So excited for our trip everyone!!!! 

Please be sure to check out the detailed itinerary. 

Each day tells exactly what we are doing and when. 

Also, please sign the waiver for horseback riding on Tuesday asap. The link is in the info. 

Itinerary Overview

Saturday- 

Our van will be waiting in the parking garage at the airport

Stop at stores on way to hotel

Check in hotel after 4pm- each room will need a credit card on file

6pm Dinner at Pier 60 

Sunday- 

11am -4:30pm Busch Gardens

6pm Dinner at Frenchy’s

Monday-

10am-1pm Aquarium 

6pm Dinner at 

Tuesday-

8am leave hotel

10am-12pm Kayak tour in Crystal Springs

12-2 lunch 

2-5 Manatee swim tour

Dinner on the way back to hotel

Wednesday-

12pm-4pm  Horseback ride

6pm Dinner at Crabby’s

Thursday- 

10am-2pm ZooTampa

4pm leave for 5pm dolphin cruise

Friday- checkout 10am 

Welcome to our Florida adventure!!

If you are flying, our van will be waiting for us in the parking garage at the airport. 

Terrie- we will meet you at the hotel or I can let you know what grocery we are stopping at if you want to meet us there. 

We will be stopping at a grocery store and liquor store before we cross over the bridge to Clearwater. Everything will be much more expensive as we get closer to the beach.  Our rooms have tiny refrigerators. 

We can check into our rooms after 4pm. Gulf View Hotel on the Beach

Hopefully it won't be raining and we can walk to Pier 60 for dinner or take the trolley. 

We will leave the hotel around 11 to go to Busch Gardens.

It will likely rain for at least a little while in the afternoon so I will bring us all plastic ponchos. Hopefully it won't be more than a typical Florida afternoon shower that passes quickly. 

We will split into a couple groups to make it easier to see what we all want to see. 

Since we can't do the Koala encounter at the Zoo, you can choose any of the animal tours at Busch Gardens.  But, anything over $39 would be an additional cost. That is how much was budgeted for the koala encounter in the trip price. 

Here are all the options:

Busch Gardens Tours

We will leave Busch Gardens around 4:30 and go to the hotel.

We will leave the hotel at 6pm for dinner at Frenchy's. Looks like a really fun place!

We will leave the hotel at 10am  to go to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

This aquarium is a unique marine life rescue center dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals. 

Home to Winter, the famous dolphin with a prosthetic tail, the aquarium offers visitors an insightful view into the world of marine rescue and conservation. Winter passed away in 2021 but can still be seen in the movie "Dolphin Tale".

With a range of exhibits showcasing local aquatic life. interactive programs and behind the scenes experiences, the facility educates and inspires guests about the importance of protecting our marine ecosystems and the creatures that inhabit them. 

We will leave the aquarium at 1 and head back to the hotel. You have the rest of the afternoon to do as you choose until we leave for sunset cruise and dinner at 4pm.

This will be our longest day but sooooo fun!!!

We will leave the hotel at 8am to drive to Crystal River.

We have a 2 hour clear bottom kayak tour at 10am.

After the kayak tour, we have time for lunch and then go to our snorkeling adventure starting at 2pm. 

They will fit us for our wetsuits at the shop before we go to the boat. They have sizes XS to 3X so we are all good. 

This is a 3 hour tour in an enclosed, heated boat. They provide coffee, hot chocolate and water. Also says they provide towels but I am bringing one too. 

There will be a professional photographer in the water with us and the footage can be purchased after the tour if you would like. 

Here is the Facebook page for the tour company we are using-

https://www.facebook.com/manateetour

Please bring a change of clothes and we will stop for dinner on the way back to the hotel and then you have the rest of the evening free to do whatever you would like. 

WHAT DO WOMEN WEAR UNDER A WETSUIT?

Women are more conservative than males when it comes to swimwear. They must wear undergarments, especially while renting a wetsuit.

BIKINI

Women can also wear bikinis, and the decision between a bathing suit and a bikini is based on personal desire and comfort. 

However, if you pick the bikini, avoid wearing one with a knot as the tight wetsuit will press the knot into your skin. It may not appear to be a big deal at first, but after a while, it becomes really painful and distracting.

Two-piece bikinis are also ideal for extended diving trips. It makes taking off your bottoms simpler, whether using the marine toilet or hiding behind a bush after a shore dive.

Avoid elements such as knots, metal, and bead embellishment, which may scrape into your skin and create irritation under the wetsuit. Thicker straps may also be more secure than smaller straps. When feasible, utilize flat clasps and slimline bikinis.

SPORTS UNDERWEAR

Sport bras and sports underwear are excellent choices for what to wear beneath a wetsuit. They are often more secure and provide excellent chest support than standard underwear or bikinis. 

They are durable and designed for sweaty and rainy settings. Most will also be quick-drying, which is useful for drying your gear in between or after dives. 

You can pair sports bras with bikini bottoms and spandex shorts. You can also use a sports bikini, which fits tighter than a regular bikini and is similar to a sports bra, and is better for removing your wetsuit.

BATHING SUIT

A one-piece bathing suit is a straightforward and modest approach to covering a substantial section of your upper body. It doesn’t offer much insulation or protection, but it can cover up your intimate parts and keep the suit from rubbing against them.

SLEEVELESS VEST

Women can also wear compression shirts, although some prefer sleeveless tops since they provide greater mobility around the shoulders and arms. They’re called vests by some companies, and they’re made of the same thin, quick-drying, lightweight materials that are ideal for water sports, swimming, and layering beneath wetsuits while surfing.

Vests keep you comfortable and help regulate your core temperature whether you’re lounging on the beach or surfing.

We will leave the hotel at 12pm  for our horseback riding adventure in Bradenton at 1:30pm  

Please be sure to sign your waiver in advance:  Horseback ride waiver

Our ride will be over around 3 and we should be back to the hotel by 4. .

 Please bring a change of clothes so you don't have to ride back wet. 

You have the rest of the afternoon to hang out and relax until we head to Crabby's for dinner at 6pm

 Bradenton Horseback Riding on the Beach in Florida

This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that lets you experience horseback riding in Bradenton, FL. Begin your excursion by meeting our beautiful, amazing horses — 95% of them are rescues!

Within minutes you’ll fall in love with this rare breed. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as it’s common to see manatees, stingrays, and dolphins swimming by. Palma Sola Bay is a natural breeding ground for our manatees! Enjoy the beautiful bay views as you ride with your gentle companion. While horseback riding in Bradenton, FL ask your guide about your horse’s story. You may even shed a tear when you hear some of the horrible conditions our horses came from.

After a brief safety meeting and a lesson on how to swim with the horses, our horses will swim while you ride them. The horses are never forced to swim; this is actually their favorite part! So grab hold of their manes and hang on tight! This almost feels like you’re flying through the air.

There is no hard impact or bouncing as the horses’ feet do not touch the ground while they swim (if conditions are right, and the temperature is above 60 degrees). Your mounted guide navigates the tides and shares information about our native sea life and our rescue horses. They also take pictures that can be purchased on the day of your ride and even downloaded right to your phone.

Bradenton Horseback Riding Information: 

Your excursion will include a meet and greet with your horse, safety meeting, 60 minutes in the saddle, and your final farewell with the ponies. Please plan on arriving 15-20 minutes before your scheduled ride time. If for any reason the weather is not cooperating, the ride may be altered. Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Horses will venture out into the ocean about 3ft during most of the ride, except during the swimming portion.

The picture package is available on the day of your ride starting at $25 for two people.

 This morning we will load up the van at 10am and go to Tampa Zoo.

Experience wildlife like nowhere else! Voted one of USA Today’s 10Best Zoos in the country and 11-time winner of TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, ZooTampa offers one-of-a-kind experiences that connect people to wildlife and each other in fun and immersive ways.

Come nose-to-nose with an endangered Florida panther, witness life-saving care at our David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center, go on a safari through Africa, and so much more! Every visit supports our commitment to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for animals and continues to inspire future generations to join us in saving animals and preserving the world we share.

We will leave the Zoo at around 2pm and be back to the hotel around 2:30.

You have the rest of the afternoon to do as you choose until we meet to leave for dinner at 6pm.

Dinner will be at Salty Island Bar and Grill. 

We will leave the hotel at 4pm to check into the 5pm sunset cruise on the Tropics Boat Tour

The cruise is a mile from the hotel so we will walk or grab the shuttle. 

Please sign waivers here

This cruise is lasts about 2 hours so please eat a little before we go and we will stop for dinner after we get off the boat. 

We are not allowed to bring any food or drinks but packaged snacks will be for sale on the boat as well as the following drink packages. 

$6 unlimited soft drinks with souvenir cup

$16 unlimited beer and soft drinks with souvenir coozie

$12 1 wine drink in souvenir stemless cup with $5 refills

$12 1 cocktail in souvenir cup and $8 refills mixed and frozen drinks

Includes:

Boat cruise and 20% tip for crew.

Not included:

Drink packages- purchased at the marina

Please check back here often and I will start adding fun stuff to do in between our planned adventures. 

Jolley Trolley

Clearwater has a trolley that provides scheduled public routes available at a low cost to travel within the Clearwater Beach area and beyond. 

The Beach routes offer destinations up and down the beach, with two routes; the North Beach route, and the South Beach route. 

The coastal tour offers a unique experience to travel up our beautiful coast, and stop at some beautiful locations including Downtown Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs.