I just got back from there. The beach is really nice and clean with white sand. If you like seafood there is a good seafood restaurant called the Friendly Fisherman. From the restaurant you can watch the boats coming in with their day's catch. The food was really good with large portions. Just be careful where you park. We parked on the top level of the parking garage (a big no-no) and got blocked in by people parking for a casino cruise ship that didn't get back in until 1 a.m. I don't know anything about the casino cruise ship but it looked like fun.

My Mom lives there, so I can tell you a few things! We like to take walks on the beach 7:30 a.m., we are always looking for shells. We usually go out for breakfast at Sunset grill it's cheap and on the beach! The last time we were there, Aug 2001 we went to Shell Island for sand dollars, shells, *warning*, take an umbrella for shade (you can rent one on the boat) plenty of water and food, the shortest cruise is 2 hours and when we were there it was really hot. Also it's primitive no stores of any kind on the island no bathrooms either, definitely worth the trip! We always go to Hurricane's for the peel & eat shrimp, they also have good early bird dinner specials. The Don Cesar is nice great gift shops! Any other questions feel free to email me...Linda

p.s. If you get bored, Busch Gardens is within an hour, plenty to do there!

Go see the Salvador Dali museum! He isn't my style but my artsy daughter likes his work, so we went. It was very interesting.
It's right next to the bay and as we walked up to it, I wondered what they do with all the hurricanes they get. Well, on the tour, they explained all exhibits (some paintings are huge!) are taken to the second level and stored. I forget the details but the second level will float if water ever got that high.

It was very interesting.

When are you coming? I live here and can give plenty of ideas if you let me know when and what your interests are.

Anna

I'd love to know which beach resorts are the best....we'll be traveling as a family and don't want to find ourselves immersed in a mid 20's single scene resort. Any suggestions?

I live in Largo-and travel all along Gulf Blvd-which runs from all the way south to Pass a Grill and up north to Clearwater Beach & beyond. I love all the shops on the beach, plus numerous great restaurants. I'd have to say you should go north to Madeira Beach to John's Pass..they have a boardwalk with shops, casino boat tours, (the best stuffed portabello mushrooms at The HUT), then on up to Redington Beach if you like Italian-fine dining at The Wine Cellar ($$$), and on northward to Indian Shores to The Salt Rock Grill-the #1 choice for beach dining!! We're talking 7-10 miles from St Pete to these eateries!
If you go east to downtown St Pete-you'll enjoy Baywalk-a lovely mall right in the city, the FL Museum (Kennedy exhibit & Cuban Missle Crisis), oodles of boutiques & art galleries (P Buckley Moss, Kincaide, etc) & the Pier..
An hour north of St Pete (if that)..is Tarpon Springs-home of the Sponge Docks-a great place to spend the day! Boat tours, shops, Greek eateries..fun!
Another fun thing is to take the Starlight Princess dinner cruise located on S Pasadena Ave @ St Pete Beach..great food, music, etc.
Nightly fun (dancing, singing) is found at many places-my favs are on Indian Rocks Beach (piano bars)..The Pub & JD's!
Great shows at Ruth Eckerd Hall(.com) in Clearwater..top entertainment.
If you check out the link below-and hit the calendar dates of when you'll be here-it'll tell you of upcoming events.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tampa Bay Calendar