Hotel Help! Legends Field access and gulf beach access

Have a husband and son that want to go to spring training and a daughter that wants to shop and beach. Can we find something for both of us even in the middle so we can see the sights (Ringling, Busch Gardens, etc). Don%26#39;t need golf or tennis. Is it warm enough to swim in Feb?

This may be a duplicate posting to my earlier one - this is my first try at the forums.

Thanks!

Hotel Help! Legends Field access and gulf beach access

Absolutely you could do both, there is a Residence Inn within walking distance to the International Mall across the street and a mile away is Legends Field. Driving distance from there is St. Pete beach is 25 minutes driving via the Gandy Bridge. Ringling is in Sarasota which is about 1 hr 15 min from Tampa. Feb is still considered cool temps in the area, but we have had warmer weather than usual this winter. The Gulf will still be cold to swim in. As long as you have a car, drop off you husband and son at the game and you do the beach and shopping. There is also the Westshore Mall and Hyde Park in the Bayshore area,,,,go to TBO.com which is the Tampa bay website for more info...don%26#39;t miss Busch Gardens and Ybor City while you are in town......:)

Hotel Help! Legends Field access and gulf beach access

thanks bubba89!

I would make the same recommendation that you received from bubba89. I had a friend from New Orleans spend several weeks as a Katrina refugee at the Residence Inn by Marriott Westshore in a mini-suite. It appeared to be quite comfortable. They have kitchenettes, Internet hookups and Internet WiFi in the lobby.

They have nighttime security which can be reassuring or disturbing, depending on how you look at it. Some people are disturbed that there is a necessity for security; others feel more secure knowing it is there. I consider it a good thing.

It is near the airport, but guests will not be disturbed by airplane noise; it%26#39;s near upscale shopping at the International Plaza and

Westshore Plaza malls, and near the Interstate for trips to the beach, to Ringling in Sarasota, to Busch Gardens if you choose, and to Disney, SeaWorld, etc. in Orlando if that is in your plans. There is more to do in the area than you will have time for.

I DO have a suggestion. The beaches in Sarasota (especially on Longboat Key) are, in my opinion, far superior to St. Pete beaches. They are not overdeveloped as they are in St. Pete and are more reflective of the ';old Florida'; including free parking rather than the parking meters that mar the Pinellas County beaches. A visit to the Sarasota beach might be in conjunction with your trip to Ringling.

There are also several great seafood restaurants in the Longboat Key/Sarasota area.

In south Tampa a really great steak house is Bern%26#39;s. It%26#39;s been popular since the 1950%26#39;s. Nearer the Residence Inn is Ruth%26#39;s Chris Steak House. Excellent! However, everything on the menu is a la carte, so the overall meal ends up being more expensive than the meals at Bern%26#39;s. Neither place is cheap. But if you don%26#39;t drink alcohol you can get out of Bern%26#39;s for around $35 (and up) per person - without desert. Dessert is served, if you want it, in a separate dessert room. It%26#39;s hard to describe. The booths are very private, being ';inside'; what appears to be gigantic wine barrels. You can blow another $25 per person on dessert if you aren%26#39;t careful.

In Westshore Mall, Magganio%26#39;s Italian Restaurant has outstanding food. There are also several good restaurants in International Mall - both are near the Residence Inn.

As I said, there is more to do than you will have time for. Check the TripAdvisor sites for Tampa, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Clearwater to get ideas about places to visit and good places to eat.

Enjoy your visit!

Gulf water temp right now in Sarasota area is 67 degrees; it might warm just a bit by February, but I%26#39;d guess it would be tops at maybe 70 or 71 at that time. Many hotel pools are heated, though.

Have you checked on Yankee spring training schedule and/or ticket availability? Perhaps there are some games as early as very late in February, but most of the Spring Training season is in the month of March, with the various clubs playing home and away games. There are several Yankees vs. Reds games here in Sarasota during March, but I believe most of those are already sold out. Ditto for Yankees vs. Pirates in Bradenton.