What to Do in Tampa/St. Pete? (1 Viewer)

[Michael*K]

I'm going to be in Tampa/St. Pete for six days next month and have no idea what to see or do. The only certainty is that we're shooting over to Orlando one night to see Cirque Du Soleil and go to Pleasure Island. Other than that, the board's clear. Any recommendations on what to do during the day and where to go in the evenings? Busch Gardens is pretty much out, since I'm the only one going that likes theme parks. Some people I work with says the area is pretty quiet in terms of nightlife. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Paul_Fisher]

Some people I work with says the area is pretty quiet in terms of nightlife.

You can hit the bars and party with 80-year old women!

 

[Patrick Sun]

Ybor City?

 

[Michael*K]

Yeah, we'll definitely be going to Ybor City...especially with a new Coyote Ugly opening. :p) Not sure we'd want to go there every night though.

 

[Evan S]

Two words...Mons Venus.

Also, the Lightning made the NHL playoffs. You could catch them or the Devil Rays.

When I was in Tampa, I actually drove to Orlando for a night to increase my things to do. Can't remember how far of a drive it was...it wasn't too bad if I recall.

 

[nolesrule]

Well, it would help if we knew what you were looking for and what dates you'll be in town.

If you are a sports fan, Lightning are in the playoffs. Devil Rays baseball. Maybe catch a Tampa Bay Storm game if you've never been to an Arena Football game (although with only 3 home games left, you might not be there that weekend.

It also depends on where you are staying, as the area is rather spread out.

In Pinellas, we have the Gulf beaches that run the entire length of the county. Clearwater Beach, San Key, Indian Rocks, Redington, Madeira, Treasure Isnad, St. Pete Beach, Pass-A-Grille.

There are quality night clubs all over the place to suit anyone's style Bricktown 54, Storman's Palace, half of Ybor, etc.

Mons Venus... no food or alcohol, just naked women.

Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry with domed Imax theater near USF. Tampa Museum of Art in downtown.

You could see what shows are going to be at the Tampa Center for Performing Arts or Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

St. Pete has the Salvador Dali Museum, which houses the largest single collection of his paintings. Museum of Fine Arts. The Pier is one of 3 locations in Tampa Bay area for the Columbia Restaurant (another in Ybor and one in Sand Key). Great Cuban food and an awesome view of the Bay.

C.K.'s Revolving Restaurant on top of the Tampa International Airport, Bern's Steakhouse in Hyde Park area of Tampa, Hurricane Resaturant on Passe-A-Grille, John's Pass Boardwalk on Madeira Beach. There are some other great restaurants all along the beach.

If you like Mexican food, you must go to Carmelita's. They have three locations in Pinellas County.

That's all I could think of off the top of my head. There's a lot more stuff around here.



Well, the largest 4-year university in the state is in Tampa, plus 2 other colleges in the area, so there are plenty of 20-something women in the area.

 

[Chris Lockwood]

> Not sure we'd want to go there every night though.

Other than Thurs-Sat, it's pretty slow.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

I spent all my time when I was there at USCentcom HQ (down at MacDill AFB). However I don't know if they give tours to the general public......most of the staff are on holiday overseas at present anyway.

 

[Paul_Fisher]

I ate at an excellent restaurant on St. Pete beach once, it was called Hurricanes. Definately go there and get the grouper sandwich. Yummie!!!

 

[Michael*K]

Well, we're getting in town on May 3 for a Saturday-Thursday stay. Will be staying down on St. Pete Beach. Wouldn't mind catching a Lightning game, although I suspect they'll be out of the playoffs by the time I get there. Besides, having just watched another debacle of a season for the Blackhawks, watching playoff hockey is like rubbing salt in the wounds. :frowning:

Mons Venus...not sure the fully clothed woman I'm going with would be appreciative of the naked women there. Thanks for the suggestions so far.

 

[Brandon_T]

You could always go a little south to a place called Mote Marine research labs. It is a great place to see and learn about water life in the Florida region.

You can even touch some of the waterlife like sting rays. A search on google will easily find the info. If I am not mistaken, it is about half an hour or so south of Tampa. Have fun.

Brandon

 

[DavidAM]

Check out Whiskey Park on S. Howard Ave(in South Tampa...Hyde Park area....south of Kennedy Blvd) on a friday or saturday....tons of pretty women and lots of dollars floating around. I pulled up this friday around midnight and there was a 360 Ferrari and 911 Turbo by the door and tons of Benz's, BMW's and 911's all over the place. Its also a pretty casual place too....its like a big casual bar with pool tables, TV's, music in the background, patio area and restaurant area and most guys are in jeans and nice shirts with the occasional dressed up guy and even a couple in shorts. The girls are always looking top notch as they should. Hyde Park Cafe is also supposed to be fun, although I haven't made it there yet for some reason. Hyde Park also has a bunch of very good restaurants so you can grab a good meal then hit one of the bars and not have to drive far if at all. Ybor can be fun if you're younger and like running around with all the punks and trash (can be fun at times). Check out ticketmaster.com for any events going on when you're in town. I don't go out much in St.Pete so I can't help too much there. As you know I'm sure, you can hit the beaches anywhere's out there....to me Clearwater and Sand Key are the nicer beach areas. You can go down to Tierra Verde and Fort DeSoto Park and its nice beach area down there too and much more quiet if you're looking to get away, but that's way down on the tip. Madiera Beach/Treasure Island/Redington Shores beaches are more crushed shell than sand which I don't like, but if you do, then go there it you wanna beach it. Check out tampabay.com and digitalcity.com also....that should give you some info on things you might want to see/do. Good luck!

 

[Cees Alons]

When I was in Tampa, I actually drove to Orlando ........... Can't remember how far of a drive it was

About an hour. Also depends on the speed of course , and the traffic.

Cees

 

[Rob Lutter]

Also depends on the speed of course

And you have to drive on that unholy stretch of road... I-4 (dun dun dun).

I-4 is the only highway I have ever gotten into bumper-to-bumper traffic...
AT 3AM!!!

 

[Mathew Shelby]

If you like crabs, there is a great restaurant called Slammers. I will be moving to the area when I graduate in one month (for a non-paying internship-SUX) but Im still happy to be leaving school.

 

[nolesrule]

Tampa Bay Storm (Arena Football) have a home game Sunday May 4 at 3pm against the Dallas Desperados at the St. Pete Times Forum. Should be a good game. I actually cover the Storm games as a beat writer for an Arena Football website. Lot's of fun.

I forgot to mention the Florida Aquarium in the Channelside district near downtown Tampa a few blocks from the Forum) and the Clearwater Marine Science Center on Memorial Causeway on the way to Clearwater Beach.

And as everyone else has brought up, and I mentioned in my first post, the Hurricane Restaurant on Pass-A-Grille, which is not far from St. Pete Beach. Only a few blocks south of the Don CeSar (big pink hotel on St. Pete Beach, can't miss it). I'm going there tomorrow evening (Friday) for a combined bachelor/ette party for some friends who are getting married on Sunday.


I hate to give this guy a link because he makes it a pain just to copy a URL, but he's got some good listings of stuff to do: http://www.alltampabay.com/

 

[nolesrule]

I-4 sucks, always under construction. Too much Disney/Universal traffic.

And why they had to plop Orlando in the middle of a straight run from Tampa to Daytona I'll never know.

 

[Kevin Farley]

Skatepark of Tampa. Unbelievably good!