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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
* St. Petersburg/Clearwater Visitors Guide
The Top 10 Seafood Restaurants*
1st Bonefish Grill
St. Petersburg
www.bonefishgrill.com/Locator/details/st-petersburg-florida
2nd Guppy’s
Indian Rocks Beach
3rd Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
Clearwater
frenchysonline.com/locations/frenchys-rockaway/
4th Island Way Grill
Clearwater
5th Salt Rock Grill
Indian Rocks Beach
6th Fourth Street Shrimp Store
St. Petersburg
7th Mid Peninsula Seafood
St. Petersburg
8th Sea Sea Riders
Dunedin
9th Lobster Pot
Indian Rocks Beach
10th Crabby Bill’s
St. Pete Beach
