The Top Five

The Top 5 Beaches*

1st Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach is a hotspot for beach volleyball, water sports, and family activities like pirate ship cruises and boat tours. View www.clearwaterbeach.com/

2nd Caladesi & Honeymoon Islands

These pristine barrier island parks are renowned for their white sand and abundant wildlife. View www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/ and www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/

3rd Fort De Soto Park

Kids love all area beaches, but at Fort De Soto Park they can mix beach time with fishing, paddling, hiking, biking, camping, and exploring a historic fort. View www.fortdesoto.com/

4th Pass-A-Grille

Quaint, casual Pass-A-Grille has no high-rises or beachfront development, giving it an especially carefree feel. View www.pass-a-grillebeach.com/

5th Sunset Beach

This beach on Treasure Island is known for its welcoming attitude and mellow atmosphere. You’ll find beachfront bars and all amenities you need. View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/listings/7614/

* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide

[back to top]

The Top 5 Fishing Spots*

1st Sunshine Skyway

You don’t even need a license to fish the “world’s longiest fishing piers” for species like sharks, tarpon, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, and grouper. View www.skywaypiers.com

2nd Pier 60

Try night fishing (known for hauling in big snook) on this Clearwater Beach pier. The bait house has everything you need for your family fishing adventure. View pier60fishing.com/

3rd Fort De Soto Park

Anglers seek out this park’s diverse ecosystems, from flats to channels with overhanging mangroves and deep holes as well as two fishing piers (Gulf and Bay). View www.florida-fishing-insider.com/fort_desoto_state_park.html

4th Dunedin Causeway

Connecting mainland Dunedin to Honeymoon Island State Park, anglers line both sides of the causeway to take advantage of its easy Gulf access. View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/…/fishing-offshore-inshore-bridges-pi…

5th The Pier

Anglers can fish St. Pete’s iconic Pier 24 hours-a-day (license required). While you’re there, be sure to watch The Pier Bait House’s pelican feedings. View www.stpetepier.com/fishing.asp

* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide

[back to top]

The Top 5 Golf Courses*

1st Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club

The sprawling, scenic Copperhead Course, a regular stop on the PGA tour, ranks among the country’s finest. View www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/

2nd Belleview Biltmore Golf Club

The championship layout here has been restored to its classic Ross design. View belleviewbiltmoregolf.com/

3rd Renaissance Resort & Golf Club

Enjoy the lush resort course plus fine dining and golf lessons. View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/listings/1197/

4th Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club

Gardens and lakes dot challenging fairways at this bay front club. View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/listings/4704/

5th Dunedin Golf Club

It’s the only course in the world that is a Donald Ross creation and the former home to the PGA of America. View www.dunedingolfclub.com/

* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide

[back to top]

The Top 5 Beach Bars*

1st Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar

This Clearwater Beach landmark serves casual beach fare with live tunes on the wooden deck daily. View www.palmpavilion.com/

2nd Shephard’s Tiki Bar

This Clearwater Beach hotspot is the place for live music, dancing, and partying with fun-loving crowds. View www.shephards.com/entertainment/tiki-bar/index.cfm

3rd Caddy’s on the Beach

A favorite for locals and visitors, this classic bar and grill on Sunset Beach is hoppin’ day and night. View www.caddysotb.com/

4th Woody’s Waterfront Café & Beach Bar

Fish swim a few feet from your table at this retro-style bar on St. Pete Beach. View www.woodyswaterfront.com/

5th Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach

With 150 seats on its two-tiered Treasure Island deck, you’ll always snag the perfect sunset-watching spot. View www.sloppyjoesonthebeach.com/

* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide

[back to top]

The Top 5 Fun Festivals*

1st Clearwater Jazz Holiday

Savor four days and nights of amazing live performances at Coachman Park in October. View www.clearwaterjazz.com/

2nd Taste of Pinellas

Featuring tastes from top local restaurants, this annual food and music festival kicks off at Vinoy Park in St. Pete. Note festival is not scheduled in 2013. View www.allkids.org/ATOP_homepage.cfm?id=856

3rd Ribfest

Barbeque ribs are the star of this fun-filled charity fundraiser that also features live music, family fun, and more in downtown St. Pete. View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/articles/food-and-music-festivals

4th Gecko Fest

This family-style Mardi Gras event brings parades, beach games, and concerts to the Gulfport each September. View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/content/quirky-gecko-fest-942010

5th John Levique Pirate Days

A mock pirate invasion, parades, games, and more come to John’s Pass Village in Madeira Beach in May. View www.johnleviquepiratedays.com/

* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide

[back to top]

The Top 5 Shopping Spots*

1st International Plaza and Bay Street

The sprawling shopping and dining destination near Tampa airport offers four department stores, more than 200 specialty shops, and an open-air village of fine restaurants and small boutiques. View www.shopinternationalplaza.com/

2nd John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk

Over 50 shops in Madeira Beach promise a great variety of souvenirs and gifts. View www.johnspass.com/

3rd Dunedin’s Main Street

Art and antiques make for unique selections. View www.visitflorida.com/Dunedin/shopping

4th Downtown St. Pete

Along Beach Drive, find galleries, boutiques, and artsy, one-of-a-kind museum gift stores. View www.discoverdowntown.com/…/businessDirectory.aspx?categoryID…

5th Gulfport’s Art Village

This quaint, colorful artists’ haven is a hotspot for fine crafts and offbeat art. View www.floridasecrets.com/proddetail.php?prod=Gulfport

* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide

[back to top]

The Top 5 Museums*

1st Dali Museum

See the largest collection of Salvador Dali’s work outside of Spain at the new Dali Museum in downtown St. Pete. (See 3D interactive tour: go to VisitStPeteClearwater.com/AR). View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/articles/dali-downtown-st-pete

2nd Museum of Fine Arts

This downtown St. Pete museum features everything from Monet and O’Keeffe to ancient art. View www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/listings/73/

3rd Chihuly Collection Presented by Morean Arts Center

Admire Dale Chihuly’s incredible glass work in a gallery created just for his collection in downtown St. Pete. View www.chihulycollectionstpete.com

4th Dunedin Fine Arts Center

In scenic Dunedin, find inspiration with the Center’s rotating exhibitions and workshops. There’s also an interactive gallery space for kids. View www.dfac.org/

5th Armed Forces Military Museum

In Largo, learn about the sacrifice that comes with freedom through displays of authentic memorabilia, equipment, and artifacts along with audio/visual effects. View www.armedforcesmuseum.com/

* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide

[back to top]

The Top 5 Family Outings*

1st Clearwater Marine Aquarium

See under the sea in Clearwater. View www.seewinter.com/

2nd Busch Gardens Tampa & Adventure Island

Part zoo and part theme park, Tampa’s Busch Gardens promises plenty of thrills and spills. Nearby Adventure Island Water Park is a fun way to stay cool most of the year. View www.seaworldparks.com/BuschGardens and www.adventureisland.com/

3rd Rays Baseball Game

Head to St. Pete’s Tropicana Field for live MLB action and stick around for the Summer Concert Series on select Saturday nights. View tampabay.rays.mlb.com/

4th Fort De Soto Park

From camping to fishing, swimming to kayaking, and biking to exploring a fort, there’s enough to keep your family busy from sunrise to sunset. View www.fortdesoto.com/

5th Dolphin Tours

Don’t miss the excitement of spotting dolphins in the wild. Tours depart from Dolphin Landings in St. Pete Beach, John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk in Madeira Beach, and Clearwater Municipal Marina in Clearwater Beach. View www.adventurecruise.net/cruise9.htm www.johnspass.com/index.php/recreation/ www.clearwaterbeach.com/attractions