St Petes Beach.

[Loftus]

Having a week on the coast and booked a nice little apartment at St Petes Beach.
Anyone got anything they care to share about it?

Ta

 

[GO2209]

I'm off to St Pete's in, erm, 36 days time.

I like the Sunday Brunch at the Don CeSar hotel. Top floor restaurant, great views and good food.

Heading away from the beach to St Pete's itself - the Pier is worth a visit. I believe they have done a lot of work on the 'baywalk(?)'. Shops, restaurants, bars etc.

If you like Dali - the museum is a must see. If you have kids, try the 'great explorations' a sort of hands on museum.

PoohWidower mentions Passe-Grille. That is just after the Don. Be warned, the traffic wardens are a bit keen.

Go south over the Skyway and head for Ellenton Mall. It's an outlet mall, similar tothe Belz in Orlando. Has the usual, DKNY, Hilfiger, Levi's etc.

I would also take a drive up 34th. Plenty of restaurants etc. Admittedly, its a few miles up, but there is a good cinema complex and two huge crazy golf courses. Somewhere up there is a place called 'Biff-burger'. Cannot recall exactly where right now - but worth a visit at the weekend (Fri evening?) loads of car enthusiasts turn out in their classics and hotrods.

 

[Loftus]

Sounds great - thanks.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

St Pete's LOVE IT! First visited in 1982 and have been back three times since - this year will be the first for a few years we're not going, but only cos we want to see the Everglades and the Keys

Busch Gardens and sister water park Islands of Adventure - both well worth a visit, 45 mins up at Tampa.

LOADS of restaurants, diners etc in St Pete's and if you have a car a few miles out. Durangos steak house, Silas Dents, Bennigans to name but a few. There's even an IHOP .

Tampa is a great place to visit - the Florida Aquarium well worth half a day.

Take the Sunshine Skyway bridge South to Sarasota - or even better a day trip to Sanibel island - beautiful .

It's such a convenient place to be for see so much.

Take a trip if you can on The Destiny yacht or their sister motor launch - half day trips from St Pete's dolphin watching. On the yacht you sail to Shell Island - paradise no. 1, that's after seeing loads of dolphins on the way out and how the other half live On the motor launch you go snorkelling, exploring Egmont Key and dolphin watching - dolphins practically guaranteed, once we even saw week old baby dolphins swimming along with the mums

Let us know if you want any specific in on St Pete's, restaurants, etc.

By the way, does your tag Loftus mean you're a fellow Queenie?
Up the Rangers, if you are

 

[Loftus]

I do indeed suffer in that way - I think its hereditary, although sadly I haven't passed it on to my kids!

 

[GO2209]

Mrs Dazzle.

Silas Dents, do you remember the old Silas Dents? A sort of shack? Now it is a small strip mall!!

I had forgotten about Shell Island - definitely worth seeing again.

However, if you want to see dolphins, try the Sea Screamer out of Clearwater. Huge power boat and the dolphins swim up in its wake. You will in all likelihood get wet, but an excellent photo opportunity.

All this St Petes discussion is making me excited! Only 36 days to go!!!!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

GO2209 - yes, the "old" Silas Dents - I still have a photo of it! My brother and his then girlfriend took me to it back in 82 - I thought they were messing when we arrived - it was like you say, a shack!! Complete with roadwork signs and flashing lights outside.

Another photo I have is of my DB eating oysters there - and Flowerpot Pudding - it was a chocolate mousse, inside a terracotta flower pot with a flower sticking out the top Fantastic.

The food we had there last year was tremendous value for money - so much of it and the servers was really good, too.

Ah, happy days - lucky you going so soon, say Hi to St Pete's for me? I really miss my morning trip for freshly made Subs from the Deli counter in Publix - they got to know our family and were waiting for us with little morsels of meats and cheeses to try . . and the cakes, oh heaven. We stayed at the Holiday Inn and would go get these subs for brekkie, then go sit on the beach and stuff ourselves

 

[Shuttle Fan]

We've just come back and spent 3 nights at the Holiday Inn in St. Petes. It's got a revolving rooftop restaurant, but you can just go in for a drink and take in the spectacular view.

You've just got to see the sunsets - absolutely breathtaking.

We also went on a dolphin trip around the bay with "Dolphin Landings". This was brilliant, a 2 hour trip and there was only our family of 4 on the 2.15 trip. We saw about 8 dolphins which we followed around in the yacht and the captain let both of our kids steer the boat for about 1/2 hour each. It was so relaxing. Check out their website www.dolphinlandings.com for photos and prices.

St. Pete's has got to be one of the most relaxing parts of our 2 weeks.

 

[GO2209]

It is almost a shame that Orlando has so much to offer. The days of being able to do the two centre holidays incorporating a week in Orlando and a week at the Gulf Coast are seemingly impossible!

Florida is more than 'just' Disney!

Miami, the Keys, Gold Coast, Ft Lauderdale....

After two weeks anywhere else (ie, the Med) I am ready to come home. I am never 'ready' to leave Florida.

 

[Scotfan]

LOL about the traffic wardens we almost got caught by one in Feb. The car parking charges are a bit steep we felt but loved the look of the place. We were staying further north and just went down for a day. Didnt go in the water as there were signs warning about stingrays!
We always do 1 week in Orlando and one elsewhere as DM + DD dont really get the parks.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Originally posted by Scotfan
Didnt go in the water as there were signs warning about stingrays!

The stingrays are not a problem . . . so long as you respect that there MAY be some around. They normally in travel in pods of anything from 3 - 23! You can see then coming and they will not go near you - I stayed in the water a couple of times, admitedly giving them a wide berth, but they just swim in past. They're quite amazing to watch.

When you have to be careful if when they may be hiding in the sand, that's why you have to do the "stingray shuffle". In all our experience on the gulf coast (touch wood) never had a problem and sometimes, although very necessary, the warnings given out cause more alarm.

 

[CRISSY61]

looking for an apartment/condo in St Petes beach. Do you have any recommendations on area ?

 

[GO2209]

Do you have any specific requirements? How many are going? Golfers? Children?

 

[Mickey_UK]

I am also looking for a condo/apartment/villa for a couple of nights on the beach. 6 adults and a 2 year old so really a ground floor so if she needs to go to bed early we can still sit outside and enjoy the sunset with a beer in hand.

 

[GO2209]

There isn't much on the main St Pete's Beach by way of condos. I know of a handful of villas, but I think the main condo complexes are at the top of St Petes as you head into Treasure Island. Not certain that you will find a condo big enough to comfortably accommodate 6 adults.

Also, if it's only for a couple of nights a hotel would be much better value. The Tradewinds/Sand Piper/Sirata Beach resorts are great and I think they have beach cottages.

I like Isla Key/Isla Del Sol and Tierra Verde. Located on the Boca Ciega Bay, just 'inland' from the beach. Plenty of Condos and villas in this area.

 

[CRISSY61]

2 adults 2 children 18 & 15. no golfers, just looking for a good value clean base, within short distance of beach

 

[GO2209]

If you like to hop in the car and explore the area, I would recommend Tierra Verde. If you want to avoid the car and laze on the beach etc... Captiva/Sanibel? I haven't stayed there, but I know people who adore the area.