I'm headed to St. Pete for spring break this year and do not know much about the area for boating. Any good marinas? Spots to not miss? Cool restaurants? I would like to keep my boat in a marina all week that is close to St. Pete Beach.

thanks for any heads up?
Ron

Lot's to do there. Fever Mike will be chiming in soon!

Get ahold of Nick, AKA, CigDaze here on the board. He lives in that area and has all the knowledge that you could possibly need. I have a place down in St Petes Beach but rarely get down that way anymore. You can call me if you would like to and Ill help you out the best I can. It truley is a great area to boat around in

518 361-6521

Bob Scanlon

Terra Verda Marina can handle performance boats and step bottoms if that is what you have. They are right there in St. Pete. There are lots of good resturants from simple and beachy to high end all up and down the beach for miles. My personal fav's are:
Guppy's
Salt Rock Grille
Lobster Pot
Snappers
Billy's Stone Crab
Frenchy's in Clearwater
Daquiry Deck
Carino's Italian Cafe
Gigi's Italian
Island Way Grille
Sea Critters
The Pub

Do you have sea strainers in your boat? There is a lot of sea-weed in that area; and you are going to want them.

Yes I do, but thanks for the heads up. I've got a 46 Cig with 1075s. I heard there are a lot of shallow areas too, a lot like the Keys. Somehow I tend to find those more than I want to. ;-)

Yes there are lots of shallow areas but if you stay in the channel or have someone with you that know the area you will be fine. I was all over St. Pete last week and no sea grass. That only happens at certain times of the year or after a huge storm.
If you have any questions about the water in the area let me know. Get a chart and watch the tides! Follow the chart or follow your chart plotter. If you would like me to show you around your 1st time out I'd be happy to.
I have never run a ground...I just know the area.

Yea I'd be his tour guide too! Bring that bad boy to Lake Lanier this summer and I'll show you how to get to cocktail cove and we won't run a ground - haha.

All great, here's a few more
Gators
Shepphards
Shell Island
Undertow (definately)

Tierra Verde Marina is really nice. If you're going to spend most of your time on the boat, you can stay at the Holiday Inn Sunspree and have your boat with you. Feel free to PM me if Fever Mike is too busy to show you around. I'm not far away and easily have my arm twisted to run down that way.