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| St. Petersburg Cruises |
Tampa Bay Things to Do
Following is an overview of some of the things travelers can do to amuse themselves while visiting in the Tampa Bay Area. With a warm climate and clear sunshine pretty much year-round (though it can get stifling hot in the summer), this region is a great spot for biking, sailing, golf, tennis, and other outdoor pursuits.
TAMPA
Action Water Sports- stand-up, waverunner, jetboat, fishing boat, canoe, kayak and waterski equipment rentals. 727-399-9810.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay- offers visitors a chance to experience the wonder of the African wilderness without leaving the creature comforts of central west Florida. With rides, live entertainment, food, and shopping, this nationally renowned theme park contains more than enough to keep patrons busy all day. Admission $36.15, $29.75 ages 3-9, parking $4. Open daily 9:30am-6pm, with extended hours in summer and selected holidays. 3000 Busch Boulevard, Tampa. 813-987-5082.
Adventure Island- located a quarter mile north of Busch Gardens, features a wave pool, a speed slide, and a beach in addition to water flumes and a play section for the children. Open 9:30am-6pm daily from late-March to late October, with extended hours in summer and holiday seasons. Admission $20.95, $18.95 ages 3-9 ($13.80 and $11.65 respectively after 3pm). $2 parking. 10001 Malcolm McKinley Drive, Tampa. 813-987-5660.
Wilderness Park- with 16,000 acres, is the biggest park in Hillsborough County. Canoe trips down the Hillsborough River are available from Canoe Escape at 9335 E. Fowler Ave in Tampa. Prices range from $26 for 2-hour trips to $30 for 4-hour trips. Hours are Mon-Fri. 9am-5pm and Sat-Sun 8am-6pm. Call 813-986-2067 for details.
Ballast Point Park- Pier fishing on the Hillsborough Bay. 5300 Interbay Boulevard, Tampa. 813-831-9585.
Light Tackle Fishing Expeditions- charters half-day or full-day sport fishing voyages for tarpon, redfish, cobia, trout, and snook. Fees for a half-day trip are $250 ($350 for a full day). Call 813-963-1930 for details.
The Arnold Palmer Golf Academy World Headquarters- 12 miles north of Tampa, provides accommodations, breakfast, daily lessons, 18 holes of golf daily, cart and greens fees, and club storage and cleaning every night. 2, 3, and 5-day programs are available starting at $235 per person per night. 5700 Saddlebrook Way, Wesley Chapel. 813-973-1111.
The Babe Zaharias Municipal Golf Course- charges $13.50 to $18.50 for greens fees, $20-25 with cart rental. Offering club rentals and lessons, the 18-hole par-70 course also has a pro shop, a driving range, and putting greens. Open every day from 7am-dusk. 11412 Forest Hills Drive, Tampa. 813-832-8932.
The Hall Of Fame Golf Club- located just south of the airport, is an 18-hole, par-72 course with a driving range, club rentals, and lessons. Open daily from 7am to dusk, greens fees of $22-$24 include a cart. 2222 N. Westshore Blvd, Tampa. 813-876-4913.
The Rocky Point Municipal Golf Course- an 18-hole, par-71 course located between the airport and the bay, offers a pro shop, practice range, putting greens, lessons, and club rentals. Greens fees, which include a cart, are $20-$25. The course is open daily from 7am-dusk. 4151 Dana Shores Dr., Tampa. 813-884-5141.
Blades and Bikes- is a great place to rent in-line skates and to learn where to find the best blade skating in the bay area. Free in-line skating classes are held every Saturday. 201-A W. Platt St., Tampa (near Bayshore Blvd). Call for reservations at 813-251-1780.
Bayshore Boulevard- features what is reputed to be the world's longest continuous sidewalk. An excellent jogging route, the 6.3 mile sidewalk runs along Hillsborough Bay and takes runners past some of the area's most beautiful buildings. Call the Parks and Recreation Department at 813-223-8230 for more information on Tampa's running areas.
The City of Tampa Tennis Complex- features 16 hard courts, 12 clay courts, four racquetball courts, a pro shop, locker rooms, showers, and lessons. Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 9pm (8am-6pm Sat. and Sun.). Prices range from $1.75 to $4.50 per person per hour, depending on the time. Located at Hillsborough Community College at 4001 Tampa Bay Boulevard, Tampa. For reservations call 813-870-2383.
Marjorie Park- charges $4.50 per person per hour for use of one of its eight clay courts. Situated on the water and overlooking Harbor Island, the park is open from 8am to 9pm Monday through Friday, 8am-6pm Saturday and Sunday. 59 Columbia Drive, Davis Island. 813-253-3997.
The Harry Hopman Tennis Academy- offers a basic 5-day, 6-night package including at least 25 hours of tennis lessons. Unlimited playing time, audiovisual exercises, and accommodations, among other features, are made available to clients for prices ranging from $678 to $1,092 per person, double occupancy. Located at 5700 Saddlebrook Way, Wesley Chapel. Call 813-973-1111 or 1-800-729-8383.
ST. PETERSBURG
Waterworks Rentals- is open daily from 9am to 6pm, offering Wave Runners and jet boats at two locations, one at The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg, the other at 200D 150th Ave. in Madeira Beach. Wave Runners are priced from $25 for a half hour, jet boats from $45 per hour. Call The Pier facility at 813-363-0000 or the Madeira Beach location at 813-399-8989.
The Mangrove Bay Golf Course-, ranking as one of the top 50 municipal golf courses in America, is an 18-hole, par-72 facility with a driving range, lessons, and club rental. Prices are $19 without a cart, $29 with. Open daily 6:30am-6pm. 875 62nd Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg. 813-893-7797.
The Annapolis Sailing School- offers 2, 5, or 8-day courses designed to make a sailor out of the untrained visitor of amateur sailing enthusiast. Fees depend on both length of course and season, ranging from $225 to $1,920 per person. 6800 34th St. South, St. Petersburg. 813-867-8102.
The St. Petersburg Tennis Center- maintains 15 Har-Tru courts. Lessons, clinics, and open play are $6 per person per day or $4.50 per person after 1pm. Open Mon-Fri. 8am-9pm and Sat-Sun. 8am-6pm. 650 18th Ave. South, St. Petersburg. 813-893-7301.
THE AREA
Beach Cyclist- offers a variety of rental bikes. The shop, on the north tip of St. Pete Beach, charges $10 for four hours, $12 for 24 hours, and $39 for a week. Open 10am-6pm Mon-Sat. 7517 Beach Pass Rd. , St. Pete Beach. 813-367-5001.
Captain Dave's Watersports- rents all sorts of Wave Runners and Power Boats to visitors. Snorkeling, sailing, parasail rides, and shelling trips are also available. Open daily from 9am-6pm. 9540 Blind Pass Rd, St. Pete Beach. 813-367-4336.
Capt. Kidd- provides conveniently-priced half and full day fishing trips into the Gulf. Rates are $25 adult and $22 children and seniors for the half day trip, $37.25 adult and $34.25 children and seniors for the full day. Located in Dolphin Village Shopping Ctr., 4737 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 813-446-7666.
Miss Pass-A-Grille- is a fishing boat making daily trips into Tampa Bay and the Gulf. A 4-hour trip costs $24.95 and a 7-hour trip is $37.95. Prices for children 11 and under are $5 less, and seniors are $3 less, both trips. The boat sails Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8am and 1pm, departing at 9am on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center, 4736 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 813-367-4488.
Hurley Park- is much smaller than the St. Petersburg Tennis Center, but it's free. There's a 1-hour limit on its first-come, first-serve court (there is only one). Open 8am-10pm every day. 1600 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach.
Fun Rentals- offers Wave Runners at $35 to $55 per hour and pontoon boats for $100 to $200 per day. Open daily from 9:30am to 5pm. Municipal Marina, slip 300, 555 150th Ave. in Madeira Beach. 813-397-0276.
Transportation Station- has many types of bikes, skates, and scooters available for rental. Prices vary with the type of equipment and duration of rental. Open daily 9am-7pm. 652 Bayway Blvd, Clearwater Beach. 813-443-3188.
Double Eagle's Deep Sea Fishing Boats- features two catamarans, 88 and 65 feet in length, which sail 20 to 25 miles into the Gulf on 4 or 8-hour trips. Prices are $22 to $35 adults, $18-$30 kids, and $4-$5 for tackle. Slip 50, Clearwater Beach Marina, 25 Causeway Boulevard, Clearwater Beach. 813-446-1653.
The Airco Flite Golf Course-, a championship 18-hole, par-72 facility, has a driving range and golf club rentals. $28 covers greens fees and cart rental. Open daily from 7am to 6pm. 3650 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater. 813-573-4653.
Celebration Station- is a mini-theme park with a family orientation. Among other rides and games, Celebration Station offers go-carts, bumper boats, miniature golf, batting cages, shows, and dancing. Open Mon-Thurs. 11am-10pm, Fri. 11am-midnight, Sat. 10am-midnight, Sun. 10am-10pm. 24546 U.S. 19 North, Clearwater. 813-791-1799.
Five O'Clock Marine- offers speed boats with capacities ranging from 2 to 7 people for $75 to $125 per half day and $75 to $175 for a full day. 28-foot, 10-passenger pontoon boats are also available at $80 for a half day and $150 for a full day. Open daily 8am-5pm. 412 Pine Ave, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton. 941-778-1977.
The Heather Hills Golf Club-b, an 18-hole, par-61 course, offers a driving range and clubs for $19 a person until 3pm and $12.75 per person afterwards. Operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. Open daily 6:30am-dusk. 101 Cortez Rd. West, Bradenton. 941-755-8888.
The Walton Racquet Center- features eight clay and eight hard courts Monday through Thursday form 7:30am until 9:45pm, Friday from 7:30am-5:30pm, and Sat-Sun 7:30am-2:45pm. Rates are $2.45 per person for 1.5 hours on the hard courts and $4.45 for the clay courts. 5502 33rd Ave. West, Bradenton. 941-743-5973.
Fun Rentals of Siesta Key- has a range of bicycles for rent in addition to mopeds and scooters. Prices start at $3 per hour for bikes ($18 a day, $35 a week) and $12 for mopeds and scooters ($35 a day, $110 a week). Open daily 8:30am-5:30pm. 6551 Midnight Pass Rd., Sarasota. 941-346-1797.
Cannons Marina- will rent speedboats for $65 to $195 a half day and $100 to $290 for a full day. Water-skis can be rented at $30 for a full day. Open daily 8am-6pm. 6040 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Sarasota. 941-383-1311.
The Sarasota Golf Club-, an 18-hole, par-72 course, features a driving range, rental clubs, and lessons. Tee times before noon go for $36, after noon $28. Open 7am-dusk. 7820 Leewynn Dr., Sarasota. 941-371-2431.
Sweet Water Kayaks- rents sea kayaks, both single and double, fully equipped for use in the various bays of the Gulf and on the Intracoastal Waterway. Prices are $20/hr for one person, $25/hr for two people, and $50 and $60 a day respectively. Open daily 9am-6pm. Suite 7, 5263 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota. 941-346-1179.
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