ANNUAL Christmas Boat Parade

Holiday boat paradeThe annual Holiday Boat Parade is Sunday, Dec. 14.The boats depart at 6 p.m. from the Tom Stuart Causeway in Madeira Beach and get to The Pub Waterfront Restaurant in Indian Shores around 9 p.m.Viewing from the Indian Shores Town Hall will be from approximately 8 to 8:30 p.m.The rain date is Dec. 19. Donations are still needed for the parade and can be dropped off at town offices.

Holiday Happenings in the Tampa Bay Beaches

Here is a short list of cool Holiday goings on in the region this month!

Enjoy rides, games and food samples at the Christmas Carnival at John's Pass Village and Boardwalk, 150 John's Pass Boardwalk, Madeira Beach, which runs throough Sunday. Sidewalk sales featuring Christmas specials and free gift wrapping begin at 10 a.m. Proceeds go to local charities.

Holiday in the Park Winterfest at the England Brothers Bandshell, 5121 80th Ave. N, Pinellas Park. The free two-day festival will feature hayride tours of light displays, arts and crafts, children's train rides, photos with Santa, pony rides and more.

Winter Wonderland kicks off in Clearwater for three days of fun for the family. Enjoy pony rides, bouncy houses, a petting zoo, pictures with Santa and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. And there also are charity drives for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and needy families. Just bring a non-perishable food item or unwrapped new toy for donation. Cash donations also will be accepted.

Foodies' Holiday Gifts Galore class. Take away a festively decorated mix in a jar, cup, bag or pot with easy finish-at-home instructions. Classes are at 2 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 13. It's $4-8 per gift, you decide how many, at Foodies, 2312 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg. Reservations required at (727) 209-1418.

Cracker Country's Discover the Past event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Enjoy live music of the period, holiday crafts and other educational activities. Admission is $6 adults, $5 ages 6-12; ages 5 and younger are free. Cracker Country is at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N Tampa, (813) 627-4225.

"Snow" will be falling in downtown St. Petersburg on Saturday at the annual Santa Parade and Snowfest beginning at 10 a.m. The AL champion Tampa Bay Rays are the grand marshals at this year's parade, which begins at Fifth Street and Central Avenue.

The Soulful Arts Dance Academy’s fifth annual production of Black Nativity will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Tickets are free but have been going fast so check with Soulful Arts to see if they are available.

The Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis on Sunday features a 5K competitive run and a 1-mile fitness walk. Participants wear jingle bells on their shoes. Free food and beverages after the run. It begins at 8 a.m. at the Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. Pre-registration is $20; $25 race day. Students receive $5 discount. Call (813) 968-7000.

Best of Tampa Bay Restaurants

Vacation travelers are always asking about the great restaurants in our area. We found a fantastic source of information for anyone visiting the beaches!

Tampa Bay Chefs is a restaurant TV cooking show airing every Sunday at 4:30pm on the My TV Tampa Bay Networks.







For channel information, check your local Tampa Bay Listings in your TV Guide.


Check them out for all your dining decisions

Funny Vacation Video

Just a great Beach Vacation Video - Had to Share

Thanksgiving on Indian Shores

Its that time of year again. Thanksgiving.

If you are like me, while you have a lot to be thankful for, there are plenty of things that were just not good this year.

Real Estate was terrible, your 401 k evaporated, and gas hit almost $5.00 where I live.

Well - to all our readers please forget the bad for one day and think about the good. Its really all you can do anyway!

I will be spending the Holiday on my favorite beach in the world - Indian Shores.

My family and I will be eating at the best restaurant (in our opinion - and sorry Salt Rock Grille) that opened earlier this year, the Middle Grounds. You can read about the restaurant in an earlier posting here!

Its already snowed in most of the midwest this year so the "cool" forecast of 72 degrees for Thanksgiving will be enough to be thankful for. Sitting on the deck of our Florida Vacation Rental is the only way to enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend (That and FSU beating the Gators - Hopefully)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Signed

Sunny Vacations!

Tampa / St Petersburg has Something for Everyone

The Tampa/Clearwater area is famous for its award winning beaches and 361 average days of sunshine, both of which are free! The beach isn't the only thing for thrifty vacationers though, there are lots of free and inexpensive attractions in the St. Pete/Clearwater area. You don't need a car to enjoy these activities either. Unlimited GO Cards for buses and trolleys are available for only $4 a day or $20 a week and can get you all over the area, from Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach, to Boyd Hill Nature Park in south St. Petersburg.

Wake up early and catch a sunrise from the St. Petersburg Pier, overlooking the calm waters of Tampa Bay. The Pier is also perfect for early morning fishing or just relaxing and watching the day unfold. If you are there on a Sunday, admission to the aquarium is only $2.50, and $5 the rest of the week.

If you get hungry, nearby Central Avenue and the surrounding area offers dozens of bistros and specialty restaurants featuring lunches for less than $10. Some pizza and sandwich shops also have meal specials including drinks for only $5. And like in every major city, you can always stop at a street corner and grab a hot dog or other local fare.

Another great place to start the day is a historic district that encompasses the southern end of St. Pete Beach. Stroll through the old Florida community of Pass-A-Grille and stop in to one of many art shops. Or, grab an egg sandwich or fruit bowl at one of the local snack shacks or delis and head over to the nearby Merry Pier for breakfast on the water. You can also fish right off the pier, and bait, rod and reel rentals are available right at the dock.

You can also stop by one of the many local Chamber Offices to pick up area information and discount coupons to local attractions and activities.

After lunch take a trip to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. This 245 acre award winning park is located along the shores of Lake Maggiore, and features more than three miles of trails and boardwalks. It is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and has an environmental education center with full size replicas of the inhabitants of Lake Maggiore. It also offers a playground and picnic areas, making this a perfect spot for a family outing.

If you started your day on the beach or just feel like taking a trip there, cruise over to Indian Shores and visit the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is open 365 days a year from 9am to sunset with free admission, and is home to hundreds of wild birds from dozens of species. Up to 10,000 wild injured birds are admitted to the hospital each year for care, and the sanctuary ranks among the largest and most successful wild bird hospitals in the United States.

Great Things to Do in St Pete Beach

ATTRACTIONS PEER OVER THE PIER: It's the city's landmark, that inverted pyramid that juts a half mile into Tampa Bay from downtown's shores. The Pier, attracting two million visitors a year, is a five-story marketplace with shops and restaurants, The Pier Aquarium, an observation deck, a bait shop and more (727-821-6443).

STROLL THROUGH THE GARDENS: Everything is in bloom at Sunken Gardens, an exotic collection of more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers. The four-acre botanical attraction features a butterfly garden, wedding lawn, a walk-through aviary with exotic species of birds, and an orchid arbor. This garden is open seven days a week. (727-551-3100).

TAKE THE HIGH WAY: The Sunshine Skyway, the Interstate-275 bridge that connects the southern tip of St. Petersburg with Manatee County and Sarasota to the south, is one of the largest suspension bridges in the Western Hemisphere, measuring 4.1 miles long and 19 stories high (more than 160 feet above the shipping channel leading into Tampa Bay). The toll is $1, each way.

SWING ON THE BOULEVARD: Baseball Boulevard, a series of home-plate plaques, tells an interesting 90-year history of St. Petersburg's love affair with baseball's spring training. The sidewalk plaques lead from Progress Energy Park/Al Lang Field to Tropicana Field, mostly along the south side of Central Avenue.

TAKE A WALK OF FAME: Visit the Tampa Bay Walk of Fame, located at the west side entrance to Tropicana Field. Here, dozens of sports legends who hail from the 11-county Tampa Bay metro are recognized - including Tampa Bay Bucs great Lee Roy Selmon, baseball all-star Wade Boggs, Babe Zaharias, the greatest woman athlete of all time, and Olympic and world champion swimmer Nicole Haislett. Free.

TAKE A RIDE: Wheel Fun Rentals offers Two, four and six-seater surrey bikes can be rented across fromt the Peir Bait House.

MUSEUMS FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELT: St. Petersburg is the birthplace of scheduled aviation. In 1914, pilot Tony Jannus flew the Benoist Airboat from St. Petersburg to Tampa on the world's first scheduled airline flight, transporting St. Petersburg Mayor Abe Pheil and a bag of mail. View a full-scale, operational replica of the historic airboat at the St. Petersburg Museum of History's Flight #1 Pavilion (727-894-1052).

GET SURREAL: The world's most comprehensive collection of Salvador Dali's surrealistic art works is housed at St. Petersburg's world-class Salvador Dali Museum, downtown on Bayboro Harbor (727-823-3767).

MAKE A LASTING FRENCH IMPRESSION: Six original Monets, along with other works by Fragonard, Vigee-Lebrun, Morisot, Renoir, Cezanne and Gauguin, comprise an impressive body of French Impressionism at the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts. One of the best museums in the Southeast, the collection also includes a wealth of European, American, pre-Columbian and Far Eastern art, and an exquisite Steuben crystal gallery (727-896-2667).

REMEMBER THE HOLOCAUST: St. Petersburg's newest museum leaves a most memorable impression. The fourth largest Holocaust museum in the country, the Florida Holocaust Museum is housed in downtown St. Petersburg. The centerpiece of the museum is a Polish Boxcar used to transport victims to the death camps during World War II. The museum features an art exhibit including an acclaimed outdoor sculpture entitled "Endless Column" (727-820-0100).

KEEP IN TOUCH: At Great Explorations Museum, you don't just look at the exhibits. You touch them. Move them. Explore them. And, in some cases, you actually become part of them (727-821-8992).

JEWELED OBJECTS OF DESIRE: Florida International Museum -- From the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. This exhibit opens up visions of delight with exquisite, unique and whimsical decorative arts formed out of jade, ivory, semi-precious stones, gold and silver, embellished with such stars of the natural world as diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies. This exhibit is created especially for FIM's salute to the Smithsonian.

EXPERIMENT WITH SCIENCE: The Science Center of Pinellas County offers a nature trail, static electricity exhibit, antique microscopes, minerals and ores, corals, an African-American exhibit, a replica of a mid-16th Century Indian village, and an observatory (727-384-0027).

VISIT OUTER SPACE: From September to May, special presentations and viewings are held at the St. Petersburg College Planetarium, a sky theater under a 7.3-meter domed ceiling projection screen (727-341-4320).

ARTS, EVENTS & CULTURE GET FESTIVE: The Festival of States is St. Petersburg's premier festival, celebrating for more than 80 years of springtime events, parades, music, arts, food and entertainment. All year long, St. Petersburg hosts 1,000 events in its downtown facilities and waterfront parks, ranging from food fests to jazz concerts and sports events to Shakespeare festivals (727-893-7039).

BROWSE WITH THE HIGH BROWS: In addition to St. Petersburg's world class museums, the visual arts are vibrant in the Sunshine City. More than two dozen galleries comprise the Downtown Art Association, and open their doors on the second Saturday evening each month for a downtown gallery hop. Three galleries of note: Headquarters of American artist P. Buckley Moss, the Florida Craftsmen guild's statewide gallery, and the Arts Center of St. Petersburg (727-821-7391 or 822-7872).

GET IN THE ACT: Theater comes to St. Petersburg at a number of venues. The Mahaffey Theater for the Performing Arts at the Bayfront Center raises the curtain on a season of national artists and Broadway musicals (727-892-5767). And, Florida's top-ranked resident professional theater, American Stage, performs highly acclaimed works from its intimate theater downtown and each spring during its outdoor Shakespeare festival, American Stage in the Park (727-823-PLAY). The Palladium, originally a church sanctuary renovated into a community venue for performing arts, presents orchestra and opera, drama and dance, concerts and more (727-822-3590).

WALK THROUGH HISTORY: St. Petersburg's downtown streets are lined with hexagon block sidewalks, some of Florida's best Mediterranean-Revival style architecture, and two dozen properties located on the National Historic Register. Pick up a list of historic sites from the city's Planning Department (One Fourth Street N.), or a historic walking tour brochure from the St. Petersburg Museum of History (335 Second Avenue NE). Guided walking tours are offered by St. Petersburg Preservation (727-824-7802).

DATELINE: ST. PETERSBURG. Reminisce with early citrus growers or recall the Pass-a-Grille hurricane of 1921. Remember the Amazing Mets who wintered here or read of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse as The St. Petersburg Times presents A WALK THROUGH TIME. The free display of 20 replica front pages from the St. Petersburg Times depicts significant events from our city's past. It is located in the first floor promenade of the BayWalk Parking Garage, between the Millennium Gateway sculpture and First Avenue N. (near Second Street).


DUST OFF SOME ANTIQUES: A thriving antique district lines both sides of Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg. Collectors will find more than a hundred antique shops in the city - and many within this eclectic five-block stretch of Central between Sixth and Eighth Streets.

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY: The Coliseumin downtown St. Petersburg was featured in the motion picture "Cocoon." Now restored, it boasts one of America's largest dance floors - 13,000 square feet of polished maple - and vintage 1924 architecture. Its event calendar includes regularly scheduled ballroom dancing, a Big Band series, swing dances, sock hops, country-western dancing, gala events and more (727-892-5202).

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: From sports bars by Tropicana Field, jazz bars on Central Avenue and nonstop entertainment at BayWalk, St. Petersburg comes alive after dark. Enjoy dinner in one of many fine downtown restaurants, followed by live music and entertainment at a number of venues. The newest entertainment spot, BayWalk/ Muvico 20, offers a 20-screen cinema with stadium seating, designer retail shops and theme dining establishments, along with martini and daiquiri bars (Baywalk, 727-895-9277 or Muvico, 727-502-9573).

GET A LECTURE: Outstanding educational institutions in St. Petersburg offer enriching lecture series all year long, including the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg College, and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies (727-821-9494). PARKS PARK IT: Pop a picnic basket under bright sunshine and palm trees in one of St. Petersburg's 125 city parks covering 2,500 acres. Along the downtown waterfront, there are seven miles of lushly landscaped waterfront parks (727-893-7335).

GO WILD: Visit Boyd Hill Nature Preserve,a city-owned 245-acre preserve along the shores of Lake Maggiore. This award-winning park features nature trails, an environmental studies area, an outdoor classroom, a conference center, a pioneer settlement/living history park, and the newly expanded Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center. (727-893-7326).

LIE UNDER A PALM TREE: A wide variety of native palm trees grow at the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum, part of downtown's North Shore Park. The unique arboretum features a variety of more than 200 palms, benches and brick walkways. Free (727-893-7335).

SUN & FUN BEACH IT: Three of the Top 20 beaches in the United States are in Pinellas County. From St. Petersburg, the closest and most pristine is Fort DeSoto, a 900-acre county preserve consisting of five islands, seven miles of undeveloped beaches, a camp ground, boat ramps, fishing piers, paved fitness trails and a historic fort. The sugary-white sands of St. Petersburg's 500-foot Gulf-front municipal beach on Treasure Island is certified annually by the National Clean Beaches Council as an outstanding environmentally-friendly "Blue Wave" beach.

DIVE IN: Swimming enthusiasts will enjoy all of St. Petersburg's nine public pools, and especially the North Shore Pool downtown. This Olympic-sized swimming pool is heated and open year round, and is the training home of Olympic champions and one of the largest Masters Swim Clubs in the United States (727-893-7727).

GO FISH: St. Petersburg's 244-mile shoreline is abundant with great fishing haunts that yield delicious catches of grouper, mullet and sheepshead. In addition to deep sea fishing charters, popular fishing piers are located at the St. Petersburg Pier, old Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Fort DeSoto Park.

FLOAT YOUR BOAT: No better place for recreational boating than St. Petersburg. More recreational boaters call Tampa Bay home than any other port in Florida. Within an easy stroll of downtown museums, shops and restaurants is St. Petersburg's Municipal Marina - the largest in Florida - with 610 boat slips and dockage for visiting vessels. Downtown, there are 22 boater-based businesses and a total of 1,500 dockages, and daily rentals of everything from a pontoon boat to a luxury yacht with crew. There are also sightseeing excursions along the St. Petersburg coast (727-821-6443).

HOIST A SAIL: The calm waters of Tampa Bay are ideal for learning to sail. The St. Petersburg Sailing Center at downtown's municipal marina offers sailing lessons. Several private companies can also teach you the tacks of sailing. (727-822-3113).

FEED A PELICAN: St. Petersburg's proud symbol is the endangered brown pelican. This marine bird normally feeds on bait fish that swim near the surface of the water. During cooler months, though, the fish swim deeper than the birds can dive, threatening the pelicans' food supply. The Pelican Fund, a volunteer organization, feeds St. Petersburg's brown pelicans at Spa Beach on The Pier daily at 4 p.m. whenever the water temperature drops below 65-68 degrees.

RECREATION HIT THE TRAIL: The Pinellas Trail is a 47-mile fitness trail built on abandoned railways. One of the longest linear parks in the United States, it runs from Tarpon Springs to the north to its terminus in south St. Petersburg (727-549-6099).

MAKE A RACQUET: St. Petersburg Tennis Center is the site where Chris Evert won her first professional tennis match. Opened in 1928, the historic center offers public play on 15 Har-Tru Clay Courts, day or night. Elsewhere in St. Petersburg, there are 66 public tennis courts (727-823-2225).

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: Hop on a pair of in-line skates and explore the downtown waterfront and Mediterranean-Revival style neighborhoods of Snell Isle and Granada Terrace.

DRIVE YOURSELF CRAZY: St. Petersburg is home to three acclaimed municipal golf courses, Mangrove Bay, Cypress Links, and Twin Brooks. In addition, there are numerous privately-operated championship golf courses in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area (727-893-7800).

WALK INTO WEEDON: Take a walk along three miles of boardwalk and paved trails at Weedon Island, a pristine and natural resource once home to Seminole Indians. The park features a 50-foot-high look out site over Tampa Bay waters that shows a panoramic view of downtown St. Petersburg, Tropicana Field, and Tampa. An ideal park for biking, blading, canoeing, and birdwatching.

SPORTS & FITNESS SPEED THROUGH THE STREETS: The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, an Indy Racing Series street race, takes to a demanding 1.7 mile race course through downtown St. Petersburg each April (727-824-7223).

GET INTO THE SWING OF THINGS: St. Petersburg has been crazy for baseball since hosting Florida's first spring training in 1914 with the St. Louis Browns. Currently, more than half of the 18 teams that train each spring in Florida play in the Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Bay Rays call the city home for both spring training (Progress Energy Park/Al Lang Field) and during the regular season at Tropicana Field (727-825-3250).

SEE THE PROS: In addition to Major League Baseball with the Rays, the St. Petersburg area is home to many professional franchises, including three world champion franchises - NHL Tampa Bay Lightning, NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Storm arena football team.

TRI SOMETHING NEW: St. Anthony's Triathlon is a season opener on the professional triathlon circuit, attracting some of the sport's biggest names and 3,000 competitors with a purse of $30,000. Athletes converge on the downtown waterfront each April for the Olympic-distance event - a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.

RUN LIKE CRAZY! Amateur and professional runners take advantage of year-round sunshine and unparalleled beauty to compete in running events, such as the annual Race for the Cure and the Jingle Bell Run.

GAMBLE ON IT: Several day cruises offer casino-style gambling and depart from local area ports. And, Derby Lane, the oldest continuously operated greyhound racing facility in the U.S., offers parimutuel wagering and live racing action ten months of the year.

Top Vacation Rentals for SuperBowl 2009

Consider Beach Vacation Rentals For the Big Game

This Year the road to NFL finale leads directly to the beautiful beaches of Tampa Bay and Super Bowl XLIII. Everyone in the Tampa Bay Beaches community is excited to welcome you and know you'll enjoy our rich history, year-round sunshine, white, sandy beaches and thrilling attractions.

If you are planning to attend the SuperBowl in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium February 1, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. EST then hopefully you know that the Tampa Region also boasts the Top Rated Beaches in the Continental USA.

Why spend Hundreds of dollars a night on hotel rooms in Tampa when the Gulf Coast Beaches, just 20 miles away from the stadium offer Sun, Sand and Convenience for less!

One example at Indian Shores Vacation you can get a 10 day rental, direct beach front, 2 bedrooms/2 bath with almost 1400 sq ft for just under $400 per night. Compare that to what local hotels are charging and you will see the value.

There are literally thousands of beach rentals available in this area. Check them out before you make your final plans for the Big Game

Things To Know Before Using a Vacation Rental

Some people go right into renting for their Vacation, not knowing that there could be hidden costs. These can substantially change the economics of your vacation on the beach. So be prepared and ask the questions up front to make sure you get the most for your money on any vacation rental.

The owner or agent may require a cash security deposit before they hand the keys over, at the final checkout this will be returned to you minus any expenses for damaged property, unexpected cleaning or phone bill. The waiting period to get your money back can be as long as 30 days with some agencies. With phone charges the way they are today - look for owners who offer free local and long distance. Many owners will waive the security deposit as well but cleaning fees almost always apply.

Make sure you know the cancellation policy. The owners aren't trying to punish you here, but if you wait too long they run the risk of not finding another renter, which greatly impacts their income. If you cancel your trip you may not get the deposit back; this is also the case for if you cancel the trip after you make the full payment there is always a chance that you won't get your money back. Most agencies and owners don't require full payment until 30 - 45 days before arrival. In an emergency many will work with you to credit for future dates.


Some other hidden fees could include Travel Insurance, Linen Rental, Pet Fee, Unit Service fee, and Reservation Fee. Most of these are optional but they could still be something you should plan ahead of time. Realistically speaking Linens should be included in the rate as should the Unit Service Fee. Anyone charging for this I would avoid. Travel insurance is cheap and can be obtained easily, just make sure you are clear on what it covers before buying. Whether it makes sense is a personal call. If you know you are going I would avoid the extra expense. Pet charges should be fair and reasonable.

All in, Beach Vacation Rentals provide the best of both worlds. You save money on the nightly rate with larger parties, you get more room, more comfort and great locations. As is always the case look for reputable members of Travel Organizations such as TET (Trust Earned Travel) or Trusted Vacation Rental and enjoy your Vacation.

Here is a quick and dirty list of all the best attractions along the Gulf Beaches between St Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. Just what the vacationer needs to plan their trip!

Beach Art Center

Attraction, Museum, art gallery

1515 Bay Palm Blvd

Indian Rocks Beach, Florida 33785

596-4331

Beach Gameland

Attraction, Arcade

John's Pass/Upper Level at The G

Madeira Beach, FL 33706

727-398-4494

Busch Gardens

Attraction, Amusement park

3000 E Busch Blvd.

Tampa, Florida

Captain Bill Fehl

Attractions, Fishing trips

10405 114th Terrace

Largo, FL 33773

727-430-2455

Derby Lane

Attraction, Dog Track

10490 Gulf Blvd.

St Petersburg, Florida 33702

812-3339

Dolphin Quest

Attraction, Dolphin Watching/Water activitie

Johns Pass Boardwalk/Pelican Pie

Madeira Beach, Florida 33708

727-392-7090

Dolphin Watch, Snorkeling and Shelling at Egmont

Attraction, Dolphin Watch, Snorkeling & Shel

1866 Dolphin Blvd. South

St. Petersburg, FL 33707

727-345-4500

Eagle Parasail

Attraction, Parasailing

Johns Pass Boardwalk/Pelican Pie

Madeira Beach, FL 33708

727-687-8132

Fly-N-High

Attractions, Parasailing/Waverunner

207 Boardwwalk Place/John's Pass

Madeira Beach, FL 33706

727-397-1050

Gators Parasail

Attraction, Parasailing, Watersports

John's Pass Boardwalk

Madeira Beach, FL 33076

727-363-1881

Gulf Coast Museum of Art

Attraction, Museum, art gallery

12211 Walsingham Road

Largo, Florida 33778

518-6833

Heritage Village

Attraction, Museum

Indian Rocks Beach Historic Museum

Attraction, Museum

2nd Street

Indian Rocks Beach, Florida 33785

Kids & Kubs

Attraction, Senior Softball

330 5th St

St Petersburg, Florida 33701

893-7108

Liquid Extreme and Speed Boat Tours

Attraction, Boats, Parasailing

12754 Kingfish Drive

Treasure Island, FL 33706

727-389-4449

Pinewood Cultural Park

Attraction, Park & museum

11909 125th St North

Largo, Florida 33774

582-2200

Pirate Ship

Attraction, Pirate Ship Cruises

Johns Pass Boardwalk/Pelican Pie

Madeira Beach, Florida 33708

727-423-7824

Psychotic Ink

Attractions, Body Art/Body Piercing

432 Poinsettia Avenue

Clearwater, FL

727-298-0968

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf

Attraction, mini golf

19463 Gulf Blvd.

Indian Shores, Florida 33785

517-7664

Suncoast Botanical Gardens

Attraction, Garden

Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Inc

Attraction, Non-Profit Seabird Rescue

18328 Gulf Blvd

Indian Shores, FL 33785

(727) 391-6211

Tampa Bay Watersports

Attraction, Dolphin Watching/Boat Charter/Ky

215 Boardwalk Place

Madeira Beach, FL 33708

727-512-9113

Tides Golf Club

Attraction, Golf

11832 66th Ave

Seminole, FL 33772

(727) 393-8483

Treasure Island Casino Cruz

Attraction, Casino Boat

12601 Gulf Blvd

Treasure Island, FL 33756

(727) 735-4141

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Great Florida Beach Video

Adding some videos from Youtube that give you a great view of some of our beaches.

For the Best Beach Rentals stop by Florida Gulf Vacation.com

A nice tour of Fort Myers, Florida

ParaSailing off Key West:

We list ONLY Beach Front Vacation Rentals, ONLY in Florida and ONLY on the Gulf Coast!

Our owners take pride in their communities and properties - for the best beach vacation for you!

Fall Arrives - But Spring is HOT!

While the leaves are starting to Fall in the Midwest the heat is turning up on "Snow Birds" and families looking for Early Spring rentals along the gulf beaches. While this is always the high season in the Tampa / St Pete Beach communities it appears that this Spring 2009 is going to be a HOT Ticket for local Vacation Rental Property users.

Florida Gulf Vacation continues to add Owner Rental Properties to the site to keep up with the demand and is also redesigning the site for easier search, expanded beach content and hundreds of additional properties available from Key West (one of our newest properties) to the Crystal River area.

"We are already booked for most of the first Quarter 2009" was the comment of one long time property owner in the area when asked how it looked. Personally - we are seeing 4-5 times the demand for weeks in April than last year - and its not even Halloween.

On top of that you have the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series and the SuperBowl slated to occur in the area all in the next several weeks.

We recommend that anyone looking to book a property in 2009 start to look now. Summer weeks are already booking up with reservations on the slate all the way into August.

For all the best properties on the beaches in Madeira Beach, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks, Treasure Island, Clearwater and St Petersburg - all direct from owner, stop by www.floridagulfvacation.com. We now also carry properties in Key West, Crystal River and Fort Myers.

Vacation Rental Property owners! check out our free trial - you won't be disappointed!

www.floridagulfvacation.com

http://floridagulfvacation.com/fgv/FGV_Blog.html

Hurricane Fay Bearing Down on Florida

Hurricane Fay is the first storm to threaten our beaches in some time. Everyone from the Keys to Tallahassee is keeing an eye on this storm.

If you are looking for additional local coverage check out these great web pages:

http://media.myfoxtampabay.com/myfoxhurricane/
http://www.baynews9.com/
http://www.abcactionnews.com/
http://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/tracking.asp

As of now we are still looking clear as the storm has passed over the keys and does not appear to be strengthening. However, once these late storms hit the Gulf it can be anyone's guess where they go.

The 5 p.m. storm advisory shows Fay moving north-northwest at 12 mph, with maximum sustained winds of about 64 mph. Barometric pressure is at 996 mb. Fay is currently about 140 miles south of Ft. Myers.

*A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning has been posted for Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.
*A hurricane watch is posted for Polk County.
*A tornado watch has been issued for south Florida.

Best Restaurant on Treasure Island!

Just back from a visit to my favorite beaches and had planned to go to my longtime favorite, the Salt Rock Grill, while in Indian Shores. To my initial disappointment my wife instead had made reservations at a new restaurant in Treasure Island called oddly enough Middle Grounds Grill.

For background, the Middle Ground is is a broad carbonate platform that occurs some 137 km offshore along the northeastern Gulf of Mexico in an area generally known as the West Florida Shelf. Its formation suggests that it is a relict coral-reef complex that has morphological similarities to modern patch-reef complexes. It is the most extensive area of high relief (> 2 m) hardbottom in the northeastern Gulf in less than 60 m depth. The faunal assemblage is distinctly tropical, with a stony coral-gorgonian-sponge dominated community considered the furthest north “coral reef” on the North American continental shelf. The fauna may persist with recruitment of largely Caribbean species transported by northward intrusions of the Loop Current. It is known for its great fishing.

Well the owners of the Middle Grounds Grill have truly outdone themselves. Given my many travels to various areas I have to say this was in the top meals I have ever had.

Four of us dined that evening. Three of us ordered the 12oz Florida Lobster with risotto, 1 had a pasta dish. The Lobster was cooked perfectly, seasoned well and appealing in every way. The side dish was absolutely marvelous as well. The second dish was enjoyed equally as much.

As for the atmosphere it was cozy and inviting. Unlike Salt Rock, whcih can be extremely loud and hectic with its open floor plan, the Middle Ground Grill is divided into nice size dining areas separated by half and full walls which allows for exceptional diner conversation capabilities.

If you are visiting our area of the Tampa Bay Beaches I highly recommend you check this restaurant out. Its not outrageously expensive, although not cheap, but you get more than you pay for.

See the Menu Here!

http://www.middlegroundsgrill.com/menu1.html

First Hurricane No Threat to Gulf Beaches

Gulf Beaches are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Bertha churning out in the Carribean.

Tropical storm "Bertha" turned into the first hurricane in the Atlantic season on Monday with a windspeed of more than 120 km per hour, said the National Meteorology Service of Mexico.

Yet a statement said it was still too far away for the storm to become an immediate danger for the Mexican east coast or the Tampa Bay beaches on the west coast of Florida.

The center of "Bertha" was located 3,805 km east off Quintana Roo coast, southeast of Mexico, and 1,365 km east to the north of the Caribbean islands Minor Antilles.

The hurricane blew with sustained winds of 120 km per hour on Monday and the highest windspeed reached 160 km per hour. It could move to 3,650 km east off Quintana Roo coast on Monday.

Meanwhile, the tropical depression 5-E has weakened, though it brought rains in Lazaro Cardenas in southern Mexican state of Michoacan. Civil Protection authorities have already sent alerts to the citizens and the navigators due to the downpours produced by the tropical storm 5-E.

Beach Nightlife in Treasure Island

They go hand in hand, beach trips and nightlife. When you spend your day catching waves and basking in the sun, you want to spend your nights showing off that tan and showing off your best steps on the floor.

Within the echo of the waves, there are plenty of places along Florida’s Beach to dance, dance, dance.

At Shephard’s on South Gulfview Blvd. in Clearwater Beach, the Wave is a two-level nightclub with state-of-the art lighting and pulsating sound. Rockaway Grill, the largest of the four Frenchy’s establishments on Clearwater Beach, opens right onto the Gulf of Mexico sand.





In Treasure Island at John’s Pass, Gators Café and Saloon is a restaurant and sports bar that also has live rock music and dancing when the sun goes down, seven days a week.

Florida Vacations St Pete

Strolling along the beach at Fort De Soto Park on a summer morning, tiny footprints in the sand tell a story.

"You can see where the hatchling came out of the nest and made a mad dash for the water," explains park supervisor Jim Wilson. "A few lucky ones make it. But baby sea turtles are pretty low on the food chain. When they hatch, they have a lot of things after them."





Wilson, who is lucky enough to actually live on America's number one beach, looks forward to summer and sea turtle nesting season.

"It is the one time of year when I get to play fairy godmother," says Wilson, who oversees the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area's most popular park. "This is a magical time for us."

In a typical year, more than 150 loggerhead sea turtles successfully nest on St. Petersburg/Clearwater area beaches, and of those, more than a third will be found on six miles of undeveloped shoreline in Wilson 's backyard.

Loggerheads are one of five species of endangered sea turtles that lay their eggs on Florida's beaches. While the green, leatherback, hawksbill and Kemp's Ridley can be found in local waters, the loggerhead is by far the most common.





Peak nesting time runs May through August. On a typical summer day, Wilson starts early and surveys the beach looking for the telltale sign of a nesting loggerhead.

"There is no mistaking where a sea turtle has been," Wilson explains. "They clear the sand around in a big circle, and in some cases, they are still there the next morning."

The beach at Fort De Soto, like many other county parks, is closed to the public at night to protect nesting turtles.

"You have to remember that these animals spend their whole lives in the ocean and only come up on land, a foreign environment, to lay their eggs," says Wilson. "They are very vulnerable. We see a lot of false crawls." (A false crawl is when a sea turtle comes out of the water to nest and, for some reason, turns around and heads back to sea.)

"It could be because they saw a raccoon or a night heron and got spooked," Wilson explains. "So you could imagine what would happen if they came up to nest and spotted a bunch of noisy humans hanging around."

The typical sea turtle has 75 to 150 eggs. About 60 days after a turtle lay its eggs, hatchlings scramble from the nest and instinctively head toward the water.

"We come in about 72 hours after the eggs hatch and survey the nest" says Wilson. "Hopefully we find nothing but broken shells. But occasionally we find some that didn't hatch or live hatchlings that didn't make it out of the nest. That is where the public comes in."

The park maintains a "call list" of volunteers and interested parties who want to witness the release of the baby turtles that have been "rescued" from a nest.

"Baby sea turtles are pretty vulnerable," he said. "Birds, ghost crabs, fish... they are on everybody's menu. Only a handful of the original 100 or so will actually make it to maturity."

Sea turtles have more than just sharks to worry about. Another enemy is man. Thousands of these reptiles are also killed each year in commercial fishing nets. Many turtles die when they eat plastic bags they mistake for a favorite food, jellyfish.

Human interference on nesting beaches is also a problem in many of the more developed beach communities. Turtles are known to stop midway through the nesting process if humans appear. And hatchlings can also become disoriented by streetlights and walk into roads.

That is why an undeveloped area such as Fort De Soto is so important to the survival of the species. In the more densely populated areas of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, beach residents are encouraged to keep their outdoor lights off during the nesting season, May through August, to avoid confusing a hatchling in search of the sea.

It is possible to come across a nesting loggerhead at night; the odds are about the same as seeing a shooting star. If so, keep your distance and do not disturb the turtle.

A great little tour of Anna Maria Island

This is a great little four minute tour of Anna Maria Island. Check it out then get a great deal on a vacation rental on the beach on the island.

Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental

Summer is Coming!

Its not too early to book your summer vacation. Great weeks are still available at our owner properties.

Make this summer a vacation they will never forget

Great On-Line Area Dining Guide

If you are visiting our area and would elike to preplan your dining on the beaches of Clearwater, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach and the surrounding area then use this handy guide. We also list our personal favorites under Golf and Dining on www.floridagulfvacation.com

Happy Dining!

St Petersburg Area Beach Screen Saver Available

Outstanding Area Beach Screensaver for those who love our beaches

Hurricane Season Could get Ugly for Florida

We are told hurricane forecasters are predicting a very active season. In fact, they say it will be more active than any season between 1950 and 2000. Forecasters predict 15 named storms, four of them intense.

"This is the first year we're using our new statistical model. We feel the model will likely help to increase the skill of our forecasting this year and in future seasons."

There's a 69% chance of at least one major hurricane hitting the U.S. this season, and a 44% chance of one hitting the east coast of Florida.

"In the Atlantic Basin, conditions seem quite a bit more favorable than they did in the summer for an active season."

This is the beauty of the Tampa Area - most storms - once they reach the gulf head north and west. Not that we've never had one (but I'm knocking on my wood desk now) its been a long time. The conditions have to be ideal for one to make landfall in our area.

Madeira Beach Condo goes live on YouTube

Check out the newest addition to the FGV promo on YouTube

Florida Gulf Vacation - TV

Check out our new YouTUBE channel for great shots of our beaches and properties for rent by owner.
Yet another great service provided to our owners to market their properties!

Looking for a place to enjoy the beach? Florida Gulf Vacation represents the best beaches in the continental USA!

Check out the new Video for Beach Cottage 2103 on YouTube

Beach House Rentals By Owner

I ran across and interesting site for anyone marketing a Beach rental . The site is Beach House Rentals By Owner (BHRBO.com).

Listings are free for the owner and we even received one inquiry today - which was our first day on the site. Simple to use and a great resource for any owner.

As always, we highly recommend http://www.floridagulfvacation.com/ target="_blank">Florida Gulf Vacation for all your Beach Front Vacation Rentals.

Owners - Check out our Vacation Rental Listings for a cost effective way to market your property

Tampa Bays Beaches offer it ALL

Award-winning shores may have beckoned you to Florida's Beach, but you'll find it hard to resist exploring all that our area has to offer. Observe astounding art and discover our diverse heritage. Opt for theme park thrills or natural adventures within our pristine park system. Relax on the green - or on the water. Or, shop and dine amid boutiques and bistros, both fine and eclectic. Any pace . . . any taste . . . Florida's Beach awaits.Attractions and Family Fun

Places to Stay>> The area offers a wide range of hotels, motels, condos, cottages and homes. Many offer exceptional value for families who need more space than the average hotel room. Check out gरात वकाशन रेंताल्स अत व्व्व.फ्लोरिदागुल्फ्वाकाशन.कॉम

Culture »The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is comprised of 26 communities that have a unique charm, feel and heritage. From the Greek influence in Tarpon Springs to the Scottish heritage of Dunedin, the area boasts fascinating culture just waiting to be explored.

Dining and Nightlife »You've come to the right spot for dancing, dining and fun! From a surfside snack to gourmet fare in elegant resorts - and everything in between - the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area boasts a splendid selection of dining options.

Golf »In St. Petersburg/Clearwater, you'll find a wide variety of courses to challenge your game. With more than 50 places to play in the area, you can find a new and exciting course every day of your stay.

History »Discover our rich history and culture. From early Native American settlements, to the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s, to pioneering citrus farmers, railroad barons and entrepreneurial land developers.

Luxury Travel and Romance »Maybe you’re looking to splurge on yourself and your family. Or perhaps you’ve got that perfect moment in mind for just the two of you. Florida’s Beach is where you want to be.

Museums & Galleries »Find from world-renowned artists to small-town galleries and everything in between. Florida's Beach offers a wealth of artistic treats.

Nature »Get in touch with your wild side. From the pristine beaches of unspoiled barrier islands to the wildlife that abounds in our voluminous park lands, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is truly a natural wonder. No visit is complete without experiencing some of these riches.

Outdoor Activities »Ready to get out of the water but still want to enjoy the great weather? Then check out all the exciting outdoor activities the Florida's Beach area has to offer. From scenic bike trails to wandering on the famous "million dollar" Pier to playing lighted shuffleboard while listening to the latest rock music. There's something for everyone.

Shopping »Love to shop? Wait until you discover the variety of malls, shopping villages, outlet centers and specialty stores in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area - from one-of-a-kind boutiques and antique stores clustered together for easy browsing, to beachside shops filled with souvenirs and flea markets overflowing with bargains.

Spectator Sports »If you're a sports fan, you've come to the right place. Here you can enjoy year-round professional sports, including Major League Baseball, NHL hockey and Major and NFL and Arena Football.

Water Recreation »Ready to get wet? You'll find many exciting water activities right on the beach. Many hotels provide rentals for jet skis, waverunners and other personal watercraft, as well as the instruction you'll need to get started. Parasailing boats are always circling the beaches, and local dive shops can set you up for an underwater adventure.

Florida Gulf Vacation

Florida Gulf Vacation is a great resource for any beach front vacation rental owner. While they specialize in the gulf beaches of Indian Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, Clearwater, St Petersburg and Anna Maria Island they offer both travelers and owners a great place to meet and make a deal.

On the web since 2004 these guys have built a nice niche site that is easy to navigate and use.

Check them out under Florida Beach Rentals.