TAMPA BAY AREA
About
We've been visiting this charming neighborhood on the West Coast of Florida for decades. We first vacationed here when our kids were middle-school age and it continued to be a favorite spot for my husband and I to visit alone as a couple or with friends. Read on to find out what exactly draws us to this location again and again.
THE DETAILS
We began visiting the Florida East Coast as a family in 2009 when our youngest kids were prime Disney World age. It wasn't until 2015 that we decided to visit the other side of the state, and instantly fell in love with the charming atmosphere. While Fort Meyers is too hectic for our taste, we quickly learned the center of the Tampa Bay Area carries a more laidback vibe that's totally our speed. We've stayed in multiple areas, including Madeira Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, North Redington Beach, St. Augustine, and Treasure Island (my personal favorite). Clearwater and St. Pete's beach are both cities that are heavily populated, more expensive, and much busier, so we've only ever visited those areas and always stay elsewhere.
GETTING AROUND
Over the years, we've learned Uber and Lyft aren't really a thing here. Instead, we rely on a free transportation service (Free Beach Ride: (727) 776-7553), paid for by companies that advertise on the side of the vans We always pay the driver a generous tip and get the best service! Many of the communities are filled with restaurants and Publix grocery stores within walking distance and there's a beautiful boardwalk in Treasure Island that runs between the beach and hotels. The area is extremely safe (even at night) and it's easy to find your way around (everything is located on a 2-lane highway going north and south). There's a trolley service that goes all the way up to Clearwater, but we've never taken it. We often drive to Florida from Minnesota and sometimes take our vehicle on a day-trip to either Clearwater or St. Pete's. For the most part, however, we don't use our vehicle.
HOTeL or VRbo?
These are pictures of some of the places we've stayed over the years. My favorite is always a VRBO (either a house or condo) as we're able to spend more quality time with friends and family, plus have our own kitchen available. It's also usually less expensive when you split the expenses with everyone. And while we enjoy staying right on the beach, one year we rented a less expensive condo behind John's Pass that was only a block from the beach and provided us with a phenomenal view of the bay. The best part about staying somewhere new each time we visit Tampa Bay is getting the chance to experience different beaches and restaurants/bars.
ACTIVITIES
I believe we've tried every water sport available in the Tampa Bay Area (most leaving out of John's Pass) and we've never been disappointed. We've done everything from renting a pontoon to deep sea fishing, parasailing, catamaran rides, and cruising on a tiki hut (my favorite). It's a great way to see the houses on the canal and soak in some sunshine! I highly recommend Brian from Got One Sportsfishing if you want to bring fish back every time - he's also friendly and well-educated (we've learned so many cool things on our adventures with him).
TRIP SUMMARY
It's hard to summarize the dozen or so trips we've made to this area, or pick my favorite. Although I didn't review any specific restaurants, just about everywhere you go has excellent seafood choices - a few of which are located right on the beach. Some of our favorites include the VIP Lounge & Mexican Restaurant, R Bar Grille (watch for their specials on Facebook), Conch Republic, Salt Rock Grill, Oyster Shucker, and breakfast at Sea Horse Restaurant. If you like your beaches to be quiet and you enjoy visiting local establishments where the bartenders and locals greet you by name, I highly recommend giving one of the communities between Clearwater and St. Pete's a try. I honestly don't think you can go wrong!