Finding Your Family Beach Vacation Rental has never been easier!
We keep hearing that the economy is struggling, but I'll be honest, everytime I drive past the mall near my home I find that hard to believe. The parking lots are full, the restaurants are swamped and people in general are out and about spending money.
If you are like me the one area of my expenses that simply cannot suffer is our annual family vacation.
Working 70-80 hour weeks myself and with my kids participating in sports, band, piano, and the list goes on and on...we simply do not spend enough time
as a family as we probably should. Don't get me wrong, we are not odd or abnormal. In today's market this is all very normal.
Kids are swamped between school and extracurricular activities. Employers demand ever more of our personal time to meet deadlines with fewer workers and we're all plugged in like a giant appliance by laptops, cell phones and PDAs.
No longer do you need to spend thousands of dollars on a Florida Beach Vacation. As the years have gone by more and more vacation rentals have become available to the average traveler via the internet and this is making it not only easier to find, but cheaper to rent a condo or beach home for your family's one week of sanity. Most management companies charge the owner from 10 - 25% and so the management fee is built into the price you pay. Go straight to the source for real savings!
Many websites list Vacation Rentals By Owner. Simply do a search on Google for the area or city you wish to visit (example: Indian Shores Vacation Rentals) and get back a variety of websites where you can compare properties, view photos and contact the owner directly for the best deal.
A great example of this is Florida Gulf Vacation. The site has been connecting Florida Gulf Coast renters and property owners since 2004. Properties are currently available in the following Florida Beach towns along the Gulf Coast: Key West, Anna Maria Island, Fort Myers, St petersburg, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks, Crystal River, Clearwater, Perdido Key, Panama City Beach, Biltmore Beach and St George Island.
Visitors can contact the owners directly and Florida Gulf Vacation does not charge any fees to the traveler for the service.
The web site offers photos, availability, links to the owner's website and email as well as phone numbers if you prefer to call.
Owners pay a minimal annual listing fee for their property to appear on Florida Gulf Vacation.
Find great weekly rates for this summer from $950 including all the taxes and fees. Drive or fly to the beach, buy some groceries for your full kitchen and have a fantastic week at the beach without the crazy expenses of a resort.
Two words of advice - Book Early! Many owners build a loyal following and often have reservations on the books several months in advance.
Most require a small deposit or security deposit with the balance of the rental rate due somewhere between 30 and 60 days before you arrive.
As costs have come down many owners have added the ability to pay via credit/debit card or as always by personal check.
So fire up your web browser do a little surfing for your next Great Family getaway!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Superbowl Weekend is Coming!
Here are some great things to do if you can't make the game
Gator's Parasail & Watersports
We are offerring unbeatable SuperBowl specials from 1/24/09 through 2/8/09 here at Gator's Parasail @ John's Pass Village. We will offer our 1200' flight for $50 vs. the normal rate of $75. All other flights will be $10 off. In addition, our "SHUT UP & FLY" signature extra warm hoodies, tanks & t's will be 50%. We will also meet or beat all other coupons & specials!
Lee Roy Selmons
We are planning a BIG Superbowl party here at Lee Roy Selmon's! Starting at 5 pm, VIP customers Pay just $63 (That was Lee Roy's number with the buc's). VIP customers are treated to ALL you can eat and drink. With our great home- cooking and hospitality- it should be a great day!
BATS Taxi
BATS Taxi is offering $70 take over rides to the Superbowl . Towncars are available for Airport Pickup ($65), Airport Drop-Offs ($60), and charters at $70/hr with a 6 hour minimum.
For more infomation or to make a reservation call (727) 367-3702
Gator's Parasail & Watersports
We are offerring unbeatable SuperBowl specials from 1/24/09 through 2/8/09 here at Gator's Parasail @ John's Pass Village. We will offer our 1200' flight for $50 vs. the normal rate of $75. All other flights will be $10 off. In addition, our "SHUT UP & FLY" signature extra warm hoodies, tanks & t's will be 50%. We will also meet or beat all other coupons & specials!
Lee Roy Selmons
We are planning a BIG Superbowl party here at Lee Roy Selmon's! Starting at 5 pm, VIP customers Pay just $63 (That was Lee Roy's number with the buc's). VIP customers are treated to ALL you can eat and drink. With our great home- cooking and hospitality- it should be a great day!
BATS Taxi
BATS Taxi is offering $70 take over rides to the Superbowl . Towncars are available for Airport Pickup ($65), Airport Drop-Offs ($60), and charters at $70/hr with a 6 hour minimum.
For more infomation or to make a reservation call (727) 367-3702
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Florida Gulf Vacation Launches new Website
Florida Gulf Vacation - the premier niche marketing site for Vacation Rental Owners and Florida Family Vacation Travelers - has announced the introduction of their 5th anniversary version of the website Florida Gulf Vacation.
What's New for Travelers?
Travelers looking for the best deal in vacation rentals on the Florida Gulf Coast now have expanded options. The site previously focused on the Tampa Bay Beaches but now has expanded coverage north and south along the coast. Properties listed now include St George Island, Perdido Key, Key West, Panama City Beach, Crystal River, Anna Maria Island, Fort Myers Beach, Bradenton / Cortez Beach, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks, Treasure Island, St Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach.
In addition, Travelers can now see up to 15 owner photos per property, can search by beds, baths, availability and location! Registered users can also save properties and forward them to far away family if planning a group trip.
Whats New for Vacation Rental Owners?
Owners along the west coast of Florida can list their properties for a FREE TRIAL or lock in their position on their beach by purchasing a one year or lifetime listing. The prices are extremely reasonable given that the lifetime membership is cheaper than some other sites one year rate.Owners can add up to 15 photos, link to their own website and virtual tour and receive inquiries directly from customers all at no additional cost beyond the member fee.
About Florida Gulf Vacation
Florida Gulf Vacation has been marketing Vacation Rentals along the Florida Gulf Coast since 2004. The site's Alexa Ranking places it within the top 2% of all websites in terms of daily pageviews and traffic. Florida Gulf Vacation does not list ski resorts, foreign destinations, mountain cabins or rentals in Texas, Alabama or Connecticut on its site. All properties listed must be on or close to a Florida Gulf Coast Beach.
What's New for Travelers?
Travelers looking for the best deal in vacation rentals on the Florida Gulf Coast now have expanded options. The site previously focused on the Tampa Bay Beaches but now has expanded coverage north and south along the coast. Properties listed now include St George Island, Perdido Key, Key West, Panama City Beach, Crystal River, Anna Maria Island, Fort Myers Beach, Bradenton / Cortez Beach, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks, Treasure Island, St Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach.
In addition, Travelers can now see up to 15 owner photos per property, can search by beds, baths, availability and location! Registered users can also save properties and forward them to far away family if planning a group trip.
Whats New for Vacation Rental Owners?
Owners along the west coast of Florida can list their properties for a FREE TRIAL or lock in their position on their beach by purchasing a one year or lifetime listing. The prices are extremely reasonable given that the lifetime membership is cheaper than some other sites one year rate.Owners can add up to 15 photos, link to their own website and virtual tour and receive inquiries directly from customers all at no additional cost beyond the member fee.
About Florida Gulf Vacation
Florida Gulf Vacation has been marketing Vacation Rentals along the Florida Gulf Coast since 2004. The site's Alexa Ranking places it within the top 2% of all websites in terms of daily pageviews and traffic. Florida Gulf Vacation does not list ski resorts, foreign destinations, mountain cabins or rentals in Texas, Alabama or Connecticut on its site. All properties listed must be on or close to a Florida Gulf Coast Beach.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
January Beach Happenings - Things to Do
Here is a short list of things going on along the Tampa Bay Beaches in January for all the Vacation Rental Customers looking for something to do while on the beach.
January
Jan. 12 - Chef Pritchard's 1200*F Roast. Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N. 6:30 p.m. www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202
Jan. 13 Natural History Speaker Series - Florida's Bottlenose Dolphins. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 7:30 p.m. N Dr.Randall Wells, Senior Conservation Scientist and Dolphin Research Program Manager from Mote Marine Laboratory discusses his latest research findings and the conservation issues surrounding them. Learn about their soc ial structure, behavior, and communication as well as human interactions and impacts. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 14 - Tampa Bay Job Fair.Coliseum. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Job Fair provides an opportunity for employers to showcase their organization and promote available employment opportunities. A great day to seek and find qualified candidates/employees. 727-893-8523
Jan. 14 - "Oldies But Goodies Dance."The Pier, Dockside Eatery Food Court. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Second and fourth Wednesdays. Relax and listen or dance to the music of The Downtowners or the Ron Berringer Trio. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 15 - " Principles of Landscape Design 101" Lunch n Learn.Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St. N. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to learn more about gardening while lingering over lunch and a glass of wine? Well, you need to call your friends and join us at Sunken Gardens' new Lunch n Learn programs! Programs will be lead by Bill O'Grady, Horticultural Enthusiast. A box lunch will be served and a cash bar will be available. Pre-registration is required and the fee is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. 727-551-3102 to register. www.sunkengardens.org
Jan. 15 - Movies at MFA. Sweet and Low Down.Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. N.E. Movies begin at 7 p.m. in the Marly Room, galleries open in the original building from 6 to 7 p.m. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667.
Jan. 16 - St. Petersburg Opera Company-The Merry Widow. The Palladium at St. Petersburg College, 253 5th Ave. N. Fri. and Sat. 7:30 p.m. and Sun.2 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 16 to 18 - The Art and Decorating, David & Tracy Gamble Workshop.St. Petersburg Clay Company, 420 22nd St. S. David and Tracy Gamble join us again this year for another entertaining and informative hands-on workshop focusing on low-fire decoration techniques. Sign up today.www.stpeteclay.com or 727-896-2529.
Jan. 17 - Air Potato Pick-up.Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 10 a.m. Help us rid the preserve of these horrible tubers. Air Potatoes are an exotic vine that shades out other plants. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 17 - Nature Walk.Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the preserve with a Ranger. You will learn new facts about Florida's habitats and the animals that call our preserve home. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 17 - FISH-ful Saturday: Tales from the Deep. Pier Aquarium, 800 2nd Ave. N.E. Noon to 2 p.m. www.pieraquarium.org or 727-895-7437.
Jan. 17 - 6th Annual Psychic Fair.The Pier Dockside Activity Room. Noon to 4 p.m.See what your future holds. There will be 13-15 Tarot card, Palm and/or Rock readers, as well as mentalists for your entertainment. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 17 - 24th Annual MLK Drum Major for Justice Awards Banquet. Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, 333 First St. S. 8 p.m. Official opening of MLK week in Florida; featuring Sen. Cleo Fields, Louisiana State Legislature, as keynote speaker. www.mlknationalparade.org, Tickets, $35, available at Enoch Davis Center. Contact: Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), 727-327-0085; 727-327-6555.
Jan. 17 - St. Pete Beach Classic. Hosted by the Sirata Beach Resort on St. Pete Beach, this fifth year event has set a new standard for area road races. The competitive 10K and 5K races are complemented by a 1M fun run and four kids races for the younger folks. A two day Health and Fitness Expo is also included wrapped around a community Beach Party and bonfire the night before the races. A truly unique running event in a location that can only be described as paradise! 727-367-RACE.
Jan. 17 - Tampa Bay Church Choir Competition.Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 3 p.m.www.mahaffeytheater.com, 727-327-7197 or 727-892-5798.
Jan. 17 and 18 - Buckler's Craft Show.Coliseum. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Unique home decor, delicious fudge, gourmet delights, country, handcrafted furniture, clothing, custom jewelry and more. www.bucklerpromotions.com, www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202.
Jan. 17 and 18 - Peter Max Exhibit.The Arts Center, 719 Central Ave. Meet the artist: Sat. 6 to 9 p.m.and Sun. noon to 3 p.m. Gallery open Sat.10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. noon to 5 p.m. Famed artist Peter Max will bring his inspirational artwork to the Arts Center in St. Petersburg. Max and his vibrant colors have become part of the fabric of contemporary American culture. In addition to his traditional works, Max will be selling three hand-painted football helmets, created especially for this event. The helmets will be designed in the monikers of the University of Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Max will donate 5% of helmet sales to the alumni associations of each college. www.petermax.com, www.theartscenter.org or 727-822-7872.Jan. 17 to 24 - Writers in Paradise Evening Readings.Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S. Miller Auditorium 8 p.m. All readings are free and open to the public. Jan. 17 Stewart O'Nan; Jan. 18 Les Standiford and Peter Meinke; Jan. 19 Sterling Watson and Ann Hood; Jan. 20 Tom Perrotta and Scott Ward; Jan. 21 No readings scheduled; Jan. 22 Jill Bialosky, Nahid Rachlin and Helen Pruitt Wallace; Jan. 23 Michael Koryta and Laura Lippman; Jan. 24 Dennis Lehane, "Best Of" Nominees announced. 727-864-7979.
Jan. 18 - Sunday Afternoon Fun.The Pier, 800 2nd Ave N.E. Lars Erick Robinson, caricature artist from Fritzy Brothers One Man Circus and family fun. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 18 - Annual MLK Ecumenical/Multi-faith Worship Service and Candlelight Vigil. Bethel Metropolitan Church, 3455 26th Ave. S. 4 p.m. Pastor Ricky Houston will conduct a service open to people of all faiths, followed by a candleight vigil. Contact: Abdul K. Ali, Congregations United for Community Action (CUCA), 727-867-7067.
Jan. 18 - 24th Annual National MLK Drum Major for Justice Battle of the Bands & Drum Line Extravaganza.Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive. 6:15 p.m. Performers include college and high school marching bands from five states; and HBCU All-Star band members (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). Tickets: $12 at the door; $10 in advance; $15 VIP seating. Purchase advance tickets at Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S., or Looking Good Men's Fashions in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Bradenton. www.mlknationalparade.org, Ticketmaster, 813-287-8844; Enoch Davis Center, 727-893-7134; 727-327-6555.
Jan. 19 - 23rd Annual MLK Leadership Awards Breakfast.Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N. 7:30 a.m. Dr. Bartholomew Banks, Sr. keynote speaker. $25 per person, proceeds benefit student scholarships. Contact: National Council of Negro Women/St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section. 727-403-0144 or 896-2922.
Jan. 19 - 24th Annual National MLK Drum Major for Justice Parade. Starts at 1:15 p.m. The parade route begins at Third Ave. S. and Martin Luther King St., proceeds north to Central Ave., east to Bayshore Drive, and north to Fifth Ave. N., disbanding at Vinoy Park. www.mlknationalparade.org or 727-327-6555.
Jan. 20 - "History in the Making" Inauguration Luncheon.Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N. 10 a.m. door open. This is one of the most exciting times in our nation's history and we would like to celebrate together! Friends of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum and the International Association of Firefighters - Local 747 will host an inauguration luncheon. Contact www.woodsonmuseum.org or 727-323-1104.
Jan. 20 - Night Hike. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S.7 p.m. A night hike will allow you to view the preserve in the evening and the mystery of the forest. Many nocturnal species slip out into the preserve. Space is limited to 15 people. Paid registration is required to guarantee a space. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 21 - Runaway Circus and Loose Caboose Performance Troupe. The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S. 7:30 p.m. www.thestudioat620.org or 727-895-6620.
Jan. 21 - Tea Dance.Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N. Dance instruction 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., taped music 12:30 to 1 p.m. and live music by various bands 1 to 3:30 p.m. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon dancing. www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202.
Jan. 22 - Side Door Jazz. The Palladium Theatre at St. Petersburg College, 253 5th Ave. N. 7:30 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan 23 - 4th Friday - Grand Central Evening Stroll.Grand Central District. From 1st Ave. N. to 1st Ave. S. and 19th St. to 31st St. Fourth Friday monthly. Shop, night spots, businesses and galleries stay open late with specials entertainment and more. A Florida Main Street Community. www.grandcentraldistrict.org or 727-328-7086.
Jan. 23 - Collectors Circle Lecture - Albrecht Durer and the Language of Prints.Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. N.E. 6:30 p.m. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667.
Jan. 23 to 25 - Tampa Bay Home Expo. Tropicana Field. Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The St. Petersburg Times is your partner who will deliver home enthusiasts by the thousands. This three-day event will showcase Home Improvement specialist throughout Tampa Bay and will focus on all things for the home. The Tampa Bay Home Expo will also include a seminar series featuring great advice for improving your home. Our newest seminar will be presented by a local interior designer- listen and learn as Jaime Rogers from Doxa Design explains how to create a look with classic pieces. You can also get ready for spring gardening with Stan DeFreitas, a local horticulturist; learn decorative painting styles with Jeff Monsein from Splat Paint; or conjure up new game day grilling creations with Tony Fatso. Individual booths will also feature new products, demonstrations, giveaways, advice and trade secrets. If you want to reinvent your living space for the New Year… the Home Expo is the place to be. www.tampabayhomeshows.com or 727-893-8523.Jan. 23 to 25 - First Anniversary Celebration.The International Museum of Radiant Peace, 5601 Central Ave. Fri. 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun. 1 to 4 p.m. Ribbon cutting, special Museum tours, interactive activities, light refreshments, prizes. www.radiantpeace.org or 727-343-8212.
Jan. 23 to Feb. 8 - Kiss Me Kate.St. Petersburg Little Theatre, 4025 31st St. S. Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. www.splt.org or 727-866-1973.
Jan. 23 to Feb. 15 - Regional Premiere of American Stage's Next Chapter in our "Wilson Cycle" Festival King Hedley II.American Stage, 211 3rd St. S. Wed. and Thur. 7;30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Matinee 3 p.m. Play by Pulitzer Prize-winner August Wilson.www.americanstage.org or 727-823-PLAY(7529).
Jan. 24 - The Hospice St. Pete Stroll.The Pier. 8 to 11 a.m. Team up with neighbors, family and friends in the community for a leisurely stroll on the waterfront of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg. The Stroll will begin and end at the back of the St. Petersburg Pier where refreshments and breakfast snacks will be served. Our Memory Wall is on display at the event and we welcome you to bring pictures of your loved ones to hang on the wall and celebrate their lives. www.thehospice.org/calendar or 727-586-4432.
Jan. 24 - Roy Bookbinder in concert.Craftsman House,2955 Central Ave. 7 p.m. Roy has been performing across the globe for over 40 years. He plays the blues while telling hilarious stories & one liners. www.craftsmanhousegallery.com or 727-323-ARTS.
Jan. 24 - Too Smooth Productions: When loving you is hurting me! The Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N. 7:30 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 24 - Florida Orchestra Masterworks Concert: Pictures at an Exhibition. Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 8 p.m.www.floridaorchestra.org or 1-800-662-7286.
Jan. 26 - Band of the USAF Reserve. The Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N. 7:30 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 26 - Ebony Fashion Show - "What's Hip. What's Hot. What's Now!" Coliseum. 8 p.m. World's largest traveling fashion show and our 51st annual tour. The famed runways of Paris, New York, London and Milan are once again sparking fashion bulletins and sounding style alerts as there is plenty of exciting news to be reported from the new world of fashion, featuring a new generation of models and designers forecasting what's hip, what hot, and what's now! Hosted by the Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202.
Jan. 26 to Feb.17 - Thom Pain (based on nothing).American Stage, 211 3rd St. S. Sun., Mon. and Tues. at 7 p.m., Fri. and Sat. at 11:30 p.m. Play by Will Eno. www.americanstage.org or 727-823-PLAY(7529).
Jan. 27 - Naturalist Night Out. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 6:30 p.m. "Great Women Exploring Nature" - Local author Linda Taylor shares the adventurous lives of the women in her new book. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 27 - Judith Alstadter Lunchtime concert in Side Door Cabaret.The Palladium Theatre at St. Petersburg College, 253 5th Ave. N. Noon. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 28 - "Oldies But Goodies Dance."The Pier, Dockside Eatery Food Court. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Second and fourth Wednesdays. Relax and listen or dance to the music of The Downtowners or the Ron Berringer Trio. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 29 - Florida Orchestra Coffee Series: Great Brits. Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 11 a.m.www.floridaorchestra.org or 1-800-662-7286.
Jan. 29 to 31 - Portraiture: In Three Movements. The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S. 8 p.m. www.thestudioat620.org or 727-895-6620.
Jan. 29 - Pulp Fiction screening & VIP party with John Travolta. Muvico Baywalk 20, 151 2nd Ave. N. 7 p.m. John Travolta will do a Q&A immediately following the film and host a VIP party afterwards. Other members of the Pulp Fiction cast are invited, additions will be added as they confirm. The VIP party will also include; Kelly Preston, MLB and NFL players and much more. www.sunscreenfilmfestival.com or 727-259-8417.
Jan. 30 - Lunch with Durer and the Director.Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. 11:30 a.m. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667.
Jan. 30 - Last Friday Concert Series. Williams Park. 6 p.m. Concerts will feature nationally touring artists and several local and regional music professionals. Enjoy delicious Tapas and spirits in the VIP area. www.lastfridayconcerts.com
Jan. 30 - Florida Orchestra The Music of Pink Floyd.Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 8 p.m. The Florida Orchestra joins forces with a full rock band for a night of Pink Floyd's timeless hits from Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Taking center stage is the lead singer of the rock band zebra, Randy Jackson, with conductor/arranger Brent Havens on the podium presenting the hallmark sounds of Pink Floyd with an all-new symphonic dimension. www.floridaorchestra.org or 1-800-662-7286.
Jan. 31 - "Westward Ho from the Waterfront." Central Ave. and 2nd St., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. St. Petersburg Preservation Inc. walking tour of historic waterfront and 4th Ave. N. then by trolley/bus to Historic Kenwood Neighborhood. www.stpetepreservation.org or 727-824-7802.
Jan. 31 - Third Annual DIRECTV Celebrity Beach Bowl.Progress Energy Park, Al Lang Field. 1:30 p.m. Pre-game show, 2:30 p.m. Kickoff and 3:30 p.m. Concert. Cheer on NFL Hall of Famers and Hollywood celebrities as they compete in an old-school grudge match game of flag football then enjoy a post-game concert by one of today's hottest artists. www.tampabaysuperbowl.com
Jan. 31 - National Poet, Jenny Browne. Craftsman House, 2955 Central Ave. 5 p.m. In between readings, enjoy music by the local duo of Lara Cerri & Dan DeGregory while feasting on a lavish spread of hors'deuvres. www.jennybrowne.com, www.craftsmanhousegallery.com or 727-323-ARTS.
Jan. 31 - Taste of the NFL.Tropicana Field. 6 p.m. A food and wine extravaganza that features 32 top chefs from each NFL city, paired with a current or alumni NFL player for a great evening of food, fun and football. Guests sample great food, wonderful wines from E&J Gallo Winery and have the chance to meet and get autographs from some of the games greatest players. Event also includes spectacular silent auction and great entertainment! www.TasteoftheNFL.com
January
Jan. 12 - Chef Pritchard's 1200*F Roast. Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N. 6:30 p.m. www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202
Jan. 13 Natural History Speaker Series - Florida's Bottlenose Dolphins. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 7:30 p.m. N Dr.Randall Wells, Senior Conservation Scientist and Dolphin Research Program Manager from Mote Marine Laboratory discusses his latest research findings and the conservation issues surrounding them. Learn about their soc ial structure, behavior, and communication as well as human interactions and impacts. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 14 - Tampa Bay Job Fair.Coliseum. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Job Fair provides an opportunity for employers to showcase their organization and promote available employment opportunities. A great day to seek and find qualified candidates/employees. 727-893-8523
Jan. 14 - "Oldies But Goodies Dance."The Pier, Dockside Eatery Food Court. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Second and fourth Wednesdays. Relax and listen or dance to the music of The Downtowners or the Ron Berringer Trio. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 15 - " Principles of Landscape Design 101" Lunch n Learn.Sunken Gardens, 1825 4th St. N. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Want to learn more about gardening while lingering over lunch and a glass of wine? Well, you need to call your friends and join us at Sunken Gardens' new Lunch n Learn programs! Programs will be lead by Bill O'Grady, Horticultural Enthusiast. A box lunch will be served and a cash bar will be available. Pre-registration is required and the fee is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. 727-551-3102 to register. www.sunkengardens.org
Jan. 15 - Movies at MFA. Sweet and Low Down.Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. N.E. Movies begin at 7 p.m. in the Marly Room, galleries open in the original building from 6 to 7 p.m. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667.
Jan. 16 - St. Petersburg Opera Company-The Merry Widow. The Palladium at St. Petersburg College, 253 5th Ave. N. Fri. and Sat. 7:30 p.m. and Sun.2 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 16 to 18 - The Art and Decorating, David & Tracy Gamble Workshop.St. Petersburg Clay Company, 420 22nd St. S. David and Tracy Gamble join us again this year for another entertaining and informative hands-on workshop focusing on low-fire decoration techniques. Sign up today.www.stpeteclay.com or 727-896-2529.
Jan. 17 - Air Potato Pick-up.Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 10 a.m. Help us rid the preserve of these horrible tubers. Air Potatoes are an exotic vine that shades out other plants. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 17 - Nature Walk.Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the preserve with a Ranger. You will learn new facts about Florida's habitats and the animals that call our preserve home. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 17 - FISH-ful Saturday: Tales from the Deep. Pier Aquarium, 800 2nd Ave. N.E. Noon to 2 p.m. www.pieraquarium.org or 727-895-7437.
Jan. 17 - 6th Annual Psychic Fair.The Pier Dockside Activity Room. Noon to 4 p.m.See what your future holds. There will be 13-15 Tarot card, Palm and/or Rock readers, as well as mentalists for your entertainment. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 17 - 24th Annual MLK Drum Major for Justice Awards Banquet. Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, 333 First St. S. 8 p.m. Official opening of MLK week in Florida; featuring Sen. Cleo Fields, Louisiana State Legislature, as keynote speaker. www.mlknationalparade.org, Tickets, $35, available at Enoch Davis Center. Contact: Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), 727-327-0085; 727-327-6555.
Jan. 17 - St. Pete Beach Classic. Hosted by the Sirata Beach Resort on St. Pete Beach, this fifth year event has set a new standard for area road races. The competitive 10K and 5K races are complemented by a 1M fun run and four kids races for the younger folks. A two day Health and Fitness Expo is also included wrapped around a community Beach Party and bonfire the night before the races. A truly unique running event in a location that can only be described as paradise! 727-367-RACE.
Jan. 17 - Tampa Bay Church Choir Competition.Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 3 p.m.www.mahaffeytheater.com, 727-327-7197 or 727-892-5798.
Jan. 17 and 18 - Buckler's Craft Show.Coliseum. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Unique home decor, delicious fudge, gourmet delights, country, handcrafted furniture, clothing, custom jewelry and more. www.bucklerpromotions.com, www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202.
Jan. 17 and 18 - Peter Max Exhibit.The Arts Center, 719 Central Ave. Meet the artist: Sat. 6 to 9 p.m.and Sun. noon to 3 p.m. Gallery open Sat.10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. noon to 5 p.m. Famed artist Peter Max will bring his inspirational artwork to the Arts Center in St. Petersburg. Max and his vibrant colors have become part of the fabric of contemporary American culture. In addition to his traditional works, Max will be selling three hand-painted football helmets, created especially for this event. The helmets will be designed in the monikers of the University of Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Max will donate 5% of helmet sales to the alumni associations of each college. www.petermax.com, www.theartscenter.org or 727-822-7872.Jan. 17 to 24 - Writers in Paradise Evening Readings.Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S. Miller Auditorium 8 p.m. All readings are free and open to the public. Jan. 17 Stewart O'Nan; Jan. 18 Les Standiford and Peter Meinke; Jan. 19 Sterling Watson and Ann Hood; Jan. 20 Tom Perrotta and Scott Ward; Jan. 21 No readings scheduled; Jan. 22 Jill Bialosky, Nahid Rachlin and Helen Pruitt Wallace; Jan. 23 Michael Koryta and Laura Lippman; Jan. 24 Dennis Lehane, "Best Of" Nominees announced. 727-864-7979.
Jan. 18 - Sunday Afternoon Fun.The Pier, 800 2nd Ave N.E. Lars Erick Robinson, caricature artist from Fritzy Brothers One Man Circus and family fun. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 18 - Annual MLK Ecumenical/Multi-faith Worship Service and Candlelight Vigil. Bethel Metropolitan Church, 3455 26th Ave. S. 4 p.m. Pastor Ricky Houston will conduct a service open to people of all faiths, followed by a candleight vigil. Contact: Abdul K. Ali, Congregations United for Community Action (CUCA), 727-867-7067.
Jan. 18 - 24th Annual National MLK Drum Major for Justice Battle of the Bands & Drum Line Extravaganza.Tropicana Field, One Tropicana Drive. 6:15 p.m. Performers include college and high school marching bands from five states; and HBCU All-Star band members (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). Tickets: $12 at the door; $10 in advance; $15 VIP seating. Purchase advance tickets at Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S., or Looking Good Men's Fashions in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Bradenton. www.mlknationalparade.org, Ticketmaster, 813-287-8844; Enoch Davis Center, 727-893-7134; 727-327-6555.
Jan. 19 - 23rd Annual MLK Leadership Awards Breakfast.Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N. 7:30 a.m. Dr. Bartholomew Banks, Sr. keynote speaker. $25 per person, proceeds benefit student scholarships. Contact: National Council of Negro Women/St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section. 727-403-0144 or 896-2922.
Jan. 19 - 24th Annual National MLK Drum Major for Justice Parade. Starts at 1:15 p.m. The parade route begins at Third Ave. S. and Martin Luther King St., proceeds north to Central Ave., east to Bayshore Drive, and north to Fifth Ave. N., disbanding at Vinoy Park. www.mlknationalparade.org or 727-327-6555.
Jan. 20 - "History in the Making" Inauguration Luncheon.Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N. 10 a.m. door open. This is one of the most exciting times in our nation's history and we would like to celebrate together! Friends of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum and the International Association of Firefighters - Local 747 will host an inauguration luncheon. Contact www.woodsonmuseum.org or 727-323-1104.
Jan. 20 - Night Hike. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S.7 p.m. A night hike will allow you to view the preserve in the evening and the mystery of the forest. Many nocturnal species slip out into the preserve. Space is limited to 15 people. Paid registration is required to guarantee a space. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 21 - Runaway Circus and Loose Caboose Performance Troupe. The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S. 7:30 p.m. www.thestudioat620.org or 727-895-6620.
Jan. 21 - Tea Dance.Coliseum, 535 4th Ave. N. Dance instruction 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., taped music 12:30 to 1 p.m. and live music by various bands 1 to 3:30 p.m. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon dancing. www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202.
Jan. 22 - Side Door Jazz. The Palladium Theatre at St. Petersburg College, 253 5th Ave. N. 7:30 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan 23 - 4th Friday - Grand Central Evening Stroll.Grand Central District. From 1st Ave. N. to 1st Ave. S. and 19th St. to 31st St. Fourth Friday monthly. Shop, night spots, businesses and galleries stay open late with specials entertainment and more. A Florida Main Street Community. www.grandcentraldistrict.org or 727-328-7086.
Jan. 23 - Collectors Circle Lecture - Albrecht Durer and the Language of Prints.Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. N.E. 6:30 p.m. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667.
Jan. 23 to 25 - Tampa Bay Home Expo. Tropicana Field. Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The St. Petersburg Times is your partner who will deliver home enthusiasts by the thousands. This three-day event will showcase Home Improvement specialist throughout Tampa Bay and will focus on all things for the home. The Tampa Bay Home Expo will also include a seminar series featuring great advice for improving your home. Our newest seminar will be presented by a local interior designer- listen and learn as Jaime Rogers from Doxa Design explains how to create a look with classic pieces. You can also get ready for spring gardening with Stan DeFreitas, a local horticulturist; learn decorative painting styles with Jeff Monsein from Splat Paint; or conjure up new game day grilling creations with Tony Fatso. Individual booths will also feature new products, demonstrations, giveaways, advice and trade secrets. If you want to reinvent your living space for the New Year… the Home Expo is the place to be. www.tampabayhomeshows.com or 727-893-8523.Jan. 23 to 25 - First Anniversary Celebration.The International Museum of Radiant Peace, 5601 Central Ave. Fri. 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun. 1 to 4 p.m. Ribbon cutting, special Museum tours, interactive activities, light refreshments, prizes. www.radiantpeace.org or 727-343-8212.
Jan. 23 to Feb. 8 - Kiss Me Kate.St. Petersburg Little Theatre, 4025 31st St. S. Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. www.splt.org or 727-866-1973.
Jan. 23 to Feb. 15 - Regional Premiere of American Stage's Next Chapter in our "Wilson Cycle" Festival King Hedley II.American Stage, 211 3rd St. S. Wed. and Thur. 7;30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Matinee 3 p.m. Play by Pulitzer Prize-winner August Wilson.www.americanstage.org or 727-823-PLAY(7529).
Jan. 24 - The Hospice St. Pete Stroll.The Pier. 8 to 11 a.m. Team up with neighbors, family and friends in the community for a leisurely stroll on the waterfront of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg. The Stroll will begin and end at the back of the St. Petersburg Pier where refreshments and breakfast snacks will be served. Our Memory Wall is on display at the event and we welcome you to bring pictures of your loved ones to hang on the wall and celebrate their lives. www.thehospice.org/calendar or 727-586-4432.
Jan. 24 - Roy Bookbinder in concert.Craftsman House,2955 Central Ave. 7 p.m. Roy has been performing across the globe for over 40 years. He plays the blues while telling hilarious stories & one liners. www.craftsmanhousegallery.com or 727-323-ARTS.
Jan. 24 - Too Smooth Productions: When loving you is hurting me! The Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N. 7:30 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 24 - Florida Orchestra Masterworks Concert: Pictures at an Exhibition. Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 8 p.m.www.floridaorchestra.org or 1-800-662-7286.
Jan. 26 - Band of the USAF Reserve. The Palladium, 253 5th Ave. N. 7:30 p.m. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 26 - Ebony Fashion Show - "What's Hip. What's Hot. What's Now!" Coliseum. 8 p.m. World's largest traveling fashion show and our 51st annual tour. The famed runways of Paris, New York, London and Milan are once again sparking fashion bulletins and sounding style alerts as there is plenty of exciting news to be reported from the new world of fashion, featuring a new generation of models and designers forecasting what's hip, what hot, and what's now! Hosted by the Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. www.stpete.org/coliseum or 727-892-5202.
Jan. 26 to Feb.17 - Thom Pain (based on nothing).American Stage, 211 3rd St. S. Sun., Mon. and Tues. at 7 p.m., Fri. and Sat. at 11:30 p.m. Play by Will Eno. www.americanstage.org or 727-823-PLAY(7529).
Jan. 27 - Naturalist Night Out. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S. 6:30 p.m. "Great Women Exploring Nature" - Local author Linda Taylor shares the adventurous lives of the women in her new book. www.stpete/boyd or 727-893-7326.
Jan. 27 - Judith Alstadter Lunchtime concert in Side Door Cabaret.The Palladium Theatre at St. Petersburg College, 253 5th Ave. N. Noon. www.mypalladium.org or 727-822-3590.
Jan. 28 - "Oldies But Goodies Dance."The Pier, Dockside Eatery Food Court. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Second and fourth Wednesdays. Relax and listen or dance to the music of The Downtowners or the Ron Berringer Trio. www.stpetepier.com or 727-821-6443.
Jan. 29 - Florida Orchestra Coffee Series: Great Brits. Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 11 a.m.www.floridaorchestra.org or 1-800-662-7286.
Jan. 29 to 31 - Portraiture: In Three Movements. The Studio@620, 620 First Ave. S. 8 p.m. www.thestudioat620.org or 727-895-6620.
Jan. 29 - Pulp Fiction screening & VIP party with John Travolta. Muvico Baywalk 20, 151 2nd Ave. N. 7 p.m. John Travolta will do a Q&A immediately following the film and host a VIP party afterwards. Other members of the Pulp Fiction cast are invited, additions will be added as they confirm. The VIP party will also include; Kelly Preston, MLB and NFL players and much more. www.sunscreenfilmfestival.com or 727-259-8417.
Jan. 30 - Lunch with Durer and the Director.Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. 11:30 a.m. www.fine-arts.org or 727-896-2667.
Jan. 30 - Last Friday Concert Series. Williams Park. 6 p.m. Concerts will feature nationally touring artists and several local and regional music professionals. Enjoy delicious Tapas and spirits in the VIP area. www.lastfridayconcerts.com
Jan. 30 - Florida Orchestra The Music of Pink Floyd.Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater. 8 p.m. The Florida Orchestra joins forces with a full rock band for a night of Pink Floyd's timeless hits from Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Taking center stage is the lead singer of the rock band zebra, Randy Jackson, with conductor/arranger Brent Havens on the podium presenting the hallmark sounds of Pink Floyd with an all-new symphonic dimension. www.floridaorchestra.org or 1-800-662-7286.
Jan. 31 - "Westward Ho from the Waterfront." Central Ave. and 2nd St., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. St. Petersburg Preservation Inc. walking tour of historic waterfront and 4th Ave. N. then by trolley/bus to Historic Kenwood Neighborhood. www.stpetepreservation.org or 727-824-7802.
Jan. 31 - Third Annual DIRECTV Celebrity Beach Bowl.Progress Energy Park, Al Lang Field. 1:30 p.m. Pre-game show, 2:30 p.m. Kickoff and 3:30 p.m. Concert. Cheer on NFL Hall of Famers and Hollywood celebrities as they compete in an old-school grudge match game of flag football then enjoy a post-game concert by one of today's hottest artists. www.tampabaysuperbowl.com
Jan. 31 - National Poet, Jenny Browne. Craftsman House, 2955 Central Ave. 5 p.m. In between readings, enjoy music by the local duo of Lara Cerri & Dan DeGregory while feasting on a lavish spread of hors'deuvres. www.jennybrowne.com, www.craftsmanhousegallery.com or 727-323-ARTS.
Jan. 31 - Taste of the NFL.Tropicana Field. 6 p.m. A food and wine extravaganza that features 32 top chefs from each NFL city, paired with a current or alumni NFL player for a great evening of food, fun and football. Guests sample great food, wonderful wines from E&J Gallo Winery and have the chance to meet and get autographs from some of the games greatest players. Event also includes spectacular silent auction and great entertainment! www.TasteoftheNFL.com
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Economic Slowdow Drives Rise in Vacation Rental Business
This winter has already been busy for those of us on the Gulf Coast of Florida and spring is heating up fast. Regardless of, or as a result of, the economic slowdown ,Vacation Rentals by Owner on the Gulf of Mexico are HOT TICKETS.
Many of our owners have already booked their properties through early spring. It appears the economics of using a Florida Vacation Rental for your week at the beach have become more compelling to people who might have been willing to spend $250-$300 per night in the past for a beachfront hotel.
If you are planning a Spring Break trip or Summer Vacation, NOW is the tme to get your reservation in.
Check out Florida Gulf Vacation for Vacation properties from Key West to Perdido Key.
And if you are going to be in the Tampa Area for the SuperBowl or just to get away from the snow this winter, here are some of the things going on along our beaches over the next couple months.
ENJOY THE BEACH.
Things to Do
Dunedin Fine Arts Festival
Sunday, Jan 11 10:00a at Downtown Dunedin, Dunedin
Florida State Fair
Thursday, Feb 5 9:00a at Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa
Cirque Du Soleil - Saltimbanco
Tuesday, June 30 7:30p at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Sunday, Jan 11 1:00p at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
Monster Jam Monster Truck Racing
Saturday, Feb 21 7:30p at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Super Bowl XLIII
Raymond James Stadium hosts the Super Bowl NFL Experience in Tampa.
2/1/2009 Sunday 6:00p
Super Tailgate Throwdown
The Super Tailgate Throwdown takes place at Al Lopez Park
1/29/2009 Thursday 10:00a to 7:00p (repeats 2 times)
Al Lopez Park, Tampa FL
Celine Dion
Wednesday, Jan 28 8:00p at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
Many of our owners have already booked their properties through early spring. It appears the economics of using a Florida Vacation Rental for your week at the beach have become more compelling to people who might have been willing to spend $250-$300 per night in the past for a beachfront hotel.
If you are planning a Spring Break trip or Summer Vacation, NOW is the tme to get your reservation in.
Check out Florida Gulf Vacation for Vacation properties from Key West to Perdido Key.
And if you are going to be in the Tampa Area for the SuperBowl or just to get away from the snow this winter, here are some of the things going on along our beaches over the next couple months.
ENJOY THE BEACH.
Things to Do
Dunedin Fine Arts Festival
Sunday, Jan 11 10:00a at Downtown Dunedin, Dunedin
Florida State Fair
Thursday, Feb 5 9:00a at Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa
Cirque Du Soleil - Saltimbanco
Tuesday, June 30 7:30p at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Sunday, Jan 11 1:00p at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
Monster Jam Monster Truck Racing
Saturday, Feb 21 7:30p at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Super Bowl XLIII
Raymond James Stadium hosts the Super Bowl NFL Experience in Tampa.
2/1/2009 Sunday 6:00p
Super Tailgate Throwdown
The Super Tailgate Throwdown takes place at Al Lopez Park
1/29/2009 Thursday 10:00a to 7:00p (repeats 2 times)
Al Lopez Park, Tampa FL
Celine Dion
Wednesday, Jan 28 8:00p at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
Friday, December 12, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
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
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
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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!
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!
Friday, November 21, 2008
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
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
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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.
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.
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Top Vacation Rentals for SuperBowl 2009
Consider Beach Vacation Rentals For the Big GameThis 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
Friday, October 24, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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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