TradeWinds
Island Resorts
A Fabulous
Floridian Family Getaway
SPRING IS IN THE AIR, SO IT’S TIME TO HIT THE BEACH—or at least start planning for that coveted summer family vacation. It’s time to kick back and relax with those near and dear to you and create memories that will last a lifetime.
One perfect beach getaway is the TradeWinds Island Resorts, the Island Grand and the Sandpiper Suites, on Florida’s St. Pete Beach. Though the travel time is short, both resorts are long on fun-filled activities that are sure to satisfy your needs whether it be a family vacation, romantic couples retreat, or even a girlfriends getaway. Whatever the occasion, the TradeWinds will allow you to “just let go” and re-connect with your closest friends and family and make you feel like you are a world away.
Due to its spectacular location, the most
popular activity for all who visit the resort is its main attraction—the beach!
TradeWinds provides hours of fun in the sun with the new Splash Island Water
Park, a 20,000-square-foot water park and playground floating in the Gulf of
Mexico just 60 feet off the resort’s sandy shoreline. A perfect accompaniment
to the popular three-story High Tide Slide on the beach, the water park offers
more than 11 fun-filled features—from jumping and climbing to relaxing and
sunning. Additional activities include bungee trampoline, mini-golf, signature
paddleboats through meandering waterways and seven pools, including two that
are designated just for adults. The action continues with beach volleyball and
watersports including jet skis and parasailing.
Kidding!) continues its run this season with day and evening activities for
children ages 4-11. While the kids enjoy supervised crafts and games, mom and
dad can slip away for a little private time at one of 15 restaurants and
lounges, including a comedy club and an upscale Italian grill. “Rock Star
Idol,” “Marine Bio Camp,” and “Pirates and Princesses” are just a sampling from
an exciting list of themed parties available through the KONK Club.
The resort’s most popular and pillaging
residents are back again on Wednesday and Saturday nights this spring and
summer to entertain with an evening of interactive, pirate-themed fun. Captain
RedBeard and his able first mate “The Amazing Blaze,” team up to present an
original production that blends musical comedy and theatrics for a
swashbuckling good time!
is just as easy to curl up in a comfy hooded beach cabana or swinging beachside
hammock or to chill out in the spa with a massage or facial. Several
sand-in-your-toes beach bars allow you to slowly sip on icy concoctions while
soaking in the sun.
million guestroom renovation, so every room in the hotel has now been updated
to reflect a more upscale look with custom-made dark wood furniture and décor
reminiscent of a classic British West Indies plantation. New lighting, bed
linens, and carpet were added, while new natural stone travertine has appeared
in lieu of floor tile. The rooms also received flat screen HD televisions,
granite counter tops, and uniquely detailed nature-themed artwork. The color palette
throughout the rooms reflect the classic feel of the tropics with cool sage
greens, warm orange, and gold tones.
The TradeWinds is currently offering Georgia
residents the opportunity to receive up to $250 in resort credit to use towards
food and beverage, spa, resort activities and more. Guests that reserve four or
more consecutive nights in a suite directly with the hotel are eligible.
the $250 resort credit offer, please visit www.JustLetGo.com/Georgia or call
(866) 803-9646.
While
at St. Pete Beach . . .
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Kids can get up close and personal with Parents rated top
kids zoo in the U.S. Interactive experiences including giraffe-feeding, white
rhino feeding, camel safari, wallaroo petting, stingray petting, and more. A
four-and-a-half acre Australian-themed children’s area allows kids to brush a
goat’s fur, walk down a path as kangaroos and wallabies hop in front of them,
ride a llama, or visit the Woodshed
Playground with unique slides, tunnels, and ladders or the water play area.
Since Lowry
Park is the only zoo in the country with an accredited preschool and
kindergarten on-site, the staff is especially comfortable fielding questions
from families. FREE parking. Low entrance fees. In other words, truly
family-friendly.
IF YOU GO
1101 West Sligh Avenue
Tampa, FL 33604
lowryparkzoo.com
813/935-8552
Busch Gardens
Owned by SeaWorld Parks, it opened in 1959, and is one of
America’s largest zoological institutions, with more than 2,700 animals.
Attractions
include: Rhino Rally, Montu, Kumba, Scorpion, Gwazi, Edge of Africa, Jungala,
Sand Serpent, Congo River Rapids, Tanganyika Tidal Wave, Stanley Falls,
Serengeti Railway, and Phoenix. It also offers a new Sesame Street (playland
filled with kid-size rides and cool water fun, such as the Bert & Ernie
Watering Hole) and a new roller coaster called “Cheetah Hunt” and a new cheetah
enclosure. While the Park features amazing amusement park rides such as a
vertical dive coaster, we chose to visit Busch Gardens because of the numerous
up-close encounters with many of the numerous animals.
Each and every
year, Busch Gardens has tons of new offerings for guests, from attractions to
special events, so you don’t want to miss a second of all the action. In 2012
the tradition continues with the all new epic ice show Iceploration and the
Animal Care Center’s opening.
IF YOU GO
Busch Gardens
10165 N McKinley Dr
Tampa, FL 33612
seaworldparks.com/BuschGardens
1-888-800-5447
Dali Museum
The DalÌ Museum’s collection is based on the acquisitions
of DalÌ’s work made by A. Reynolds Morse and Eleanor R. Morse over a period of
four decades. Their unique and extraordinary collection was enabled by a close
friendship with Salvador and Gala DalÌ from the 1940s through the 1970s. They
acquired a collection of essential works from every period of the artist’s long
and productive career, choosing works from a personal viewpoint and with DalÌ’s
recommendation. The collection now consists of 96 oils, 100+ watercolors and
drawings, and over 1,300 graphics, sculptures, objects d’art, and photographs.
We can’t say it rivals The Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Spain, which
happens to be the largest surrealistic museum in the world. But we can say that
we found it to be almost as breathtaking. Whether you like surrealism or not,
you will find works that will thrill you.
IF YOU GO
Dali Museum
One Dali Boulevard
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
thedali.org
727/823-3767