Specifically Palm Harbor. I am going down there next month for a couple of days to unwind and buy a boat. Anything down there I should worry about aside from the Palmetto bugs and the gators?
Specifically Palm Harbor. I am going down there next month for a couple of days to unwind and buy a boat. Anything down there I should worry about aside from the Palmetto bugs and the gators?
Are you staying in Palm Harbor? Not much to do there. Smaller downtown with a couple of good restaurants. If you haven't booked a place look to stay just South of there in Dunedin. Much better downtown with a ton more to do. I'm local so drop me a PM if you want to get together for a beer. BTW, Dunedin has 7 microbreweries.
What type of boat are you picking up?
A 1970 Yankee Dolphin 24. Very Traditional Full keel/centre board sailboat. Very well thought of and they did not make many, so they are a little hard to find. This one needs some paint and varnish work, but is mostly ready to ship home and drop in the water as is. It's actually in the water right now, so hopefully I can spend a day sailing before I head back to the cold mid-atlantic.
Also just rented a Tesla Model 3 for the few days I will be there through Turo. I always wanted to try one, this should be fun on many fronts
Interesting on the Dolphin 24. An ole MORC boat.
I found this article.
As a 1970 I'm guessing yours is fiberglass, not wood hull? Wood is such a chore. If it's wood you're a better man than me.
I enjoyed the sangrias at Frenchy's!
Downtown St Pete is about 25 min south depending on the route you take. Weekend night life has really come around in the last 5 years. Clearwater Beach is about a touristy as you'll get but still worth the trip, park by the pier and you're right in the middle of everything. If you want to see what the state used to look like and get away from people check out Ft DeSoto at the southern tip of the county or Honeymoon Island west of Palm Harbor. The latter one being the most visited state park in Florida.
Source: I live here
I've nothing to ad just jealousy for those who live there. I spent a quiet week of family vacation 6 or 7 years ago in Pass-A-Grille. Man I loved that area. Laid back, cool beach and shops. Liked it so much looked at real estate but out of our price range.
Maybe someday.
Haven’t been in this area yet but I’ve read about several museums in the area, including one inside a ship that’s permanently docked in Tampa Bay itself.
The art scene actually brings more people to the area than the Tampa Bay Rays each year. If you like glass, there is a Chihuly museum and a new one called Imagine Museum that covers all kinds of glass work. Both are on Central Ave in St Pete. The Morean Center for Art has a glass blowing hot shop you can check out and there are tons of artist studios just south of downtown that have open houses and gallery walks. There is a more classic museum right down town on the waterfront and the Salvador Dali Museum about 4 blocks south toward Albert Whitted airport(birthplace of commercial aviation)
Driving around the St Pete downtown area you can see tons of murals painted on buildings by some pretty amazing artists.
I feel like Julie the cruise director now... Let me know if any of this floats your boat.
Do you know the boat name? I wonder if it is the old Solace from the history on the dolphin24 site? Does the marina she is in have haul out capability? Are you planning on getting her on a trailer and on her way North before you leave?
You are coming at a great time to sail. Weather here right now is really nice. Perfect weekend for the Daytona 24.
Plan is, if I like her, I will be putting a deposit down. The currant owner wants to take one last sail down the coast. She is actually not for sale at the moment, but he was planning on selling her in April. So I got a jump on the competition. He will have her hauled at his usual Marina and they will assist the shipper in getting it on his trailer. Then all I need to do is part with some benjamins and wait for her to arrive. Not sure on the name, I will know more in two weeks
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