OT: Visit Tampa??

maidia · 12/05/2011, 09:12 AM

Hello all Tampa Reefers,
I am going to visit Tampa/Clear Water area on Dec 19-24. Any info would be help like Beach, Local Reef shop, Nature and shopping? Thanks for all your help.

forddna · 12/05/2011, 09:54 AM

Nice avatar!!!

For shopping, International Mall. They have EVERYTHING, plus a bit of nightlife..bars, restaurants, etc. It's a very nice mall. Good for people watching, too.

The best beaches are going to be over on the St Pete/Clearwater side. Those are gulf beaches versus the Tampa bay beaches.

Reef stores - definitely check out Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff. Some others are Coral Corral, Marine Warehouse, umm..my mind just went blank, but check the sticky on here.

Nature...there are tons of places. Hillsborough River State Park, Fort Desoto, again..drawing a blank. Someone else needs to chime in. There is also Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium.

Other fun - Busch Gardens (theme park with lots of wildlife).

CurtisL · 12/05/2011, 10:23 AM

Amanda has you covered!

maidia · 12/05/2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forddna

Nice avatar!!!

For shopping, International Mall. They have EVERYTHING, plus a bit of nightlife..bars, restaurants, etc. It's a very nice mall. Good for people watching, too.

The best beaches are going to be over on the St Pete/Clearwater side. Those are gulf beaches versus the Tampa bay beaches.

Reef stores - definitely check out Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff. Some others are Coral Corral, Marine Warehouse, umm..my mind just went blank, but check the sticky on here.

Nature...there are tons of places. Hillsborough River State Park, Fort Desoto, again..drawing a blank. Someone else needs to chime in. There is also Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium.

Other fun - Busch Gardens (theme park with lots of wildlife).

Quote:

Originally Posted by CurtisL

Amanda has you covered!

Thank you very much.

Stercus Accidit · 12/05/2011, 12:34 PM

I would chime in with a vote for Lido Beach, have been going there for 25yrs.

There is a park nearby as well

aznsnakeboy89 · 12/05/2011, 02:10 PM

Hi Mai, is that a picture of an Utter Chao zoanthids ?? really nice .

I just read this article couple days ago ... and Tampa bay ranked 97th in the saddest city.
http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/frown-towns.

maidia · 12/05/2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznsnakeboy89

Hi Mai, is that a picture of an Utter Chao zoanthids ?? really nice .

I just read this article couple days ago ... and Tampa bay ranked 97th in the saddest city.
http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/frown-towns.

Yes, it's an Utter Chao. Let me read the article.

TriggersAmuck · 12/05/2011, 03:28 PM

My personal picks:

Top (unique) restaurants:
Bern's Steakhouse
Columbia's (Cuban - Ybor City)

Top Beaches:
Ft. Desoto State Park, North Beach (St. Petersburg)
Siesta Key (Sarasota)
Ana Maria Island (multiple beaches - Bradenton)

Top LFS's:
Coral Corral
Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff

Top Nature Sites:
Ft. Desoto State Park / Egmont Key (via ferry)
Myaka State Park (Sarasota)

Top Architecture:
Frank Lloyd Wright buildings at Florida Southern College

Top (Unique) Museum:
Salvador Dali Museum (St. Petersburg)

Quaint:
St. Petersburg Harbor
Safety Harbor downtown and pier

maidia · 12/05/2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggersAmuck

My personal picks:

Top (unique) restaurants:
Bern's Steakhouse
Columbia's (Cuban - Ybor City)

Top Beaches:
Ft. Desoto State Park, North Beach (St. Petersburg)
Siesta Key (Sarasota)
Ana Maria Island (multiple beaches - Bradenton)

Top LFS's:
Coral Corral
Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff

Top Nature Sites:
Ft. Desoto State Park / Egmont Key (via ferry)
Myaka State Park (Sarasota)

Top Architecture:
Frank Lloyd Wright buildings at Florida Southern College

Top (Unique) Museum:
Salvador Dali Museum (St. Petersburg)

Quaint:
St. Petersburg Harbor
Safety Harbor downtown and pier

Thanks TriggersAmuck. It's a great info.

TriggersAmuck · 12/05/2011, 11:37 PM

And one more Tampa essential, and that is the architecture of University of Tampa (not to be confused with USF) with its historic Henry Plant Hotel/Museum and Russian style minarets which are quite a unique stark sight along the Hillsborough River!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TriggersAmuck

My personal picks:

Top (unique) restaurants:
Bern's Steakhouse
Columbia's (Cuban - Ybor City)

Top Beaches:
Ft. Desoto State Park, North Beach (St. Petersburg)
Siesta Key (Sarasota)
Ana Maria Island (multiple beaches - Bradenton)

Top LFS's:
Coral Corral
Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff

Top Nature Sites:
Ft. Desoto State Park / Egmont Key (via ferry)
Myaka State Park (Sarasota)

Top Architecture:
Frank Lloyd Wright buildings at Florida Southern College

Top (Unique) Museum:
Salvador Dali Museum (St. Petersburg)

Quaint:
St. Petersburg Harbor
Safety Harbor downtown and pier

oldsaint · 12/06/2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznsnakeboy89

I just read this article couple days ago ... and Tampa bay ranked 97th in the saddest city.
http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/frown-towns.

Well that article just makes me sad.

Enjoy your stay in the area. Don't forget to check out the Florida Aquarium or the Pier Aquarium. Also, if you have time I've always like Egmont key. Although it may be a little chilly out there.

maidia · 12/06/2011, 09:53 AM

Thank you all.

cside · 12/06/2011, 04:42 PM

I do not agree with that article at all. I love St. Pete and Tampa. Agree with triggers amuck

anbosu · 12/07/2011, 02:56 PM

If you enjoy kayaking/canoeing Weeki Watchee is a must in my opinion. I have never seen anything like it anywhere else.

12/05/2011, 09:12 AM	#1
maidia Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Prospect Posts: 1,575	OT: Visit Tampa?? Hello all Tampa Reefers, I am going to visit Tampa/Clear Water area on Dec 19-24. Any info would be help like Beach, Local Reef shop, Nature and shopping? Thanks for all your help. __________________ Mai Dia

12/05/2011, 09:54 AM	#2
forddna Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dothan, AL (Tampa native) Posts: 4,913	Nice avatar!!! For shopping, International Mall. They have EVERYTHING, plus a bit of nightlife..bars, restaurants, etc. It's a very nice mall. Good for people watching, too. The best beaches are going to be over on the St Pete/Clearwater side. Those are gulf beaches versus the Tampa bay beaches. Reef stores - definitely check out Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff. Some others are Coral Corral, Marine Warehouse, umm..my mind just went blank, but check the sticky on here. Nature...there are tons of places. Hillsborough River State Park, Fort Desoto, again..drawing a blank. Someone else needs to chime in. There is also Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium. Other fun - Busch Gardens (theme park with lots of wildlife). __________________ ~Amanda~ Fish are people, too!! Current Tank Info: 220g LPS/Softie, 54g Corner freshwater planted

12/05/2011, 12:34 PM	#5
Stercus Accidit Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Lakeland, FL Posts: 85	I would chime in with a vote for Lido Beach, have been going there for 25yrs. There is a park nearby as well __________________ 20g in progress

12/05/2011, 02:10 PM	#6
aznsnakeboy89 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Largo Posts: 394	Hi Mai, is that a picture of an Utter Chao zoanthids ?? really nice . I just read this article couple days ago ... and Tampa bay ranked 97th in the saddest city. http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/frown-towns. __________________ Reefing is an Art Reefer is an Artist Current Tank Info: 75 gallon tank

12/06/2011, 09:53 AM	#12
maidia Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Prospect Posts: 1,575	Thank you all. __________________ Mai Dia

12/05/2011, 10:23 AM	#3
CurtisL Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: South tampa Posts: 177	Amanda has you covered!

12/05/2011, 03:28 PM	#8
TriggersAmuck Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lutz, FL Posts: 754	My personal picks: Top (unique) restaurants: Bern's Steakhouse Columbia's (Cuban - Ybor City) Top Beaches: Ft. Desoto State Park, North Beach (St. Petersburg) Siesta Key (Sarasota) Ana Maria Island (multiple beaches - Bradenton) Top LFS's: Coral Corral Fish and Other Ichthy Stuff Top Nature Sites: Ft. Desoto State Park / Egmont Key (via ferry) Myaka State Park (Sarasota) Top Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright buildings at Florida Southern College Top (Unique) Museum: Salvador Dali Museum (St. Petersburg) Quaint: St. Petersburg Harbor Safety Harbor downtown and pier

12/06/2011, 04:42 PM	#13
cside Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Clearwater, Fl Posts: 380	I do not agree with that article at all. I love St. Pete and Tampa. Agree with triggers amuck

12/07/2011, 02:56 PM	#14
anbosu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel, Florida Posts: 2,531	If you enjoy kayaking/canoeing Weeki Watchee is a must in my opinion. I have never seen anything like it anywhere else.

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