Gulf Coast Activities

[brody-maddison]

Apart from Busch Gardens, what else can people recommend to do on the coast. I am not one for lying on the beach, well not anymore since having children so am looking for things which would keep myself, DH and two young children amused.

You may ask why we're bothing going to the coast, well we're going for my MIL's 50th birthday and her wish was a week on the coast. I would personally rather stay in Orlando but as this is for a special occassion we're going along.

Don't get me wrong, I love the beaches but with a one year old, a whole week at the beach is hard work.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

[ClaireB]

If you stay at Naples there is a good zoo and you can go on the dolphin tours or everglades trip,

[mike230652]

Where are you staying on the Gulf Coast ? ..that'll dictate what you can do.....

Mike

[brody-maddison]

Most likely Bradenton. For activities we are more than happy to drive a couple of hourse north or south.

[RT7]

If you stay at Naples there is a good zoo and you can go on the dolphin tours or everglades trip,


We went to the zoo years ago, my 17 & 18 year olds were very small at the time but they still enjoyed it:D

[debs1505]

From Clearwater, check out www.seascreamer.com - and there are loads of other trips - pirates etc :wavey:

[coxan56]

Hi We stayed at St Petes. not much to do there Annie :wave: :wave:

[TheDales]

Where to start?
If you’re into art and culture there’s the John and Mable Ringling Museum of art. Located on a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established in 1927 as the legacy of John Ringling (1866-1936) and his wife, Mable (1875 to 1929). Recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida, the Museum of Art offers 21 galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian Art, American paintings, and contemporary art. The Circus Museum displays costumes, wagons, performance equipment, and other artifacts chronicling the history of the Circus. The estate also features Mable Ringling’s Rose Garden, completed in 1913, and beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay. A different look at what Florida has to offer. We took our then 13yr and 2 yr old and they were ok.
For the children-
Mote Marine also in Sarasota- Explore the secrets of the sea. Shark, dolphin, manatee and sea turtle exhibits, stingray touch pool, and interactive HD theatre showcase fascinating marine life and the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory. Also do trips around the bay. Not as big as Sea World but a working first class research centre.
G.Wiz, again in Sarasota, hands on science museum (a little like the science museum in London)
For a relaxing full/half day there’s Myakka River State Park. One of the oldest and largest state parks it flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing from a boardwalk that stretches out over the Upper Myakka Lake. Scenic lake tours are offered daily on the world’s two largest airboats. Safari tram tours of the park’s backcountry are offered from mid-December through May.
Another thing we liked to do as a family was park up at St Armands Circle spend a couple of hours on the beach at Lido Key (a couple of minutes walk) and then have a leisurely stroll around looking in the many shops and taking an afternoon snack (and a few beers for me)
If you do a search on Google, you’ll find more info on all of these.

Hope you find this some help. We love Sarasota

Mark and Family

[mike230652]

HHmm.. we stay further north and St. Pete's is as far`as we get.

Bearing in mind you have little ones:

The pier at St. Pete's is different! Plenty of shops and face painting etc for kids. We enjoyed the Salvador Dali museum...but unless your 1 year old is culturally advanced ( :-) ) it might be a complete bore for him / her.....lol!

Clearwater....... the Seaquarium is great...very hands on and a couple of small shows which will entertain little ones. It cares for injured mammals and is worth a couple of hours of your time.

Forget Seascreamer.....I doubt your one year old would appreciate it!!!! Try instead the Little Toot, plenty of covered seating for littlies....and a very amusing and informative captain.

10 minute north of Clearwater is Honeymoon Island. Easy to find..and easy to park there. The kids would love the beach....not so much for sun bathing...but for the gazillions of shells they'll find there..all shapes and sizes.
Also...it's not unknown to be able to watch dolphins swim and play from Honeymoon Island.

It's worth visiting Dunedin...... a slice of old USA. do you cycle???? If so...hire a couple of bikes and try the Pinellas trail....47 miles of reclaimed rail track....you'll see every type of cycle and skates there.....or just sit and watch the natives doing it while you have a coffee and ice cream! Treat your better half to The Purple Moon in Dunedin.... a TOTALLY different experience...coffee shop....gift shop...and have a Tarot reading while you're there! The owners are as hippy and alternative as they come.....but lovely people !!

Wish it was january so we were out there again...... {{ sigh }}

Mike

[brody-maddison]

Thanks for the tips, it's given me a few ideas!

[Fiona]

We really love St. Pete`s and always visit there for the day when we go to Orlando. We spend a few hours at the beach and then drive down to the pier. Jon and the boys fish and I have a look around the pier shops, aquarium etc. You can check out what the pier has to offer here www.stpete-pier.com A two minute drive up the road from the pier is a small shopping mall called The Bay where they have a great Johnny Rocket`s. :-)