Travel information – Central west region of Florida

From the cultural attractions of Tampa to the unique charm of the 26 communities of St Petersburg and Clearwater, it is the diversity of attractions that makes the central west region of Florida so intriguing.

Central west region of Florida

Not forgetting the largest herd of wintering manatees in the United States on Florida’s Nature Coast, this exciting region includes the areas of Crystal River, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa.

Theme Parks Tampa Florida

Tampa Florida Theme Parks

Theme Parks in Tampa Tampa, Florida is home to a variety of theme parks that offer something for everyone. The most popular theme park in the area is Busch Gardens…

Siesta Key

Explore Siesta Key Beach & Village

Siesta Key island is ideal for a more laid-back visit to the Sarasota area, with a popular beachfront that boasts award-winning sand and stellar sunsets. With its sugary white, fine…

Treasure Island Florida

Treasure Island Florida

Treasure Island, known for its long stretches of beach and retro architecture – as well as its liberal open-container laws – is both a sleepy beach town and a bustling…

St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach

St. Pete Beach, which is close to St. Petersburg and has excellent sand, has both bustling and secluded sections to accommodate all types of beachgoers. St. Pete Beach is popular…

Redington Shores beach

Redington Shores

Redington Shores, the northernmost enclave in the Redington trio, has something for everyone: a good beach, places to eat, drink, and shop, and even a long fishing pier jutting into…

Egmont Key beach

Visit Egmont Key State Park

Egmont Key, a tiny island serving as the northern bookend for the channel leading into Tampa Bay, is more day trip than destination, but it certainly offers beach-minded visitors a…

Redington Beach

Redington Beach Florida

Redington Beach is so small that you might miss the sign indicating it on Gulf Boulevard, mistaking it for a residential enclave of bustling Madeira Beach to the south. The…

Pass-a-Grille beach

Check out Beach Town Pass-a-Grille

Pass-a-Grille Beach is a standout among beaches. There are four miles of powder-soft sand on the beach, enough for every beachgoer to spread out a blanket and enjoy the view. …

Madeira Beach Florida

Madeira Beach

According to legend, the first European to “settle” in the Madeira Beach area was a pirate named John LeVique. Today, Madeira Beach, a Gulf of Mexico beach city west of…

Gulfport Florida

Visit Gulfport Florida

People don’t come to Gulfport for the beach. They come for the characters, the eclectic art scene and the food. The Old Florida vibe of the restaurants and shops in…

Anclote River Park

Anclote River Park in Holiday, FL

Anclote River Park in Pasco County offers a small but popular beachfront. A rather unassuming Pasco County park in a tucked-away area north of Tarpon Springs, Anclote River Park is…

Honeymoon Island

Honeymoon Island State Park

Honeymoon Island State Park Florida, located in Dunedin, is a short drive from Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater and offers white sandy beaches, stunning sunsets, and a bird watcher’s paradise….

North Redington Beach

North Redington Beach

North Redington Beach is located in Tampa Bay between Indian Shores and Redington Beach. The mile-long, pristine beach invites visitors to unwind at small motels, bed and breakfasts, rental rental…

Crystal River

Explore Crystal River Florida

Citrus County, The Water Lover’s Florida, is home to the largest herd of wintering manatees found in the US, and Crystal River is the only place in North America where…

St Pete Florida

Explore St Petersburg Florida

Known as the sunshine capital, where the sun usually shines 361 days per year, it is little surprise that activities on or near the water are focal points for visitors…

Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island: Florida’s Hidden Gem

Anna Maria Island is one of Florida’s most prized vacation havens. Forty miles south of Tampa and seven miles west of Bradenton, it is truly a secluded paradise for vacation…

Sarasota vacations

Sarasota Travel Guide

Truly a paradise on earth, visitors to the chain of Sarasota and the surrounding Gulf Beach communities arrive eager to relax on miles of cool, sugar-white quartz sands and swim…

Tampa

Tampa Travel Guide

Once a small fishing village that later became the “Cigar Capital of the World,” Tampa Bay has become one of the Sunshine State’s most vibrant vacation destinations. With cool bay…

Visit St. Pete in One Day

St Petersburg, nicknamed The Sunshine City, is definitely a stop to make while visiting the Gulf Coast. It is only located 21 miles west of Tampa. In the last couple of…

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is a scaled-down version of natural Florida. The state’s habitats and its flora and fauna can all be seen in the park….

Best Tampa Bay Florida Beach Vacation

Tampa Bay – featuring the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater – has a Florida beach vacation for every taste and pocketbook. Anchored by the cities of Tampa, Clearwater,…

Sand Key

Sand Key Florida Gulf Coast Beaches

The island of Sand Key in Tampa Bay, Florida, offers 12 miles of white sand beaches and plentiful condo rentals in Indian Rocks Beach and Madeira Beach. Located just south…

Clearwater Beach Florida Vacation

Located on the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles from downtown Tampa, Clearwater Beach has accommodations and amenities to please just about anyone. Clearwater Beach is the most heavily visited…

Top Restaurants Clearwater Florida

Romantic Fine Dining in Clearwater Florida Clearwater Beach, Florida is one of the top beaches in America. Enjoy a leisurely day at the beach and a delicious meal at one…

Tradewinds Island Grand Resort – Review

Review of Tradewinds Island Grand Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida. While there are many hotels and resorts to choose from along St. Petersburg’s Gulf Boulevard, Tradewinds Island Grand offers…

Tampa Bay Downs

Florida is known for its fun in the sunny beaches, great fishing, boating, theme parks, spectacular seafood, and racing. I’m not talking about racing that requires engines revved up with…

Tampa History: A Look Back in Time

Moving to Tampa, also referred to as Tampa Bay, in the early ’50s was like moving to a very large undeveloped and wide-opened area. There were lots of long highways…

Traveling Around Tampa

For the next several articles I’ll be focusing on cities, attractions, and events in and around Hillsborough County so settle in as we make Tampa our base for our traveling…

Dog Friendly Hotels St. Pete Beach

St Pete beach Dog-Friendly Hotels St. Pete-Clearwater, Beach, on the Gulf of Mexico, has some of the best beaches in America. Pet-friendly hotels welcome the family dog or cat for…

Ghosts of Don CeSar Hotel

Pink Castle on St. Pete’s Beach in Florida Haunted by Lovers The tropical oceanfront resort is a historic icon built on a romantic dream with rumors that the original owner…

Tampa Bay: Vacation Destination of Choice

Welcome to Tampa Bay and the Florida Sun Coast! With pristine beaches, luxurious resorts, world-class golf courses, amusement parks, water parks, fine dining, museums, and aquariums in historic settings Tampa…

Sports in Tampa

Tampa has a lot of things going on besides amusement parks and attractions. Not that these aren’t fun things to do but we also have a very active sports presence in…

Crystal River Area

Known as Florida’s Nature Coast and located on the Gulf of Mexico north of Tampa Bay, Crystal River Area is tailor-made for fishing, boating and kayaking among wildlife. It is home to the largest herd of wintering manatees found in the United States and it is the only place where you can snorkel with them.

St Petersburg/Clearwater Area

The St Petersburg/Clearwater area on Florida’s Gulf Coast is comprised of 26 communities that have a unique charm, feel and heritage and 35 miles of white-sand beaches on some eight major barrier islands. More than 300 species of fish populate the waters, making the area one of Florida’s premier fishing locales.

Tampa Area

Tampa Bay is located on Florida’s West Coast, and features miles of glistening waterways and sandy shorelines. The Bay area offers visitors an explosion of educational, entertaining and cultural attractions. Tampa’s central location provides easy access to the nearby Gulf beaches and surrounding areas.