St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL, area makes a great family vacation spot

Jet, Oct 19, 1998

If you're in search of a nice place to travel, where you'll find endless beaches, intriguing animals and kid-friendly attractions, then look no further. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL, area is the answer, according to TravelAmerica magazine.

Parents and kids alike will have a blast while vacationing in either St. Petersburg or Clearwater, for the number of things to do are infinite.

For starters, a special beachfront attraction is the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, the largest wild bird hospital in the world, located in Indian Shores, between St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Suncoast displays more than 500 birds.

Clearwater Aquarium, which occupies an old sewage treatment plant, is another rescue and rehabilitation institute that is an interesting attraction, according to the magazine. There, touch tanks allow kids to handle starfish and other marine life, including being allowed to touch in the sting ray pool!

The Pier, an inverted glass pyramid on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, is another great place to visit. This five-story entertainment/shopping complex, an area landmark, is a hit with parents and kids. Activities include golf, fishing, live music, a motion simulator ride and pelican feeding. There's also a large outdoor observation deck.

Are you a flamingo lover? Then Sunken Gardens, a jungle oasis offering alligator wrestling and bird shows starring trained macaws, is the place to visit, the magazine reported.

Downtown St. Petersburg is the home to numerous museums and galleries, two sure-fire winners for a complete family vacation. The Salvador Dali Museum offers the largest collection in the world devoted exclusively to the Spanish artist, while the Florida International Museum features Great Explorations: The Hands-On Museum, a place to have fun while stretching the children's mental muscles.

Captain Nemo's Pirate Cruise, located in Clearwater Beach, is a family favorite, according to TravelAmerica magazine. Crew members are dressed in full costume. They organize games, treasure hunts, limbo dancing and water pistol fights for passengers aboard the bright red, three-masted ship. And, if it's a high-speed thrill that you are after, sign up for a ride on the Sea Screamer, known as "the world's largest powerboat."