| the resort also offers meeting and wedding facilities. some rooms have balconies overlooking the gulf. there's an outdoor pool (cabana rentals are available) with a bar, as well as a restaurant and a cocktail lounge with a terrace overlooking the beach. the hotel staff can help arrange parasailing and other water sports. this relaxed hotel on a gulf of mexico beach is across the street from a shopping center with a grocery store and restaurants, within walking distance of waterfront dining, and a 10-minute drive from the ferry to shell key preserve. check-in time: 4:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. colorful rooms include microwaves, minifridges and coffeemakers, and come with satellite tv
Tampa International Airport 34 min
The Dalí (Salvador Dalí Museum) (17 min)
Extensive collection of surrealist art by Salvador Dalí housed in a building with 900 glass panels. Upham Beach Park (5 min)
Wide, white sandy beach backed by dunes, known for dolphin sightings & light surfing. Saint Petersburg Pier (1 hr 4) Museum of Fine Arts (17 min)
Exhibits spanning 4,000 years, including African art, European paintings & American photography. Sunshine Skyway Bridge (25 min) Great Explorations Children's Museum (19 min)
Nonprofit museum offering 18,000 sq. ft. of hands-on exhibits & workshops aimed at kids. Sunset Beach (9 min)
White-sand beach with turquoise water, a pavilion & a boardwalk over the dunes, plus sunset views. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (15 min)
Natural retreat with abundant wildlife, trails, picnic areas, a gift shop & scenic tram tours. Sunken Gardens (18 min)
Tropical, century-old attraction featuring thousands of plants, a butterfly aviary & wildlife shows. Fort De Soto Park (15 min)
Beaches, camping, trails & a historic fort in a vast park spread over multiple connected islands. Morean Arts Center (16 min)
Free-entry contemporary art gallery showcasing local & international work & offering classes. Florida Botanical Gardens (32 min)
Cultivated gardens featuring local & tropical flora plus 90 acres of diverse natural habitats. Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge (20 min)
Former military base is now an endangered wildlife preserve accessible only by water. Chihuly Collection (16 min)
Unique sculptures by legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly, plus glass-blowing demonstrations. Skyway Fishing Pier State Park (18 min)
Fishing pier stretching across Tampa Bay offering sunset views & myriad species of catch 24/7. | 
