Day 1 – Home to St. Pete Beach
Today we begin our journey south in hopes of sunshine! Our flight takes us from Minnesota to Tampa, Florida. Check into the Sirata Beach Resort for a relaxing and fun 7 night stay! Our resort is located in the heart of St. Pete, perfectly nested between the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway. Take advantage of the great location within walking distance to many restaurants, shops, attractions, and of course the beach! This evening after we’ve settled into our waterfront suites, we will enjoy a welcome dinner. Each evening at the resort there will be nightly entertainment and a complimentary wine, beer, or rum runner punch.
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Sirata Beach Resort (7 Nights)
Day 2 – St. Pete Beach – St. Petersburg Downtown
This morning after breakfast we will have a short drive to St. Petersburg, and our first stop will be the new St. Pete Pier! There we will board an open-air trolley that will loop through the downtown area while our friendly trolley driver gives us a little history of the area. We end back at the Pier where we will visit the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. The Discovery Center is located on an over-water walkway and presents the unique ecosystem of Tampa Bay and features an Estuary Habitat with a variety of species found in the waters. Enjoy some free time on the Pier, as you take in the beautiful acreage and views of the blue waters of Tampa Bay. Our lunch will also be on the Pier at Doc Fords Rum Grill, known for their authentic Florida fare. After lunch we will visit the historic Sunken Gardens. This 100-year-old gem is St. Pete’s oldest living museum and has some of the oldest tropical plants in the area. This afternoon be ready for some fun as we head over to the oldest and largest shuffleboard club in the world! R&J Tours has rented enough courts for us to play some games! If you haven’t played before, no fear, we have arranged for staff to give us a quick lesson. Or if you’d prefer to be a fan and cheer on the others, you may do so as well. After our fun at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, we will return to the hotel. Dinner and the evening are free for you to do as you wish.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – St. Pete Beach – Free Day
After an included breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a free day at our resort on the sunny Gulf Coast. Take a dip in the sparkling pool or pull up a chair on the sugar sand beach! There are many optional activities to participate in if you wish! St. Pete Beach has many options of inexpensive transportation opportunities if you’d like to venture out along the coast or inland. The day is yours to enjoy! With three restaurant options at our hotel and many within walking distances to chose from, you are sure to find something to your liking. And don’t forgot to be watching for the sunset, they are spectacular at St. Pete Beach!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 – St. Pete Beach – Clearwater/Tarpon Springs
This morning after breakfast we make our way up to Clearwater for a visit to the Clearwater Aquarium. Here we will be able to view bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, sting rays, fish, coral reefs, mangroves, and more! Then on to beautiful Tarpon Springs, the “Sponge Capital of the World.” This charming village was founded back in 1907 and is a mecca of Greek culture. We’ll have lunch at a Greek restaurant before boarding our Sponge Cruise and see just how the sponge divers of old collected the sponges. After our cruise, we will have time to stroll around this charming seaside village where divers bring in sponges from off the Gulf floor. Walk the fishing docks and do some browsing in the local shops before we make our way back to St. Pete Beach.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 – St. Pete Beach – Bradenton
After a leisurely morning and breakfast, we are off for another fun day! Today we head south to Bradenton, known for unspoiled charm of Old Florida. Our first stop will be at the Myakka City Elephant Ranch where we will learn everything from tusk to tail about elephants and the ranch’s passion for conservation. We will also get to touch their unique hide, and take a once in a lifetime photo with the elephants. A special stop for lunch will be at Mixon’s Fruit Farm. Here we will also have time to tour the factory and shop for specialty gifts, Florida wines, and more! This afternoon we will visit the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. As the largest natural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast, it has engaging exhibits as well as a new state-of-the-art Planetarium. A must-see is the newly renovated Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat! The habitat holds 60,000 gallons of water and houses manatees that were rescued from the wild and allows for above and underwater viewing. Our dinner will be at Pier 22 where we will have magnificent views of the Manatee River. After dinner we will have free time to explore the waterfront and downtown. This evening we take in a show at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Before the show starts be sure to find the chandelier from Gone with the Wind! Enjoy “Chaplin The Musical,” which spans his career from 19th-century London to his creation of his famous Tramp character and beyond, as well as revealing his often turbulent personal life. After a full day of fun, we head back to our hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – St. Pete Beach – Free Morning/St. John’s Pass option
Enjoy a relaxing morning by the pool or by the ocean. This afternoon we will take those that would like to spend some time shopping and exploring the quaint fishing village of St. John’s Pass. Here you will find 130 unique shops, restaurants, and a waterfront boardwalk overlooking the Intercoastal waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. If you are lucky, you may see some fishermen come in with their catch for the day! This evening we are all special guests aboard the Starlite Dinner Cruise on Boco Ciega Bay!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 – St. Pete Beach – Free Day
Today is yours to enjoy it however you’d like. Before we you go home, be sure to soak up the last sunrays, or grab a umbrella and chair by the beach and read a book as you listen to the waves. This evening we will have a farewell dinner at a favorite waterfront restaurant!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 – St Pete Beach to Home
We’ll enjoy one last breakfast together before we depart for Tampa and our flight home, reminiscing with our new travel friends about the wonderful time we’ve shared on our St. Pete Beach Escape!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Flyaway Per Person Pricing Information
Flyaway Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
Roundtrip Airfare from MSP including all baggage fees, taxes & surcharges, 14 Meals, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach
01/25/2022 02/01/2022
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
7 Nights on St. Pete Beach at the Sirata Beach Resort
St. Petersburg Pier
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
Sunken Gardens
St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club
Clearwater Aquarium
Tarpon Springs & Sponge Cruise
Myakka City Elephant Ranch
Mixon’s Fruit Farm
Bishop Museum & Manatee Habitat
“Chaplin the Musical”
St. John’s Pass Village
Starlite Dinner Cruise on Boco Ciega Bay
Nightly Entertainment
