Tampa/ St. Petersburg
 

We have a free trip to Tampa next weekend 4 days/3nights. We are staying at Safety Harbor. I need suggestions on what to do and see in the area. I would like to visit some boat dealers or maybe do a fishing charter. Any other ideas are appreciated.

Nor-Tech is not to far from there, great factory tour, about 45 minutes to Ft Myers.

My bad, I thought I was staying in Tampa when I drove to NorTech.

Should be a fun trip. Safety Harbor is nice, but not too much action there.

Check out the St. Pete Pier for a nice day trip and sightseeing, Gators at John's Pass for lunch and a beer, Ybor City in Tampa for night life or any one of dozens of cool beach bars along Gulf Blvd in St. Pete beach--Our favorite is the Hurricane resterant. There are thousands of fishing charters available, do like Mike suggested. West Marine will have tons of info. Or hit John's Pass, you can catch 1/2 day and full day charters out of there at Hubbard's.

Thanks for the info we will be drivng down from Atlanta. Any suggestions for Fine Dining? Are there any dealers in Sarasota it sound pretty close.

Not sure about dealers, but you can check out the Donzi plant if you wish. They're in Sarasota.

You can go out to the Casino boat out of Tarpon Springs. Im not big on gambling but the boat is anchored out in international waters and they run a free ferry back and forth. Catch a ferry out just before sunset for a free sunset cruise. It takes about an hour to get to the boat. We were going to do this boat is was raining the night we were there.
If your in Sarasota on Sunday night I have a must do for you. Go out to the public beach on Siesta Key an hour or two before sunset. A group of bongo players and fire dancers put on a show as the sun sets. They only do it on Sunday night. Afterwards you can grab dinner at any of the open restaurants in Siesta Village. If your in the Sarasota area I would also try a visit to Myakka River state park. They have air boat rides and nature hikes if your into that sort of thing.

FeverMike, was that you I saw leaving Marina Jacks in Sarasota a couple weeks ago with 3 or 4 guys om board?

Suncoast Powerboats in Sarasota seems to have a good deal of boats for sale on the internet. I dont know if they are brokered boats that are there or not. I agree that Mayaka is nice for the nature stuff. The Green Iguana in ybor city is a prety cool place because its right on the water. Too bad its not two weeks later I would be all moved down by then. I cant wait to get out of this cold weather and get boating!!
Todd




P5-48 Navigator
Hilsingermotorsports.com

What about Spectre? It is in Clearwater, about a 30 min drive. I have been there a few times. Give them a call and they will walk you around the plant.

A good idea might be to go to clearwater marina on your first evening.I think most full day fishing charters return between 4 and 5 pm,that way you can see who's catching fish and what kind.Afterwards dinner at one of the restaruants with a sunset view.Frenchy's at the north beach is great casual dinning right on the beach famuos for their Grouper sandwiches.International mall near the tampa airport has some upscale shopping and dinning that's always popular with ladies.plenty of things to do,I believe Cirque de la solei starts that weekend in StPete.Are you staying at the spa,If you should take a walk down main street a check the shops for a copy oh the Weekly Planet.Its a local magazine with tons of info for whats going on in the area.Also I think the Gasparilla Knight parade is that weekend if your adventerous,kind of like a mini Mardi Gras in Ybor.Have fun and let us know how you like Tampa bay!

Magnum, If you have any more info on Cirque de solei, I would love to be able to catch the show. How do I make arrangements to visit one of the Factorys?
Thanks
Dave

If your looking for an upscale steak house go to Berns.

Go to TBO.com,it has info and links to purchase tickets .Also forgot,the Florida state fair may still be running if your into that.

Hey Blown, Alegria is the Cirque De Soleil show that will be starting in St. Pete on the 19th at The Tropicana Field. I think the tix are like $70 for pretty decent seats.

There is a Green Iguana in Ybor City, but it's not on the water. Ybor is close to downtown Tampa and is an old cuban district. There ARE two Green Iguana Clubs on the water though: One is in Rocky Pointe, on the Courtney Campbell Causeway, crossing from Tampa to Clearwater, and then there is another in St. Pete. Pretty fun place to hang out, and you can look across the bay and see the city.

Hope you have a great time while you're here in Tampa :)

Dirty ;) Also if ya get a chance on the weekend to make it out to St. Petes Beach there is a real nice little bar on the Beach called the Undertow its the HOT spot :D
Rag's

If any of the Tampa bay area OSOr's dont have any thing going on next weekend I'm coming from texas to race at East Bay Raceway we will be there thurs fri & sat nights.I dont post alot but I read the boards every day & it would be cool to meet some of you. If you make it look for this car and hollar at me.

Rags, you've been to The Undertow? You happening guy you!! :) Stormin's is another good place to go as well...

Kyle, where is East Bay Raceway? Riverview? Brandon? I hear about it all the time, but have no idea where it is. I know East Bay High School is in Ruskin, but I don't think there is a race track there, unless it's built around all the tomato farms :)

Its on us41 right there at the cargill fertilizer mountain.I think its Gibsonton.

Blown42:

Don't forget "Da man" Will Smith, he's in Sarasota.
He'll be glad to give you a close up look at how a real boat is built.
:eek: ;) :D

Rags at Undertow. He is on the right.

I belive it is in gibsonton.

OK, thanks. Gibsonton/Riverview is only a few miles from me. I might try to get over there on Friday......

Thanks for the pic cuda.....did ya ever find out about that Sun Drop? *tsk tsk* :D

Your right it was not the one in Ybor it was the one in St Pete that was on the water we were at. We had so much going on that weekend I guess I got confused.

Blown 42,

We work with a lot of the fishing charter captains. There are many different types of charters. Small boats, big boats, off shore, flats, etc. If you give us a call we would be glad to give you some names of captains who do the type of charters you may be looking for or any other info on the area.

Matt
877 842 6855 toll free

Where exactly is the Undertow?

It's on St Pete Beach just north of the Don Cesar on Gulf Blvd.

Undertow is a cool place we stopped by one night just before close. It would have been nice to spend a little more time there.

Was thinking of going to Rattlefish this Sunday afternoon. Has anyone been there? It is located next to Bayside Marina right before Gandy. Great food, drinks, and good boat docks.

Good food in Tampa- Try the Yellow Door. Very good food and a great small quiet place for a date.

We are in the process of buying a home in the Largo/Seminole area.
Have been there quite a lot, (that's why I am buying there), but I am not familiar with a lot of these waterfront establishments.
Will need some guidance from you local west coast boys. :D

That's right where I live, near Bardmoor.

Cuda,

I've seen frontal pics of you on your Formula............but I am just wondering about that sexy tatoo above those sharkskin tights on your avatar? :eek: :D

:D :D

You gotta admit I have a nice azz! :D

I really don't want to verify that!:D :D :D

Thanks to everyone for all of the suggestions, Some one else told me there was a nite parade in Y'bor this weekend? Throttle up I will try to give you a call in regards to Fishing. I want to be on a big comfortable boat and catch big fish. Thats not asking to much is it.

Hey Blown42,

You heard right. On Feb 21 in Ybor they will have the St. Yago Knight Parade, which is part of the Gasparilla festivities. It's very reminiscent of Mardi Gras...Bring beads. :D :D :D

http://ae.tbo.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...l&eventID=6766

Here's a preview:
http://www.pimpdaddy.com/sightings/2...ampa/index.php

and more:
http://www.tampabaydrunks.com/pics.htm