suggestions

Out of towner 1st time going to St. Pete going to Tropicana Field. What is there to do around the area and is it a safe area to walk around? My hotel is about 1.3 miles from the park. Any help is greatly appricated.

suggestions

On central ave near Tropicana Field there are numerous restaurants--Fergs-and antique stores. I would not be comfortable walking around there unless I was in a big group. There are several halfway houses in the area and you get a lot of - -shall we say undesireables? Beyond that downtown St. Pete is close and has a lot to do. Check out Baywalk and the Pier.

suggestions

Previous poster is right on - don%26#39;t walk around down by the Tropicana Fields. Downtown, on the other hand, is VERY pedestrian friendly. If you have a car, you can drive to downtown and then walk all over it to your heart%26#39;s content. There are tons of things to do downtown.

The Pier is obvious - you must go to the Pier. There%26#39;s a little shopping (maybe 6 shops on the ground floor) but it%26#39;s just a cool place to visit and lots of visitors have enjoyed going there for a sunset and a drink. There are several restaraunt%26#39;s there but Columbo%26#39;s is the only one I have ever heard anyone say was really something special. Al Fresco%26#39;s is an outside restaurant right by the Pier that a lot of people like but reviews have have made it sound like it might be all about location, good food and location with customer service somewhat lacking.

I would suggest that you go to The Dish or Dan Marino%26#39;s over in Baywalk for dinner instead anyway. If you have all night, you might try the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant a minute or two north of downtown. The Dish is a neat experience though - you pick from a buffet of different ingredients (pastas, veggies, meats, etc) and they cook it in front of you on an enormous grill in the center of the restaraunt. If you go to Dan Marino%26#39;s, try the lemon portobello chicken -out of this world.

If you want to take in a club afterwards, try the Martini Bar next to Dan Marino%26#39;s or walk a block or two over to Dino%26#39;s Jazz bar. The piano player starts at 8:30 (but check their web site %26#39;cause they have added other specialty nights).

If you just want to stroll around downtown after dinner, you might try the ghost tour. It meets at Baywalk and walks all around downtown. Their costumes are lame (sorry, guys) but the tour guides are actors and their deliveries are quite good. It has more focus on history than ghosts but most people who like ghost tours also like history tours.

If you have more daytime hours, you should definitely see Sunken Gardens, just north of downtown. It is around 8 or 10 bucks and it is the most breathtaking tropical garden, you won%26#39;t believe it can be so close to downtown. It also has birds, koi ponds and a butterfly house.

If it rains, there are tons of museums downtown - art, history, Salvador Dali, etc. That reminds me that you don%26#39;t have to hoof it all over downtown either - there is a downtown looper trolley that will take you all over for 25 cents. It%26#39;s a set route but I think that you will find that it is plenty.

Don%26#39;t forget that we have a great beach on the Gulf of Mexico too. Actually, there are two - St. Pete Beach and Fort DeSoto. Tons of biking, kayaking, swimming, hiking, picnicing and boating opportunities.

That%26#39;s my Must Do list but there are a lot of other things you can do. If you have any specific interests, please say.

Oops - I DID forget! If you are looking for more energetic venues, check out Jannus Landing and State Theatre. They have everything from Paula Poundstone to Fabulous Thunderbirds to grunge and hip hop bands.

Great post swimswam. I was born and raised in Tampa/St. Pete and you came up with things I have never thought of doing. I have never been to Sunken Gardens and, by your description, it sounds great. We also have not done the Ghost Tour but I have heard great things about the one out at Jungle Prada and have put it on the agenda for ';someday.';

As far as restaurants got if you are near the Dali museum Fish Tales down on Salt Creek is really a fun casual lunch or dinner. It is hidden in the boat yard but has the best food at the best prices with great drinks and the classic tacky old Florida decor. We love it.

thanks for your help this has been very helpfull.