ESCOBAR

Hello everyone! I need some Information and some help. Yes I do live in Oldsmar FL but I have my Sister and her Family coming to Tampa next month which will be a group of 8 people total. My Brother-In-Law is going to bring his 21ft boat from Ga. So, I thought it would be a good Idea to put the boat in the water at Ft. Desoto Park then go to Egmont Key. After a day at the beach the family would like to go to any restaurants that you can get to by boat then eat. Then later in the week we would like to cruise around Pass a Grille then take a look at the Don Cesar Resort then take a cruise to Clearwater then to Honeymoon Island. I would like some help on where are some great places to go see and eat that is near Ft. Desoto park. Thanks!

boating37

Will be going down leaving From St. Pete to watch the races
July 3rd I believe who else is going?

happy hours

I live in St. Pete. Egmont is a great time and typically that is where we go to anchor and chill. Unfortunately not much good to eat between Fort D and there. If you cruise north up ICW Frenchies in Clearwater is great food as is salt rock if you want little higher end. Watch the channels, there are lots of shallow water outside the channels. If you end up launching at Fort D and go out Bounces Pass be aware the channel moves ALOT and almost all charts and GPS show channel in wrong place. On weekends there will be lots of traffic so follow a boat (not a flats boat) and pay attention.

CigDaze

Eggmont's awesome. Your family will love spending the day there exploring the island. Just watch the tides and currents. It can be quite swift there and you'll want someone on the lookout at all times if you're on the hook.

There aren't really too many restaurants very nearby, but the two nearest I can think of would be "The Warf" on the intercoastal side of St. Pete beach - it's a nice little place that's a local's favorite hangout, nothing fancy, but decent and fun. Docking is very limited though.
http://www.wharfrestaurant.org/

And literally right next door to that is another place called Sea Critters. It's much the same with a slightly different flair.

But my favorite place is on Longboat Key called Mar Vista. It's a nice little 20 minute cruise from Ft. Desoto and you can either take the inside on rough days or the outside when it's calm. I highly recommend it.
http://marvista.groupersandwich.com/

ESCOBAR

Thank you everyone! I can’t wait in till my Sister and her Family come down to Florida for 6 whole days of fun in the sun. I think I am going to check out Mar Vista on Longboat key since I have not been in Sarasota in years. Then on the next trip I am thinking of taking them to Sea Critters then to The Magnuson Hotel that is past Pinellas Bayway Bridge and past US-19 on the left hand side. Has anyone tried or been to:

Sea Horse Restaurant
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ci...IJLKzATugsitDg


Sloppy Pelican Restaurant
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ci...M47KzgTpsPG7Dg

Woodys Waterfront
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ci...IamCygS9v529Dg

Ocean Breeze Lounge and Tapas Grille
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ci...LKSEywTdnZibDg


Then on Anna Maria Island:

Tortilla Bay Southwest Grille
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ci...C4-IyQS7vI27Bw

Question? Does a Magellan GPS that is pluged in to a car work the same way if you plug it into a boat? Or do I have to get a Boat GPS? If I do need a GPS for a Boat where would I find one in the bay area that sells them?

happy hours

I have never looked but I bet a car GPS will just show solid color for water and what you are really after is channels and depth contours. I say buy a local chart and pay attention.

florida gator

I second and highly recommend both the Wharf and Mar Vista. Great buffalo shrimp at the Wharf. Great margaritas and fish spread at Mar Vista. Another great one to try is Billys Stone Crab on Tierra Verde. Accesible by boat through Shell Island.

florida gator

I have been to Woodys and Sloppy Pelican. Woodys doesn't take credit cards so bring cash and doesn't have a dock. Sloppy Pelican is good and so is Twisted Tarpon acroos the street but same dock. There is also Sea Hags further up Blind Pass.

GTOFFSHORE

We go to sloppy pelican a lot when we are in st pete and also mar vista and moores which is next door. We actually go to those two every weekend for dinner now. Besides eggmont when you come down the ic at the end of ami check out beer can alley. Great place to beach out compared to eggmont.

FullAuto9

Were going, almost every boat in the area turns up for this race :-)