TAMPA/ST. PETE CLEARWATER

DESTINATION Tampa/ST. PETE/CLEARWATER

WHILE YOU’RE HERE...

29 Come on Get Happy at Clearwater Beach’s can’t-miss happy hours 31 Explore OCC Roadhouse & Museum 32 Visit Tampa Riverwalk with the all-new Riverwalk Attraction Pass 36 Enjoy some tee-time in St. Pete, Clearwater and Tampa 38 See why everyone is talking about St. Pete Beach

COME ON, GET HAPPY!

Can’t-miss happy hours on Clearwater Beach

By Heather Turk

It’s hard to be anything but happy when visiting Clearwater Beach. Not only is the picturesque

By Gabriele Walkow destination synonymous with warm weather, sugar

white sand and turquoise waters, but it’s also home to several money-saving happy hours sure to leave guests in good spirits.

Boasting nearly 360-degree views of Clearwater Beach from its third-floor deck, Crabby’s Dockside is one of the best places to kick back with a drink — especially during happy hour. Offered daily from 3 to 6 p.m., the relaxed American restaurant’s happy hour menu not only features $1 off 20-ounce Miller Lite, Coors Light and Yuengling domestic drafts, but also $1 off singleliquor well drinks. Additionally, vino enthusiasts can save $1 off house wines by the glass. Be sure to come early, as during the first hour of happy hour, guests can enjoy complimentary live music on the restaurant’s first floor. crabbysdocksideclearwater.com

While local seafood favorite Frenchy’s may operate on “Island Time” where every hour feels like happy hour, two of the restaurant’s four Clearwater Beach locations do offer select drink specials Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. At Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, guests can enjoy $1 off 12-ounce Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, Yuengling and Shock Top drafts, single-liquor well drinks and glasses of house Cabernet, Chardonnay and Merlot. Meanwhile, at Frenchy’s South Beach Cafe, guests can savor 12-ounce Bud Light or Yuengling drafts for $3 as

Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill offers a variety ofhappy hour drink specials Enjoy discounts on shrimp, oysters and chickenwings during happy hour at Coco’s Crush Bar North

well as single-liquor well drinks and glasses of house wine (Chablis or Burgundy) for $3.75. frenchysonline.com

For those hungry for more than just drink discounts, Coco’s Crush Bar North (formerly Cooters Restaurant & Bar) offers an array of food and beverage specials during its daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Guests can beat the summer heat by drinking “the coldest beer on the beach” — 10-ounce Bud, Bud Light and Miller Lite drafts served in chilled mugs — for only $1.90, or sip $4 well drinks and glasses of house wine (Chardonnay, Merlot and White Zinfandel), while relishing $1.29 oysters on the half shell and 89 cent peel-and-eat shrimp. Diners can choose to have their shrimp served hot with butter or chilled with cocktail sauce. The sports bar’s popular hand-breaded chicken wings are also available during happy hour for just $1.39 each and come with mild, medium or hot sauce. cocoscrushbar.com

Regardless of which happy hour visitors check out during their Clearwater Beach stay, palates and pocketbooks will be delighted!

OCC ROADHOUSE & MUSEUM It’s a restaurant, it’s a museum and it’s non-stop fun

By Nancy Foster

Interior barwith lots ofbig screens

One of the newest hotspots to hit the St.Pete/ Clearwater area in recent times is the OCC Roadhouse & Museum in Clearwater. Less than four miles south of St. Petersburg/Clearwater Intl. Airport, Allegiant passengers will find this venue is the perfect stop after arrival or a great option for a pre-flight meal.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy in this actionpacked, chopper-themed restaurant/bar. Guests can view 13 original OCC choppers built on the TV show “American Chopper,” including the famous 911 Firefighter Bike, the POW Vietnam Bike and the Fallen Hero’s Military Bike. Add to that a panorama of motorcycle memorabilia that surrounds the spacious dining room/bar and a well-stocked gift shop.

Restaurant menu items bear quirky, biker-themed names and are mostly hearty fare — burgers, steaks, tacos, pizza and pulled pork plates — all served up with generous portions at affordable prices. Sixty-four big-screen TVs, expansive indoor and outdoor bars, and thirst-quenching libations make it hard to leave. Nightly entertainment (check website for schedules) includes cornhole tournaments, line dancing and live concert acts. Wednesday Truck Night showcases dozens of custom and jacked-up pickups, and Thursday night is the largest Bike Night in Florida with bikes, vendors and music.

Custom bike and Patch Wall

OCC Roadhouse & Museum pays homage to the Discovery Network’s smash hit TV series, “American Chopper.” Paul Teutul Sr., star of the show, is frequently seen on site along with owner Keith Overton, area hospitality icon and chopper friend. The restaurant gives a nod to Teutul’s patriotic side with The Patch Wall, a moving display of arm patches from first responders and military around the world.

OCC Roadhouse & Museum is located at 10575 49th Street North, Clearwater. 727.231.1510 occroadhouse.com

A DEAL YOU WON’T WANT TO PASS UP

The FloridaAquarium’s “Journey to Madagascar” habitat

Adventure, culture and history await with Tampa’s all-new Riverwalk Attraction Pass

By Heather Turk

No trip to Tampa is complete without visiting the Tampa Riverwalk.

Conceived in 1975 by Tampa’s mayor at the time, Bill Poe, the Tampa Riverwalk is a 2.6-mile multiuse pathway along the Hillsborough River that connects many of downtown Tampa’s best museums, shops, restaurants and parks. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities while strolling down the picturesque path — including a self-guided public art tour — and attend special events like the July 4th Boat Parade and Blessing of the Fleet.

“Our Tampa Riverwalk showcases unique gems that visitors can access while obtaining incredible waterfront views,” said Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “From water activities to amazing museums, visitors can experience culture and open-air adventures.”

Probably the best way to experience the Tampa Riverwalk is with Visit Tampa Bay’s new Riverwalk Attraction Pass, which offers access to eight of the destination’s most popular attractions for one low price. No app is required to purchase the pass; guests can simply order one online and have it sent to them via text or email.

Tampa Riverwalk’s July 4th fireworks display

The FloridaAquarium’s moon jelly touch habitat

“Woven Waves,” one of the pieces featured on Tampa

Riverwalk’s public art walking tour

One of the more popular attractions included on the Riverwalk Attraction Pass is The Florida Aquarium. Home to more than 9,000 animals, the 250,000-squarefoot aquarium is a favorite with families. Guests can visit a free-flying bird aviary and see native Florida species like the roseate spoonbill, hang out with some ring-tailed lemurs and even touch a moon jelly at one of only five moon jelly touch tanks in the nation.

Another attraction included on the pass that’s a big hit with kids is Glazer Children’s Museum. Boasting 35,000 square feet of exhibits, the interactive learning laboratory encourages children ages 10 and younger to play with a purpose. For a limited time, visitors can explore the worlds of some of their favorite children’s books — including “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” — when “Storyland” stops by the museum June 11 through Sept. 24. The traveling exhibition transforms seven beloved picture books into three-dimensional play and bilingual (English and Spanish) learning environments that kids and kids at heart are sure to love.

Passholders can also enrich their minds at the 60,000-square-foot Tampa Bay History Center, which offers three floors of permanent and temporary exhibition galleries that focus on 12,000 years of Florida’s history. Through Feb. 12, 2023, visitors can learn about Cuba’s ties to Tampa at the all-new “Cuban Pathways” exhibition, which covers 500 years of Cuban history.

Prices for the Riverwalk Attraction Pass range from $35 to $55 for a 1-day pass and $49 to $79 for a 3-day pass. Each pass is good for a single admission to each featured attraction, including the Tampa Museum of Art, the Pirate Water Taxi, the Henry B. Plant Museum, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and the American Victory Ship and Museum. Guests will definitely want to factor in some time to explore other attractions along the Tampa Riverwalk as well, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly. thetampariverwalk.com

Hear historical narrations while touring Tampa Bay onboard the Pirate WaterTaxi

Tampa BayHistory Center “Storyland” brings beloved children’s books to life

The FloridaAquarium’s 80-foot-tall glass dome is a free-flying bird aviary that’s home to a variety ofbirds, including roseate spoonbills

[A dream destination for golfers ]

FLORIDA’S ‘GOLF’ COAST Enjoy some tee time in St. Pete, Clearwater and Tampa

By Heather Turk

Saddlebrook Resort

Whether you are visiting St. Pete, Clearwater or Tampa, Florida’s Gulf Coast has several gorgeous greens for golfers to play on.

Known for its great course conditions and playability for all skill levels, Mangrove Bay Golf Course has been a local favorite since 1978. The par-72, 6,656-yard public golf course was designed by Bill Amick and is located on 180 beautifully maintained acres in northeast St. Petersburg. In addition to featuring 18 holes of championship golf on USGA-modified Platinum Paspalum greens, Mangrove Bay has its own driving range, practice green, chipping green and pitching green with a sand bunker. PGA golf instruction is available for golfers of all ages, too. Green fees average between $27 and $39, making the course an excellent value. golfstpete.com/mangrovebay

For those wanting to play a challenging round of golf in less time, Twin Brooks Golf Course is an exciting (and affordable!) 9-hole public golf course located near the South Pinellas beaches. Water comes into play on six of the par-3 holes found on the scenic, tree-lined course. PGA instruction is available for groups and individuals, and practice facilities include an 18-station

driving range and putting green. Additionally, there is a practice area available for a nominal fee that has three holes, a putting green and a pitching green with a sand bunker. golfstpete.com/twinbrooks

Golfers always feel like a winner after playing a round at Clearwater’s Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Course, as proceeds from the public golf course and 49-bay driving range fund approximately 22 percent of the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation’s Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy and First Tee programs. The educational programs help more than 3,000 struggling students in the area each year improve their academic performance, self-esteem and character by using the golf course as a living classroom. Named after professional golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez, the 18-hole, par-69 course features more than 70 sand traps, water hazards on 12 holes, two-tied greens and fairways covered with Bermuda grass. Rates are very reasonable depending on the season, with tee times typically ranging from $30 to $70. Lessons can be booked with PGA and LPGA teaching pros as well. chichi.org

If you want to tee off in Tampa, there is arguably no better place to be than Saddlebrook Resort. A dream destination for golfers, the 480-acre resort is home to two of Florida’s most picturesque and playable golf courses: the 18-hole, par-71 Palmer Golf Course and the 18-hole, par-70 Saddlebrook Golf Course. Designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, both courses incorporate rolling fairways and well-maintained greens along with wilderness areas full of cypress, pine and palm trees. The Palmer Golf Course, with its TifEagle greens, provides a test for players of all skill levels, while the Saddlebrook Golf Course, with its tight fairways, challenges golfers with penalty areas that come into play on 17 of its holes. A 16-acre golf training center and range is also located on property, and professional golf instruction is available at the renowned Saddlebrook Golf Academy. saddlebrook.com

The bridge to Hole #15 at Mangrove Bay Golf Course

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Course

Golfers can play on two differentArnold Palmerdesigned courses at Saddlebrook Resort

THE GEM

OF FLORIDA’S

GULF COAST Why everyone is talking about St Pete Beach

By Nancy Foster

There’s a little slice of heaven on Florida’s west coast, just a short 20 miles from St. Petersburg/ Clearwater International Airport. St. Pete Beach is a sliver of a community only three miles long named in 2021 by Trip Advisor’s community of travelers as the #1 U.S. Beach.

Soft white sands and year-round warm waters are what lure most visitors to this family-friendly beach paradise. Great viewing points are easy to find in this laid-back beach town, although the favorite of many is at the water’s edge, where panoramic views are unobstructed.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Sunset gazing spots are prevalent at most of the properties along Gulf Boulevard, the main thoroughfare. Numerous independent hotels have been satisfying guests for three decades or more with coveted features including private terraces, tiki bars and outdoor dining. A few to consider are Island Grand Beach Resort, a Tradewinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach property, with its floating ocean water park, or the long-standing family favorite, Dolphin Beach Resort. Sirata Beach Resort, Alden Suites Beach

Local wildlife on St. Pete Beach

Resort and others offer comfortable rooms just steps away from the beach. And keep in mind The Don CeSar, the historic grand dame of the beach. Dubbed the “pink palace,” this beach icon features luxurious accommodations and amenities, fine dining, Spa Oceana and spectacular views of the Gulf.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

Getting around is easy - the complimentary electric Freebee Shuttle (drivers appreciate tips) can transport you throughout the beach area to dining spots, tiki bars and shopping districts.

The SandBox Beach Lounge at Rumfish Grill

Memorable excursions on the water include the 2-hour sunset sail or dolphin watch sail embarking from the Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center or a romantic dinner cruise on the StarLite Sapphire Dining Yacht.

Dining and live entertainment choices are plentiful, and many come with sunset views. Head to Spinners Rooftop Grille atop Bellwether Beach Resort for panoramic views and delicious seafood, chops and steak. At the rear of Sirata Beach Resort, Harry’s Beach Bar serves up burgers and wings with fabulous beach views. In the Blind Pass area, stop in at Woody’s Waterfront Café and Beach Bar for fresh seafood, thirst-quenching frozen drinks and unbeatable Gulf views. For nightlife, there are many choices, but one not-to-miss is Jimmy B’s Beach Bar at the Beachcomber for high quality eats and drinks in an open-air atmosphere with live music day and night.

For further information on St.Pete Beach, visit visitstpeteclearwater.com or tampabaybeaches.com.

St. Pete Beach at sunset

The Don CeSar, dubbed the “Pink Palace,” recently upgraded all of their rooms and suites