If you are planning to spend a day at the Gulf coast, why not head for Clearwater, which is easily accessible from the Orlando area via the Interstate 4. The journey takes about an hour and a half and is an easy drive through Tampa and then on to Clearwater.
When you approach the harbour area in Clearwater, you will come across an unusual phenomenon in Florida – a roundabout! Take the second exit and drive past the harbour on the left and you will then see some large parking lots on the right hand side. Park here.
Cross over the road to the harbour area where several large boats will be moored. Here there are several boat trips with their own ticket booths. I can highly recommend the Sea Screamer (if you are brave enough – it is not for the faint hearted). This boat has three or four trips per day (depending on the season). If you buy your tickets immediately, you can book for a later trip if you want to, so that you have time to wander down to the beach, or get a spot of lunch, knowing that your seat on the boat is reserved.
At the duly appointed time, return to the booking office where you will board the boat. Upon boarding, you will have the family snapshot taken, for collection on you return.
Board the boat and make sure you sit at the back!
The sea screamer is apparently the world’s largest speed boat!
The trip will take you down the inlet and out into the open Gulf. The skipper guarantees that you will see dolphins - and if you don’t you will get another free trip.
The slow ride out down the inlet gives you a chance to view the many homes on the water front (one is owned by Ton Cruise).
Once out in the open sea, the boat picks up speed and the skipper turns on the machine that makes the water turn to foam behind the boat. Dolphins appear as if by magic and start jumping in the foam. It is a fabulous sight! Now you know why you want to sit at the back – you will get a great view of the dolphins, although you will get quite wet. The skipper turns around and about and follows the dolphins to get the best show.
The whole trip is probably less than an hour in duration – but well worth doing.
When you approach the harbour area in Clearwater, you will come across an unusual phenomenon in Florida – a roundabout! Take the second exit and drive past the harbour on the left and you will then see some large parking lots on the right hand side. Park here.
Cross over the road to the harbour area where several large boats will be moored. Here there are several boat trips with their own ticket booths. I can highly recommend the Sea Screamer (if you are brave enough – it is not for the faint hearted). This boat has three or four trips per day (depending on the season). If you buy your tickets immediately, you can book for a later trip if you want to, so that you have time to wander down to the beach, or get a spot of lunch, knowing that your seat on the boat is reserved.
At the duly appointed time, return to the booking office where you will board the boat. Upon boarding, you will have the family snapshot taken, for collection on you return.
Board the boat and make sure you sit at the back!
The sea screamer is apparently the world’s largest speed boat!
The trip will take you down the inlet and out into the open Gulf. The skipper guarantees that you will see dolphins - and if you don’t you will get another free trip.
The slow ride out down the inlet gives you a chance to view the many homes on the water front (one is owned by Ton Cruise).
Once out in the open sea, the boat picks up speed and the skipper turns on the machine that makes the water turn to foam behind the boat. Dolphins appear as if by magic and start jumping in the foam. It is a fabulous sight! Now you know why you want to sit at the back – you will get a great view of the dolphins, although you will get quite wet. The skipper turns around and about and follows the dolphins to get the best show.
The whole trip is probably less than an hour in duration – but well worth doing.