Getaway Idea Details - - Floridians.VISITFLORIDA.com: Florida's Official Travel Planning Site for Floridians

START A NEW SEARCH


	Look for the "Add to Your Favorites" icon to add getaway ideas to your Favorites.

View an electronic copy of our special Floridians Getaways publication.

Adventure for All Ages in St. Petersburg/Clearwater
By Janet Fusco

this getaway has a user rating of one (1) star

(894)

add a comment

With


The beaches of St. Petersburg/Clearwater welcome all ages

summer winding down, the kids and I can't resist taking a weekend beach escape while the water's still warm. After a little brainstorming, we come to a unanimous decision on where to go to get out of town. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area – with its prime Gulf coast location and umpteen family attractions – wins out as the close-to-home getaway of choice.

From our hotel balcony overlooking Sand Key Pass and the blue-green Gulf of Mexico, it's easy to put aside our everyday realities: daily deadlines, homework, laundry, sibling rivalry, the upkeep on an aging cat. Instead, the kids and I concentrate on relaxing.

We walk down to the water's edge to watch a fleet of sailboats move southwesterly in the breeze. With sand between our toes and the sun shining on our faces, we feel like life is always going to be this simple, this satisfying. I realize that when you don't have time for a vacation, you probably need one the most.

When it's time for you to make your own escape to one of the state's best family beach destinations, remember these ideas for gearing the fun to your own children's ages and interests.

Fun With Preschoolers
With 35 miles of soft, white sands and typically calm surf, you can't go wrong with preschoolers on the beaches of St. Petersburg/Clearwater. From the dunes and sea oats of quiet Pass-A-Grille Beach to the action-packed sands of Clearwater Beach, this is what family vacations are all about. (In fact, Dr. Beach rated Fort De Soto Park "America's #1 Beach" in 2005 and Caladesi Island as #2 in both 2006 and 2007.)

Build a sandcastle, splash in the shallows, watch tiny coquina clams dig their way into the sand at the water's edge and take a mental snapshot of your kids at this wonderful age, when the simplest things bring them joy.

When you want a break from the beach, explore St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront. A pathway winds all along this scenic area. Here, your little ones can stretch their legs as they watch sea birds soar and fish jump. Have lunch at The Pier and visit its small aquarium (plenty big enough to keep a preschooler's attention). Then buy an ice cream cone and head up to the observation deck for a great view of Tampa Bay.

If you'd like to have a romantic dinner out with your spouse, or spend some one-on-one time with an older child, consider lodgings that offer a kids' program, as we did. Many area resorts offer programs year ‘round,


The Pier offers dining, an aquarium and great views of Tampa Bay

including the TradeWinds Island Resorts, the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort and the Don CeSar Beach Resort, A Loews Hotel. Other hotels and resorts offer programs seasonally.

Entertaining Elementary-Aged Kids
Children are fascinated by the natural world at this age, and John's Pass Village & Boardwalk in Madeira Beach and the Clearwater Municipal Marina on Clearwater Beach are great "jumping off" spots for nature exploration. Both offer dolphin-watching, shelling and boat trips to Fort De Soto Park.

Junior bird watchers will enjoy a visit to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, which rescues and rehabilitates injured pelicans, herons and egrets, among other avian species.

For kids ages four or five and older, Captain Memo's Original Pirate Cruise is a can't-miss activity. As we climbed onboard the big red pirate ship, my son and daughter were issued a pirate hat and a firearm (okay, a water pistol). There were treasure hunts, water games and pirate yarns, and we even spotted a few dolphins. Our sunset cruise ended with a lively dance party on the deck. The kids loved it.

Make sure to explore the Pier 60 area, with its giant inflatable slides, bungee-harness rides and huge playground. A family-friendly sunset celebration with live entertainment takes place here every night.

Action for 'Tweens and Teens
Much of the area along the beaches, and particularly Clearwater Beach, is pedestrian-friendly. There are plenty of places to shop, dine out and find activities, all within easy walking distance – or trolley ride – of area hotels. This, along with a very active beach scene, makes St. Petersburg/Clearwater a terrific destination for older kids.

There's always a volleyball game going on and a parade of people to watch, not to mention parasail rides, Jet Ski and WaveRunner rentals and high-speed boat rides such as Sea Screamer and Sea Thriller. It's sure to be a hit with your ‘tweens and teens.

For more information on planning your in-state getaway to St. Petersburg/Clearwater, call the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 877-352-3224 or visit www.FloridasBeach.com.

Janet Fusco has traveled in and written about the Sunshine State since she moved here from the snowy north about 20 years ago. Her special interests are nature-based and family travel.


	1 2 3 4 5

RSS Feeds

fffffffffffff Not a Floridian? Check out VISITFLORIDA.com.
Want more travel ideas? Subscribe to our eNewsletter.

is a registered trademark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation. The content for has been provided both by professional travel writers and by individual consumers. The opinions expressed in the getaway ideas, Floridians' Favorites and readers' comments do not necessarily represent those of VISIT FLORIDA. To send a comment to the site editor, . All material© 2001- 2009 by VISIT FLORIDA™, all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. Please report problems to our . View our .