Downtown St. Pete good strolling turf...
Don, there are several of spring training camps in the Pinellas County (Clearwater/St. Pete) area but if you'll be at the park in downtown St. Pete, you'll find yourself across the street from the SPYC sailing center and, just beyond it, one of the several municipal marina basins (which extend northward to 'The Pier', a tourist attraction). Inbetween you'll find museums, parks where evening concerts are occasionally given, and a lot of boat gawking to be done - even a broker's pier at the base of 'The Pier'. You might even visit www.stpete.org to look for a calendar of local events; perhaps you can catch a concert after a game. The city marina isn't real keen on lessening security for boat owners just so visitors can stroll about; all the gates are locked. You should stop in at the Demen's Landing marina office (BTW this basin is where the first scheduled airline was operated, SP to Tampa and back, on a plane the exact replica of which is hanging in a window of one of the museums on 'The Pier' road). The city marina office is in an obvious building; stop in and talk with Ron Williams (the marina supervisor) or one of his staff, explain that you'd like to walk the docks for a potential visit by boat at a later date, and see what they're willing to do for you. Gate crashing is of course another option, but it's a lousy practice in the eyes of those folks who expect their fellow slipholders to help maintain their privacy and security. Also catch the free bus service (looks like a trolley) that runs out a mile or so to the S to the Dali Museum and, next door, you'll find the upscale Harboarage Marina. It will be the same drill; I think they take security even more seriously. And if walking N from the ballpark just past 'The Pier', you'll come to an anchorage basin beyond which is the restored Vinoy Hotel with its adjacent, very upscale marina - much of it oogle-food from the public sidewalk. Enjoy! St. Pete's a great destination, no matter what brings you to it. Jack
