* Activites in Madeira Beach, Florida *

• Walk the beach. - A quarter mile to the South is Johns Pass. There is a concrete breakwall at that end of the beach with a wide sidewalk on top that people fish off of into the Pass. This sidewalk goes under the drawbridge to the shops at the Village of Johns Pass. Walking North from Madeira Norte you'll have many miles of uninterupted wide open public beach. Enjoy the beach at both the high tide and low tide since the look of it is very different at the two. The tide tables are published in the local paper or on our website.
• Visit Johns Pass Village. - This is the group of shops across from the condo on the pass. A variety of Restaurants and shops are here, as well as jet ski and boat rentals, ocean going gambling boats, and deep sea fishing boats.
• Rent a jet ski - A variety of places in Johns Pass rents them. The price varies a little depending on the size of the engine and the number of passengers they hold. Rates range from $45 to $90 per hour including gas and tax. Rates are usually cheaper in the morning, and reservations are accepted. Since these places are right in John's pass, it only takes a minute to get into the Gulf. Most rental agencies do not encourage use on the intercoastal waterway side of the pass.
• Go Parasailing - The same places that rent jet skis do the parasailing. There are a couple of big boats that work out of Johns Pass. This is very gentle and requires no physical effort on your part. Price varies with length of cable that they let out for you. Having two people go up together saves a little money.
• Deep Sea Fishing - On the boardwalk in John's Pass Village is Hubbard's Marine and their deep sea fishing boat, "The Friendly Fisherman", and their restaurant by the same name. Their boat has a variety of options, from short part day trips to overnight trips. If you go deep sea fishing on their boat, they will cook your fish for a nominal charge for dinner at the Friendly Fisherman Restaurant.
• National Comedy Hall of Fame This museum just opened in 2007.
• Go to Gator's - This is more of a big bar and nightclub than restaurant. It is on the other side of John's Pass (actually on Treasure Island), but right on the Pass so an easy walk from the condo over the drawbridge. They often have live entertainment. Much of this is on outside decks and on multiple levels, so put the kids to bed and walk over for some music and drinks.

Activities On Madeira Beach

• Miniature Golf - Smuggler Cove is on Gulf Blvd. just north of the Madeira Beach causeway. They even have some baby gators in a small pond between holes that you can feed. Coupons are available in local advertising flyers. 15395 Gulf Boulevard.
• The Candy Kitchen - Just up the street from the condo, this place only serves candy and homemade ice cream. The kids love going there after dinner to pick from the racks of candy. The walls are covered with people's signatures, and they will give you a marker to add your own, if you can find a spot.

Activities South of Madeira Beach

• Don Cesar Hotel. A historic landmark, this was built in the 1920's, but quickly lost business in the depression and was even converted to a veterans hospital at one point. Now it is fully restored as a grand hotel, and has restaurants you can try.
• Fort De Soto Park - This beach sometimes makes those "best beach in the world" lists, or at least best in US or Florida. The quality of the water and sand is really the same as at our condo, just that there aren't any development here so it is totally natural. As the name implies, there is an old fortress here that you can walk in and around. It is pretty much walls and ruins, but there are some cannons. It will take a half hour to get here. Drive south down Gulf Blvd to the Don Cesar (big historic pink beachfront hotel), and turn left at the stoplight as if you were going to teh mainland. In a few blocks there will be another light and a turnoff to the right for Ft. DeSoto Park, which will be a mile or two further.
• The Hurricane - This restaurant has two floors of dining and a third floor bar, all overlooking beautiful long stretch of Gulf Beach. We've had mixed results with it as a restaurant, but it is one of the few restaurants and bars that are right on the beach. Casual dining is available inside or out, and the third floor bar is a big sundeck overlooking the water. If you are there at sunset you will see a group of people gather on the beach at the pavilion across the street and ring the big bell at sunset. This is at the very end of St. Pete Beach, a mile or more past the Don Cesar on the Gulf front.
• Sea Critters - this restaurant is always good, but what draws the kids is being able to eat on the back deck and being able to feed food scraps supplied by the restaurant to the fish the swarm in the water under the docks when you throw them some food. Sea Critters is located at 2007 Pass-A-Grill Way, 1/2 mile south of the Don Cesar Hotel on St. Pete Beach.

Activities North of Madeira Beach

• Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary - they take injured birds and help them heal, then release them. Free admission. Open 9am until sunset 7 days a week. Guided tours available Wednesdays at 2:00 P.M. 18328 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores. 391-6211

Activities On the Mainland nearby

• Orange Blossom Groves - On highway alt US19 just a couple of miles from Maderia Beach. You can watch oranges being process and readied for shipment, as well as taste homemade florida lime and orange ice cream. Open seasonally, though closed possibly permanently when we saw it last.
• St. Petersburg Pier - downtown St. Pete.
• Salvador Dali Museum
• Ybor City - on the edge of downtown Tampa this was the old cigar making district. Now restored with tons of nightclubs, restaurants and some shops and museums. 45 minutes to get there.
• Tyrone Mall - Just a regular shopping mall, but the closest one to Madeira Beach. On Tyrone Blvd, about 15 minutes away.

Activities On the Mainland, a bit furher away (the closer ones are listed first)

• Busch Gardens (45 minutes away)
• Adventure Island (at Busch Gardens, 45 minutes away)
• Museum of Science and Industry - Tampa (45 minutes away)
• Tarpon Springs
• Cypress Gardens - Closed?
• Disney World/Epcot - South side of Orlando (about 2 hours away)
• Sea World - South side of Orlando (about 2 hours away)

Other Websites for lists of area Activities

Call us at (614) 792-2593 to rent our beautiful corner gulf front condo in the Madeira Norte building on Madeira Beach.

• Madeira Norte #312 - This is the link back to the main part of our website for our condo that is available for rent.
  
• Madeira Beach Restaurant Guide - This is the link back to our guide to restaurants in the area.
• Madeira Beach City Page - a link to the City's webpage