... Tampa - Christmas thru New Years (photos added)

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - ... Tampa - Christmas thru New Years (photos added)

Posted: 10/23/2006 10:56:58 PM EDT

... First time ever in Florida for us

... Gonna be a blast I'd imagine. Please gimme us tip or two on kick-ass places to go, things to see in the vicinity if you please

... TIA

Posted: 10/24/2006 3:02:47 AM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 10/24/2006 4:49:53 AM EDT

[#2]

Take a fishing trip in the Gulf. There are big group boats out of John's Pass (Madeira Beach) or you can get a private charter. Check out the Florida Sportsman's West Central Forum: outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=12

It's not a real peak time to fish but if you get offshore, you can get into some nice action.

Stay a night or at least have a meal at the Don Cesar in St Pete Beach. Absolutely beautiful, legendary hotel on the sand. www.doncesar.com/

Disney is only an hour from Tampa, if you want to see The Mouse. (It's actually a lot of fun for adults too - but that week will be uber-crowded).

Can't beleive I forgot this. It's the first place we take out of town guests to on our boat:

Go to Caladesi Island. www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/ It's what Clearwater Beach (and all the barrier islands) used to be. You can only get there by boat (it's like a 10 minute ride). You'll need to go to Honeymoon Island and then take the shuttle boat out there. Bring a small cooler and some chairs or towels and go find a secluded section of beach for yourselves. It regularly gets voted as one of the top beaches nationwide. Ft DeSoto in St Pete got top beach last year.

Posted: 10/24/2006 6:00:18 AM EDT

[#3]

Mons Venus.

Best strip club i've ever been to, hands down.

HS1

Posted: 10/24/2006 6:07:26 AM EDT

[#4]

The Museum Of Science and Industry (MOSI) is interesting if you like that sort of thing.

Posted: 10/24/2006 6:38:54 AM EDT

[#5]

Lowry Park Zoo - Tampa
Florida Aquarium - Tampa

And swing by my house for sale and make an offer

Posted: 10/24/2006 11:11:50 AM EDT

[#6]

A big second for Caladesi Island. I've only been once but it is one of the most beautiful places anywhere. Can't wait to go back.
If you are staying in Tampa try La Terrisita (not sure if I spelled that right). It is a Cuban restaurant with a counter on one side and a sit down dining room on the other. The food is awesome and inexpensive. Breakfast is great, the cafe con leche is the best and try the roast pork. I think it is on Columbus near the stadium.

Have fun.

Dave

height=8

Quoted:
Take a fishing trip in the Gulf. There are big group boats out of John's Pass (Madeira Beach) or you can get a private charter. Check out the Florida Sportsman's West Central Forum: outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=12

It's not a real peak time to fish but if you get offshore, you can get into some nice action.

Stay a night or at least have a meal at the Don Cesar in St Pete Beach. Absolutely beautiful, legendary hotel on the sand. www.doncesar.com/

Disney is only an hour from Tampa, if you want to see The Mouse. (It's actually a lot of fun for adults too - but that week will be uber-crowded).

Can't beleive I forgot this. It's the first place we take out of town guests to on our boat:

Go to Caladesi Island. www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/ It's what Clearwater Beach (and all the barrier islands) used to be. You can only get there by boat (it's like a 10 minute ride). You'll need to go to Honeymoon Island and then take the shuttle boat out there. Bring a small cooler and some chairs or towels and go find a secluded section of beach for yourselves. It regularly gets voted as one of the top beaches nationwide. Ft DeSoto in St Pete got top beach last year.

www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/OPG/caladesiisland/photos/CDI-Beach-mar.jpg

Posted: 10/24/2006 12:20:47 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Lowry Park Zoo - Tampa
Florida Aquarium - Tampa

And swing by my house for sale and make an offer

Make sure and stop by the SS American Victory while you're at the aquarium. If they're gonna have any open days during your trip, anyway.

Posted: 10/24/2006 3:27:00 PM EDT

[#8]

YBOR City..... for Cigars, Beer, Clubs, Green Iguana, Beer... and FUN!!!

ZeroOne

Posted: 10/29/2006 7:40:53 AM EDT

[#9]

Disney World first - like someone else said about an hour away from Tampa- Second - Hard Rock Seminole Casino. It's a good night out.

Posted: 10/29/2006 9:33:18 AM EDT

[#10]

I just moved back to Florida recently but when I lived here a really cool place was Amelia Island.

I'm not sure if it's still as nice as it used to be but that was always a great time.

Of course with you coming in the winter(florida winters are extremely mild but the water is cold) you won't want to swim but just chillin on the beach is great...beautiful weather.

Posted: 10/29/2006 11:01:40 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
I just moved back to Florida recently but when I lived here a really cool place was Amelia Island.

I'm not sure if it's still as nice as it used to be but that was always a great time.

Of course with you coming in the winter(florida winters are extremely mild but the water is cold) you won't want to swim but just chillin on the beach is great...beautiful weather.

A bit of a trot from Tampa.

I hate to say it, but if you have never been to Disney....it is pretty cool. I grew up less than a hour from there. Been so many times that if I ever go again it will be too soon. That said, if you've never been.......

jj

Posted: 10/29/2006 12:35:24 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I just moved back to Florida recently but when I lived here a really cool place was Amelia Island.

I'm not sure if it's still as nice as it used to be but that was always a great time.

Of course with you coming in the winter(florida winters are extremely mild but the water is cold) you won't want to swim but just chillin on the beach is great...beautiful weather.

A bit of a trot from Tampa.

jj

Yeah its a trip but it was well worth it everytime I went.

Did he mention tampa somewhere?...honest question.

EDIT: nvm I just saw the TIA

bear with me I've only been back for 3 months

Posted: 10/30/2006 8:17:31 AM EDT

[#13]

ybor city at night is certainly worth 2 spare mags and a backup gun

sheperd's on clw beach is pretty asstacular on sundays, if that's what your into

Posted: 12/16/2006 9:49:51 AM EDT

[#14]

... If we set aside a day to drive to Cape Canaveral, would there be anything else along the way we should stop and see?

... Again, thanks for the advice. Some I'd like to take, some I can't as this will be a "family type" week in Florida

Posted: 12/16/2006 10:31:52 AM EDT

[#15]

Drive careful.

Lots of canadians and yankees here that can't drive for crap.

Posted: 12/27/2006 2:11:31 PM EDT

[#16]

... Can't believe no one mentioned Siesta Beach, this place rocks! Great seafood & serious eye candy

Posted: 12/27/2006 2:16:38 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
... Can't believe no one mentioned Siesta Beach, this place rocks! Great seafood & serious eye candy

So you didn't go to Lido beach? That is the nude beach just around the corner! Yeah, Siesta Beach is rated tops in the World!!

jj

Posted: 12/27/2006 2:54:44 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
... Can't believe no one mentioned Siesta Beach, this place rocks! Great seafood & serious eye candy

Can't give up ALL the local secrets.

glad you're having a good time.

Posted: 12/27/2006 3:22:09 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:
... Can't believe no one mentioned Siesta Beach, this place rocks! Great seafood & serious eye candy

So you didn't go to Lido beach? That is the nude beach just around the corner! Yeah, Siesta Beach is rated tops in the World!!

jj

I have just been informed that Lido was a nudie beach, but is now a male gay hang out.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.........

jj

Posted: 12/28/2006 4:20:27 PM EDT

[#20]

I have just been informed that Lido was a nudie beach, but is now a male gay hang out.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.........

jj

Isn't that the beach over by the Venice airport?
I wonder who might know?

They call it Caspersen Beach IIRC.

Posted: 12/30/2006 7:08:24 PM EDT

[#21]

ETA just saw the dates (duh) hope you're having fun.

Posted: 12/31/2006 8:22:40 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

I have just been informed that Lido was a nudie beach, but is now a male gay hang out.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.........

jj

Isn't that the beach over by the Venice airport?
I wonder who might know?

They call it Caspersen Beach IIRC.

Caspersen's by Venice is the place for queer-trolling.
Don't ever got here after dark! There's some weird shit happening there.

Posted: 12/31/2006 9:56:09 AM EDT

[#23]

Posted: 1/1/2007 7:15:47 PM EDT

[#24]

... Ya'll have a beautiful State! We had a blast there. Here's a few of our "Christmas" photos.

... did some fishing from boats, but I actually preferred the dock near his mom's cabana on the beach

... near Captain Curt's (Siesta Beach)

... caught a few fish here

... Didn't quite understand why more boats were not out in the sea. It averaged 83°F during some of the days

... although we had a powerboat, I had a blast fishing from the canoe even more. Had the shit spooked out of me one morning when a couple dolphin decided to chase some snook about ten feet from us