Central Gulf Info
The Central Gulf Coast ranges from the Greek sponge divers of Tarpon Springs to the big city fun of an amazing Halloween parade at the old Cuban cigar center of Ybor City in Tampa, to beaches with maybe the best shelling on the planet.
Greek sponge divers created a home for themselves at Tarpon Springs when they got booted out of Key West about a hundred years ago. There’s still a large community here as evidenced by the many completely-Greek-to-me signs everywhere. That also means delicious Greek food specialties, like the dessert concoction of honey, walnuts and phyllo, baklava, sheer heaven on the tongue.
Take some along as you contemplate where oh where to start in that fantastic area known as greater Tampa Bay – St. Petersburg. With its 35 miles of barrier beaches, theme parks and topnotch aquariums, this is one of the fastest growing areas on the west coast.
Your day might begin at Busch Gardens, a thrilling theme park for all ages. Over 500 animals to see in 80 acre Serengeti Plain (there are 6 sections in all, trying hard to recreate colonial Africa), and then there’s the state of the art roller coasters with speeds of up to 70 mph for the fearless. Free beer, if you make it down the 200 ft, 90 degree drop, at the Hospitality House. Another adult-kid pleaser is the Florida Aquarium, where you can don scuba gear with no certificate needed, and swim right along with the fishes. Or stay dry and mush your face up to the huge glass and kiss a baby alligator.
Ybor City, where Cubans settled to hand-roll cigars for Senor Ybor in late 1880′s, is a must see. It can get a little mischievous on weekend evenings, with a lively bar scene. But you can roll your own stogey, hear Flamenco, eat fabulous Cuban food, drink real Cuban coffee, and see old timers sitting under the palms that line charming cobblestone streets. Tampa’s slightly bawdy neighbor, St. Petersburg, has many nude strip joints and don’t-go-there areas; keep to the sunny side here. It’s easy to do, with an extraordinary Salvador Dali Museum, a long famous pier with pelicans to feed along the way, and the city’s cheapest parking. Park there to stroll the shops and bistros along Central Avenue. If you’re there in March attend the Crawfish Festival, with zydeco music, dancing, and crawdaddies to munch on. 
St. Pete’s Beach is a short 20 minutes from downtown, part of Fort DeSoto Park which goes on forever with lovely sand, clear water, and a reputation as one of the top beaches in the US. This 1100 acre park has lifeguards, fishing poles and bait, biking, and self guided nature trails, all along a most swimmable shore. Indian Rock is for surfers, Madeira Beach has great dunes, and no fewer than five or so more meld into each other with their own charms. Just drive along Gulf Blvd. and take your pick.
You can’t miss at the Florida beaches, and the Central Gulf coast certainly proves that.
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See you at the beach!
Watercolor by Peter Bailey