OT: Planning a Florida vacation

St Pete does have lots of art and some good museums. Dunedin is in the same county so close. Dunedin has an historic district which is like a quaint town that got sucked up by a big county. Not a whole lot to do there but it is nice. They run events there all the time. Well run little town. The St Pete/Clearwater area has got a number of these quaint little sucked up towns. For lack of a better term. Dunedin; Safty Harbor, and Tarpon Spring all do events at different times. All pretty close. If any are having events going on while your there it makes it better. 
PS Dunedin throws the best St Patrick's day bash. Music, food all day and night. It's both family friendly or hang out and party later. 

@"suncoastvike" said: St Pete does have lots of art and some good museums. Dunedin is in the same county so close. Dunedin has an historic district which is like a quaint town that got sucked up by a big county. Not a whole lot to do there but it is nice. They run events there all the time. Well run little town. The St Pete/Clearwater area has got a number of these quaint little sucked up towns. For lack of a better term. Dunedin; Safty Harbor, and Tarpon Spring all do events at different times. All pretty close. If any are having events going on while your there it makes it better.  PS Dunedin throws the best St Patrick's day bash. Music, food all day and night. It's both family friendly or hang out and party later. 

The thing about the Dunedin area that interested me quite a bit was Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks. The St. Patrick's Day celebration sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure exactly when we're going on this trip but it could be in March or April of next spring. I think we may seriously need to consider the Tampa/St. Petersburg area now that I've gotten more info. I really appreciate everyone responding in this thread!

I live in Jacksonville and St Augustine is nice.  Ponte Vedra is great as well.  I'd suggest Amelia Island one of our favorite spots, very relaxed area.  St Augustine is very historic (first city in the US) and you still have the beach but not a great one.  Amelia island has a great beach, lots of preserve areas and some historic stuff as well.  I've only been in Jacksonville for about 4 months but the city has surprised me and the family really likes it here. 

Thank you for the suggestions, Amazon! I did a quick Google for Amelia Island and it looks like there are some awesome beaches there. I’m not a golfer but the shrimp festival they have there in May caught my eye

Crescent Beach south of St Augustine is very nice.

@"prairieghost" said:

@"suncoastvike" said: St Pete does have lots of art and some good museums. Dunedin is in the same county so close. Dunedin has an historic district which is like a quaint town that got sucked up by a big county. Not a whole lot to do there but it is nice. They run events there all the time. Well run little town. The St Pete/Clearwater area has got a number of these quaint little sucked up towns. For lack of a better term. Dunedin; Safty Harbor, and Tarpon Spring all do events at different times. All pretty close. If any are having events going on while your there it makes it better.  PS Dunedin throws the best St Patrick's day bash. Music, food all day and night. It's both family friendly or hang out and party later. 

The thing about the Dunedin area that interested me quite a bit was Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks. The St. Patrick's Day celebration sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure exactly when we're going on this trip but it could be in March or April of next spring. I think we may seriously need to consider the Tampa/St. Petersburg area now that I've gotten more info. I really appreciate everyone responding in this thread!

@"twgerber" said:

@"prairieghost" said:

@"suncoastvike" said: St Pete does have lots of art and some good museums. Dunedin is in the same county so close. Dunedin has an historic district which is like a quaint town that got sucked up by a big county. Not a whole lot to do there but it is nice. They run events there all the time. Well run little town. The St Pete/Clearwater area has got a number of these quaint little sucked up towns. For lack of a better term. Dunedin; Safty Harbor, and Tarpon Spring all do events at different times. All pretty close. If any are having events going on while your there it makes it better.  PS Dunedin throws the best St Patrick's day bash. Music, food all day and night. It's both family friendly or hang out and party later. 

The thing about the Dunedin area that interested me quite a bit was Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks. The St. Patrick's Day celebration sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure exactly when we're going on this trip but it could be in March or April of next spring. I think we may seriously need to consider the Tampa/St. Petersburg area now that I've gotten more info. I really appreciate everyone responding in this thread!

I have annual pass to Honeymoon Island.  It's amazing.  Note that it's a "natural" beach in that they do NOT groom/rake the sand like they do at Clearwater.  

Also there is a ferry to Caladesi and that island is AMAZING.  

Get out there early if you want to find the best shells.

@"prairieghost" said:

@"twgerber" said:

@"prairieghost" said:

@"suncoastvike" said: St Pete does have lots of art and some good museums. Dunedin is in the same county so close. Dunedin has an historic district which is like a quaint town that got sucked up by a big county. Not a whole lot to do there but it is nice. They run events there all the time. Well run little town. The St Pete/Clearwater area has got a number of these quaint little sucked up towns. For lack of a better term. Dunedin; Safty Harbor, and Tarpon Spring all do events at different times. All pretty close. If any are having events going on while your there it makes it better.  PS Dunedin throws the best St Patrick's day bash. Music, food all day and night. It's both family friendly or hang out and party later. 

The thing about the Dunedin area that interested me quite a bit was Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks. The St. Patrick's Day celebration sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure exactly when we're going on this trip but it could be in March or April of next spring. I think we may seriously need to consider the Tampa/St. Petersburg area now that I've gotten more info. I really appreciate everyone responding in this thread!

I have annual pass to Honeymoon Island.  It's amazing.  Note that it's a "natural" beach in that they do NOT groom/rake the sand like they do at Clearwater.  

Also there is a ferry to Caladesi and that island is AMAZING.  

Get out there early if you want to find the best shells.

This is the kind of stuff I would love to do when we are there....explore beaches, get lots of pictures of the island, spend a lot of time outdoors just enjoying the sun. Thank you for sharing this, TW! I am going to do some more research on these 2 islands this weekend. Man I am getting excited for this trip!

@"StickyBun" said:

@"prairieghost" said:

@"twgerber" said:

@"prairieghost" said:

@"suncoastvike" said: St Pete does have lots of art and some good museums. Dunedin is in the same county so close. Dunedin has an historic district which is like a quaint town that got sucked up by a big county. Not a whole lot to do there but it is nice. They run events there all the time. Well run little town. The St Pete/Clearwater area has got a number of these quaint little sucked up towns. For lack of a better term. Dunedin; Safty Harbor, and Tarpon Spring all do events at different times. All pretty close. If any are having events going on while your there it makes it better.  PS Dunedin throws the best St Patrick's day bash. Music, food all day and night. It's both family friendly or hang out and party later. 

The thing about the Dunedin area that interested me quite a bit was Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Parks. The St. Patrick's Day celebration sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure exactly when we're going on this trip but it could be in March or April of next spring. I think we may seriously need to consider the Tampa/St. Petersburg area now that I've gotten more info. I really appreciate everyone responding in this thread!

I have annual pass to Honeymoon Island.  It's amazing.  Note that it's a "natural" beach in that they do NOT groom/rake the sand like they do at Clearwater.  

Also there is a ferry to Caladesi and that island is AMAZING.  

Get out there early if you want to find the best shells.

This is the kind of stuff I would love to do when we are there....explore beaches, get lots of pictures of the island, spend a lot of time outdoors just enjoying the sun. Thank you for sharing this, TW! I am going to do some more research on these 2 islands this weekend. Man I am getting excited for this trip!

You'll have a great time almost anywhere in Florida! Have fun!

Christ... all this has me thinking I need to visit that part of the country.   I have always wanted to Fly to the Carolinas/Georgia,  get a rental car and drive down the coast,  across Florida and then follow the gulf coast up and around until I hit TX... then go home.  :p   

I am not the most cultured person ( i can hear the fainting bodies hitting the floor as I type) and really prefer low key events and more come as you are type restaurants and such,  but the historical significance of that region in relation to the develpment of our country,  as well as the natural beauty of the region is hard to overlook.... and I like food.   not frilly shit they serve at the over priced restaurants... the kind you can only get when you are at least 5 miles off an interstate and typically best found in towns with less than 10,000 population. 

oh and even though it freaks the homeowners out... I like to stop and look at beautiful houses,   I try not to take pictures as that can elicit a visit from local law enforcement,   but to look at a 200 year old home and imagine that it was all done without power tools,  or heavy equipment,  and no computer aided drafting equipment... awesome,  that to me is true art.

@"JimmyinSD" said: Christ... all this has me thinking I need to visit that part of the country.   I have always wanted to Fly to the Carolinas/Georgia,  get a rental car and drive down the coast,  across Florida and then follow the gulf coast up and around until I hit TX... then go home.  :p   

I am not the most cultured person ( i can hear the fainting bodies hitting the floor as I type) and really prefer low key events and more come as you are type restaurants and such,  but the historical significance of that region in relation to the develpment of our country,  as well as the natural beauty of the region is hard to overlook.... and I like food.   not frilly shit they serve at the over priced restaurants... the kind you can only get when you are at least 5 miles off an interstate and typically best found in towns with less than 10,000 population. 

oh and even though it freaks the homeowners out... I like to stop and look at beautiful houses,   I try not to take pictures as that can elicit a visit from local law enforcement,   but to look at a 200 year old home and imagine that it was all done without power tools,  or heavy equipment,  and no computer aided drafting equipment... awesome,  that to me is true art.

That's my kind of vacation too, Jimmy. I love, and I mean, love learning about the history of our country. Love Old West history, Civil War history, early colonization of our country, and homesteaders and pioneers. We are an historically rich country.
I am a foodie as well, and I love to try the local fare. The fresh seafood thing is big as you know, since we are both from the prairie sea and the real sea seems far away and exotic. I can't get enough of learning about a place, its culture, the geography of the region, the history, the cuisine, the wildlife and the art. If I could have a month in Florida it wouldn't be enough. It truly makes me sad to know there's no way to see and  experience everything in 1 lifetime, but if I could I'd travel as much as possible.
My bucket list for the next few years (or in reality, the rest of my life):
Florida and the regions that have been discussed in this thread
Sequoia and Kings National Parks (I have to see the giant redwoods before I am dead and gone)
Yellowstone (I went there as well when I was 1...so I need to go again)
Acadia National Park (Maine is a must do, and I WANT that fresh lobster roll!)
Alaska (I'd see the whole damn thing if I could)
New Orleans (a paranormal and history fanatic's best dream)
North Carolina (the Southport and Wilmington areas--yes, I  am a  Safe Haven fan)
Sedona, Arizona
Yosemite National Park
Estes Park, Colorado (gotta stay at the Stanley y'know)
Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks

I could think of much more but I'm supposed to be  working!

@"prairieghost" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said: Christ... all this has me thinking I need to visit that part of the country.   I have always wanted to Fly to the Carolinas/Georgia,  get a rental car and drive down the coast,  across Florida and then follow the gulf coast up and around until I hit TX... then go home.  :p   

I am not the most cultured person ( i can hear the fainting bodies hitting the floor as I type) and really prefer low key events and more come as you are type restaurants and such,  but the historical significance of that region in relation to the develpment of our country,  as well as the natural beauty of the region is hard to overlook.... and I like food.   not frilly shit they serve at the over priced restaurants... the kind you can only get when you are at least 5 miles off an interstate and typically best found in towns with less than 10,000 population. 

oh and even though it freaks the homeowners out... I like to stop and look at beautiful houses,   I try not to take pictures as that can elicit a visit from local law enforcement,   but to look at a 200 year old home and imagine that it was all done without power tools,  or heavy equipment,  and no computer aided drafting equipment... awesome,  that to me is true art.

That's my kind of vacation too, Jimmy. I love, and I mean, love learning about the history of our country. Love Old West history, Civil War history, early colonization of our country, and homesteaders and pioneers. We are an historically rich country.
I am a foodie as well, and I love to try the local fare. The fresh seafood thing is big as you know, since we are both from the prairie sea and the real sea seems far away and exotic. I can't get enough of learning about a place, its culture, the geography of the region, the history, the cuisine, the wildlife and the art. If I could have a month in Florida it wouldn't be enough. It truly makes me sad to know there's no way to see and  experience everything in 1 lifetime, but if I could I'd travel as much as possible.
My bucket list for the next few years (or in reality, the rest of my life):
Florida and the regions that have been discussed in this thread
Sequoia and Kings National Parks (I have to see the giant redwoods before I am dead and gone)
Yellowstone (I went there as well when I was 1...so I need to go again)
Acadia National Park (Maine is a must do, and I WANT that fresh lobster roll!)
Alaska (I'd see the whole damn thing if I could)
New Orleans (a paranormal and history fanatic's best dream)
North Carolina (the Southport and Wilmington areas--yes, I  am a  Safe Haven fan)
Sedona, Arizona
Yosemite National Park
Estes Park, Colorado (gotta stay at the Stanley y'know)
Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks

I could think of much more but I'm supposed to be  working!

I lived in Jacksonville for 10 years, would go back in a heartbeat if I could afford the move.  But Jax itself is not a "tourist" town.  Like others have suggested, St. Augustine would fill that bill better.  As for when to go, I suggest April/May.  That's after the last winter "cold" snaps (nobody goes to FL to see 40 degrees, but in Jax/St. Augustine in March you might) but before the summer heat locks in.  Also, April/May are the two sunniest months of the year there: April for % of daylight and May for total sunshine hours.

If you come to Dunedin you can check out the Kellogg house

https://activerain.com/blogsview/4174094/the-kellogg-mansion---dunedin-florida---a-bit-of-history

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/129-Buena-Vista-Dr-S-Dunedin-FL-34698/47144605_zpid/

And the Fenway Hotel is soon to open a rooftop bar/restaurant.  Yes the Fenway.  Famous hotel here where the old time baseball players like Ruth stayed.   Now the world wide headquaters for the Tai Chi society.