St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2009 - (Page 38) 4. St. Pete Beach One Word: Classic On the Postcard: Tried boogie boarding, but preferred being a beached whale while kids rode the waves. Got to go. They’re begging for ice cream cones. Best Asset: Natural beauty with modern conveniences Go: Anytime Has: Showers, restrooms 4 :BEACH EATS After a day on the beach, there’s nothing more satisfying than the best food the sea has to offer. • Keep your flip-flops on and seat yourself at one of the casual restaurants locals love. Frenchy’s, famous for its stone crab claws (in season from Oct. through May) and variety of grouper sandwiches, has four locations in Clearwater Beach. 727-449-2729. • Farther south in Madeira Beach, Dockside Dave’s lures locals as well as tourists with its jumbo fresh grouper sandwiches. 727-392-9399. • Let the kids feed the catfish from the dock while they wait for their sandwich and fries at Sea Critters Café in Pass-a-Grille. 727-360-3706. 5. Shell Key One Word: Pristine On the Postcard: Feel like an explorer on this undeveloped island. Just me, the surf, tall dunes, hundreds of water birds and shells. Best Asset: Shells Go: 7 a.m. to sundown. Accessible only by ferry or private boat. Has: Bird sanctuary • For something more upscale, try the casually elegant Salt Rock Grill, which overlooks a tranquil slice of the Intracoastal Waterway in Indian Shores. Bonus: a well-stocked wine cellar. 727-593-7625. • Martini and sushi lovers fuse 6. Treasure Island One Word: Wide! On the Postcard: A rainbow of kites propels men in carts amazingly fast over the sand as I sip a margarita at a beachside tiki bar and taste the good life. Best Asset: Room to play Go: Anytime Has: Showers, restrooms, concession stand, volleyball courts 5 6 at the Island Way Grill in Clearwater Beach. 727-461-6617. • For a romantic dinner, try the intimate Patrick’s Bayside Café in St. Pete Beach. 727-363-4440. 7. Madeira Beach One Word: Fishing On the Postcard: Caught a red drum at the beach. It was three feet long, really. Best Asset: Historic John’s Pass fishing village Go: Anytime Has: Marina (on the Intracoastal Waterway), beach showers, restrooms 38 : A b e a c h f o r e v e ry m o o d
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