Florida Gulf Coast

[Vigilante]

Who here is from the Florida Gulf Coast?

In 2015, I will be spending quite a bit of time in and around the Tampa/St. Pete area.

I am interested in your top recommendations / must see attractions / top beaches.

I have a date on the calendar to visit Tampa Bay Downs in February, as their thoroughbred season runs like December - May.

Post your thoughts here on Florida's Gulf Coast. Who knows... maybe we'll run into each other in 2015!

- Vigilante

 

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[AndrewNC]

According to tripadvisor.com you can see a bridge in Tampa for $325.... I wonder if they do tours of McDonalds for under $100
Best review ever - "It's a bridge people".




...on a serious note, watching this thread - I'll be driving through Florida late January/Early February.

 

[collegeweb]

Im in fort myers.

 

[needchaser]

I'll be in the Tampa area next week, mostly visiting family but I'll let you know if I see any cool places worth checking out. Any fastlaners nearby, let me know, maybe we can meet up as well.

 

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[Solrac]

I wish I saw this! I live in the Orlando area, would have come up to see you.
If your in again let me know!

 

[Guest3722A]

In 2015, I will be spending quite a bit of time in and around the Tampa/St. Pete area.

There's always this http://www.portricheycasino.com/ It's maybe 35-40 min north of Clearwater off 19. Once there you hop on a boat and it's about an hour long ride (free) on the Gulf out to an international casino. The office where you get your tickets has newspapers that has coupons for free drinks, food and gaming.

There's also Busch Gardens which is always fun and make sure you hit up "beer school" if you go where you'll sample several extremely fresh brews. And I think it's down in St. Pete or maybe Clearwater but there's a marine life rescue where they take in distressed critters and heal em up. Kinda cool

Also, NY Pasta Factory at 9740 Little Road in New Port Richey has a chef that makes sauce that tastes exactly like my grandma used to make... and she was from Italy. Their chicken alfredo pizza is the shiznit.

There's also several parks with trails and miles and miles of underground caves cut through all of the limestone. Obviously you'll need flashlights or head lamps for that stuff.

It's been a few years since I've moved from there but this should give some ideas

 

[Vigilante]

There's always this http://www.portricheycasino.com/ It's maybe 35-40 min north of Clearwater off 19. Once there you hop on a boat and it's about an hour long ride (free) on the Gulf out to an international casino. The office where you get your tickets has newspapers that has coupons for free drinks, food and gaming.

There's also Busch Gardens which is always fun and make sure you hit up "beer school" if you go where you'll sample several extremely fresh brews. And I think it's down in St. Pete or maybe Clearwater but there's a marine life rescue where they take in distressed critters and heal em up. Kinda cool

Also, NY Pasta Factory at 9740 Little Road in New Port Richey has a chef that makes sauce that tastes exactly like my grandma used to make... and she was from Italy. Their chicken alfredo pizza is the shiznit.

There's also several parks with trails and miles and miles of underground caves cut through all of the limestone. Obviously you'll need flashlights or head lamps for that stuff.

It's been a few years since I've moved from there but this should give some ideas

Where are you now?

 

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[Vigilante]

I rented a beach house at Indian Shores (south of Clearwater Beach) for a few weeks in April as a scouting expedition. Probably no time to get together on this round, but planning on picking up a rental place in mid-June so I am game for a meet up some time in July or later.

 

[Vigilante]

Some times, the little things in life matter.

I spend a lot of time at the beach, but the time generally comes to an end. When it ends, it is usually more economical and practical to donate the beach stuff (bodyboards, etc...) than try and transport them. When we go, I usually get boards for several people, etc...so the cash outlay, and the subsequent getting rid of the stuff is a regular occurrance. This last trip to Maui, one of my guys wanted to take the board with him. But by the time you pay to check it, and all of the pain in the a$$, and pay to get it back... unless we were talking a great surfboard it just makes no practical sense. We did bring back several snorkel sets last round.

But now...

Now I am planning on playing for keeps. I have some stuff picked out that I am ordering next week and having shipped in advance of our arrival to a friends place south of Tampa.

It's the little things in life. Buying some ridiculous beach gear because we can justify it as we're not getting rid of it. And, we're not going back. I bought several family members one way tickets for this summer.

 

[Solrac]

I am game for a meet up some time in July or later

I'll come out there for sure.

 

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[Guest3722A]

Currently in Michigan for the next year at least.

Something else too I was thinking about in that area is there's several miles of undeveloped coastline north of Tampa which is always nice for just sitting on the water with nobody around. Something you guys might like.

Also, there's a park out there too that's all boardwalk where you'll be safe sitting and having lunch, but the alligators may come up and beg from the water below. Unfortunately can't remember offhand where this was.