Drafter and others here are correct. We go to wife's fall work trip to St. Pete Beach every fall. They put us up in the fancy Tradewinds resort. You will be on the beach as the sun sets and the weather is usually wonderful now. You are also just a 40 minute commute from Ybor City, which is actually hidden in Tampa. That's gonna send you across the bay, next to St. Petersburg. Nice drive and if you have a phone that can navigate, just choose avoid tolls and you will be there just as fast, just AVOID work commute times!! It can get crazy trying to get across that Bay Area sometimes, as well as in certain choke points in Tampa and St Pete. Jonesie is correct if you desire to see a nice Salvador Dali museum, it's right there along the beach as well, it's just a short commute across from Traseure Island to the St Pete Sid of the Bay.
Ybor City was one of the first multi block places put on the Historic Registry and along 8th street, I think, you will find a handful of shops and a couple will have rollers whipping up fresh stuff daily. There's also a pretty cool museum area a few blocks away. I'm lucky and can park for free with my handicap hanger, but prices are still not as bad as most city areas.
The guys mention bars in a couple of areas and there's a stretch between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island called John's Pass, they have a "Village and Bordwalk" area and I think that's where they have the floating "Tiki Bars" just fancy Tiki style pontoons that noodle out in the Pass as you drink. We normally hit Gator's cafe and Saloon and sit outside and watch the Pass, nice boats, a draw bridge over the Pass and those floating Tiki bars, etc. You can do some Hotels.com and find some cheaper motels, but think 70's style and redone at that, there's actually still an old Thuderbird motel/hotel with the GIANT neon light out front. I advise folks to go to Treasure Island and hit Caddy's for a sunset meal, it's on Treasure Island and right on the beach, then on a different evening we normally go to that same stretch and park in the public parking area (costs a few buck per hour, I think) and that's one of the quiet areas of beaches and they have a few spots where you will find shells if you enjoy the "Sanibel Stoop" LMAO! Wife enjoys collecting shells. I actually paid for the Pontoon ride over to Shell Key Island one year and we hung out on the outer edge of the beach, locals will sometimes show up there with their nicer boats and just sit there under anchor. Might even see a few dolphins or Manatees.
St Augustine is a bit chilly sometimes during this time of the year and a couple of hours Northeast, on the Atlantic side. But is a great area during the fall. You might run into Busa in St Augustine, LMAO! I'm actually planning on going over this fall and meeting up with him for a meal and visit. Then we will likely hit the older spots from the Spanish Colonial days.
Numismaniac wrote:
