Gulf Coast

wee-haggis

wee-haggis

Member
Original Poster
We have been to WDW frequently over the last few years and have decided to try the Gulf Coast for 2005. We are hoping to stay in or around St Pete's and visit Tampa and Busch Gardens (for the first time). We are trying to find a discussion board for the Gulf Coast area with possible trip reports or advice but can't seem to find much info. Anyone know of any sites for info?
We will probably drive into Orlando for Disney two of our 14 days.
Thanks
 
AliciaLuvzDizne

AliciaLuvzDizne

Well-Known Member
well...everything else sure fits in that category :D
I can tell you the Gulf coast is Beautiful. The beaches are beautiful. If you like waves like I do though, you wont find too many there...its very calm water. I cant remember the last time i was in Busch Gardens, but i DO remember that when I was there I got sun poisoning...with tons of sunblock on! Be VERY careful there because there que's are not AS sun protected as at Disney. Also drink lots of water so you dont get dehydrated. Thats the best i can do since its been quite a while since ive been to that coast. About discussion boards other than this one...i dont know :)

Enjoy planning your trip!!
 
P

Phosphate

New Member
Since you will have a car, a suggestion maybe to head down to Sarasota which is below Tampa, cross the Sunshine bridge, and a few more miles down the road. Why go to Sarasota? Well one of the Ringling Brother's has a giant estate right by the airport. The estate now houses 3 museums. An Art Gallery, the brother was a big fan of art and tapestry's. there is also a museum devoted to the circus, was quite neat, and the final musueam was one of this very neat house that overlooks the gulf, it was underconstruction when I was there about 5 years ago but it was still pretty neat. I'd check those places are still open though. And would really only reccomend this trip if you are bored of Tampa/St. Pete, or if you like any of the 3 types of museums I mentioned above.

Another intersting stop for you would be Ybor City, http://www.ybor.org/ it is Tampa's oldest latin quarter, located somewhere around Tampa, wouldn't reccomend walking around at night though if you can help it. Also while at Ybor City there is a fantasitc cuban restaurant called Columbia's, they have a location in Celebration but my dad and I both like Ybor's location better because of its neat atmosphere, and we think the food tastes better at the Ybor location.

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ybor.asp

Other then that I am not sure of any other intersting thing on the gulf coast besides water, sand, and old people :animwink:
 
StevenT

StevenT

New Member
Tampa is alright I suppose, the beaches up that way are quite nice. Whatever you do don't bother vacationing further down the coast in Ft. Myers/Naples. That's where I live, and I can tell you from almost 17 years experiance that it's nothing but a hole in the earth. The beaches are not that great, the water is brown at the beaches near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee river. Besides the beach, there is absolutley nothing to do due to a complete lack of culture.

As for Busch Gardens, I really enjoy going up there and I'm a season passholder. Right now they are really fixing things up and bringing the park back to life (see the 2005 coaster thread below this one). Although it is no substitute for Disney, I think you will enjoy yourself at Busch. Also, Busch Gardens is actually quite a ways away from downtown Tampa, not to mention the gulf so when searching for a Hotel I'd go with something closer to the gulf.

Enjoy your trip!
 

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