great for the shark fishing.

Are there any recommendations from anyone regarding hotels? We don't really like 'motels' - something like a Hampton Inn or better would be nice. DD10 and I can certainly just chill on the beach, but a bonus would be a little town or something for us to shop, have lunch, etc. But that's not super duper important.

thanks for all the replies so far!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Last summer, I went to visit relatives near Tampa for a week & we went to Busch Gardens and enjoyed it. All the kids & adults (ages 8 - 65) loved the magician show! The thrill seekers found many roller coasters to choose from. There were benches in the sun & shade for those who wanted to take a rest. The park is very clean and the food is good. We went to BG twice during the trip. We also went to Sea World one day and that kept everyone entertained. Our tickets had unlimited addmission to BG & SW for 14 days, so that made it worth driving to Orlando to go to SW.

 

[mamamary]

We went to Busch Gardens two years ago and loved it. We spent the whole day there from morning till night - boy were our feet tired. Had a great time.

We stayed in North Redington Beach - it's right between St. Pete and Clearwater. We stayed at the Doubletree Beach Resort - we really liked it there.

 

[jmskinner]

I just purchased annual passes for my son and I to Busch Gardens. Also have them for WDW. I really enjoy Busch Gardens. Lots of animals to walk around and look at. Also the Jungala area is really cool for the kids. It is one of those play area with rope bridges and towers. My DS loves it and could spend all day there.

Someone recommended Ft. DeSoto Beach, which is very nice and there is also a Fort there the kids could explore.

Lots to do in the Tampa area. We have a Zoo (actually we haven't gone to yet, but suppose to be really nice.) The Florida Aquarium is nice also. There is also the Clearwater Aquarium, it is based more on research and a lot smaller than the Florida Aquarium. Lots of museums also. Afraid that since I have a DS I don't get to shop and look for little things like that. Ellenton is about 30 miles South of Tampa and has a Prime Outlet.

Hope you have a wonderful vacation, would love to hear what all you end up doing. Might learn something new we need to try.