St. Petersburg, FL area

[June8]

I will be going to St. Petersburg to pick up my new boat on Friday this week and am planning to cruise around the area for 1 week before bringing the boat to North Carolina. Any suggestions on where to cruise? Clearwater area looks pretty nice on the maps; Boca Grande area seems beautiful as well.

Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

[svHyLyte]

See Florida Sea Grant - Boating & Waterways - Anchorage Inventory

[svcattales]

Originally Posted by June8

I will be going to St. Petersburg to pick up my new boat on Friday this week and am planning to cruise around the area for 1 week before bringing the boat to North Carolina. Any suggestions on where to cruise? Clearwater area looks pretty nice on the maps; Boca Grande area seems beautiful as well.

Thanks in advance for all suggestions.

June, Congrats on your new boat. If you want to stay in the Tampa Bay area, heading south through the Skyway bridge and into the Manatee River is a nice trip. There is a nice anchorage at Desoto Pt at the mouth of the river which offers nice protection and there is a nature park you can visit next to the anchorage. If you go a little further, you can enter the ICW near Anna Maria Id and anchor in a beautiful spot just south of Longboat Pass bridge. This area has nice protection and two restaurants next to the anchorage.

Charlotte Harbor is also very nice and has several great anchorages. We like Pelican Bay just south of Boca Grande inlet and Useppa Island next to Cabbage Key. Cabbage Key has a nice restaurant that specializes in "cheesburgers in paradise." Further south you can anchor at the south end of Pine Island called "York Island." We are there now since it is a good spot to wait for weather before going offshore to Marco or the Keys.
For protection from south thru west winds, there is a nice anchorage next to Ding Darling Park on Sanibel Island.

If you want to head north, the area by Clearwater is very nice all the way to Tarpon Springs. Caladesi Island has one of the world's best beaches and you can tie up at the park for about 10 bucks/night. Caladesi is shallow and you probably can't get more than 4ft draft in there.

Have a great time.

[June8]

Thank you very much for the details. I was thinking of staying in one marina and making day trips from there, but it seems like there are quite a few places to see. It looks like, it'll be best to go further South from St. Petersburg and take our time in different anchorages.

[Cadence]

Heading for NC.

When you decide to head for NC. Take the ditch if it's open for time. If you want a nice trip go the Keys. If you take the ditch LaBelle is a nice fuel and overnight stop.Last I was there the Dock Master had jail tats and player a good guitar, nice guy
Going the Keys is much nicer and longer but much nicer. A highly recommended fuel spot would be Scott's landing in Cocanut Grove, South Miami. The food is great and reasonable, also good fellowship at the bar.

For what it is worth.