Things to do between park days???

Hello all. We are planning our trip for late March early April and are looking for things to do between major park days. We are already planning on day on the gulf coast. We will be in for 9 days. I want to make the most of the trip without killing everyone. We have thought about going on a deep sea fishing half day trip and probably a dinner theater for some fillers. Just wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas. It will be the wife and I plus two boys ages 8 and 17. We may have the inlaws with us also which are 60+. Sorry if this is the wrong section of the forum for this post. Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Also my kids and I are very interested in going shelling or sea shell hunting. If anyone has any good tips or locations it would be greatly appreciated. Is Sanibel Island out of the question for a one day trip... seems far to me but I hear it is good shelling?
Eric

Honeymoon Island is a good location for sea shelling and if your boys are quite active, the nature area has a nice sand volleyball court (and play area for the younger boy. You could maybe persuade the eldest to be the chef for the day and take a cooler box of food for hime to prepare on the bbq grills there (youu have to take your own coals, what we often do where these are available is to take a large or couple of smaller disposable ones so that you have a clean cooking surface and use the fixed ones as stands.
You can get a boat across to Caladesi island which is supposed to be good for shelling as well but we've never got that far yet as we've just been happy to stay at Honeymoon Island.
Will try and add a pic later of some of the varieites we found.
You can find full details if you google Florida State Parks and might give you some others.
The good thing is that the toilets have a proper changing area to clean up at the end of the day and the cafes are very good. I'm sure you'll find it easy enough to find (both on the internet if you google it) and to get there. It costs about $8 for the car load to park.
One that appeals to me but be have never got there yet as its a bit further away is Ichetucknee Springs, There is a tubing river which apparanently takes 1/ 1/2 hours to go from the top to mid point and a further 1 1/2 to get to the bottom.

Lake Louisa beach is a bit closer but doesn't have as much to do or as many facilities.
Where are you staying, if the development, like ours at Hampton Lakes has community facilities then they are a good way to relax, we have a community pool which is larger thatn the villa pools, tennis courts, basketball, sand volleyball etc as do many others so it can be a good chance to give the driver a day off or mornign and venture out later.

One of our inbetweenies last time which was great fun was the air boat. We had a leisurely start, swimming in the pool etc at the villa, out for lunch and then to the airboat for (if I remember rightly) a couple of hours by the time you have booked in, done your trip and photos with an alligator after. My girls (8,14 and 16 at the time) loved it. Have a great pic of the 8 year old with her hair all over the place with ear defenders on [msnsmile2]. Some where we are thinking about going this year after reading another thread is Mount Dora, although that might change to Honeymoon Island. How long does it take to get there please Steph? Roughly? Thanks

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sammibabe
One of our inbetweenies last time which was great fun was the air boat. We had a leisurely start, swimming in the pool etc at the villa, out for lunch and then to the airboat for (if I remember rightly) a couple of hours by the time you have booked in, done your trip and photos with an alligator after. My girls (8,14 and 16 at the time) loved it. Have a great pic of the 8 year old with her hair all over the place with ear defenders on [msnsmile2]. Some where we are thinking about going this year after reading another thread is Mount Dora, although that might change to Honeymoon Island. How long does it take to get there please Steph? Roughly? Thanks
[/quote]

We thoroughly enjoyed the airboats as well and are hoping to go on an evening trip when we go next year .... can recommend it if you have a free afternoon.[msncool]

If you are looking for a show I can recommend Blue Man Group-for all of you!

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by sammibabe
One of our inbetweenies last time which was great fun was the air boat. We had a leisurely start, swimming in the pool etc at the villa, out for lunch and then to the airboat for (if I remember rightly) a couple of hours by the time you have booked in, done your trip and photos with an alligator after. My girls (8,14 and 16 at the time) loved it. Have a great pic of the 8 year old with her hair all over the place with ear defenders on [msnsmile2]. Some where we are thinking about going this year after reading another thread is Mount Dora, although that might change to Honeymoon Island. How long does it take to get there please Steph? Roughly? Thanks
[/quote]
Depends who's navigating, it usually takes us somewhere around an hour and a quarter.
Mapquest is a pretty good guide

#1 Causeway Boulevard
Dunedin, Florida 34698

This is the address to get details from where you are staying.

Thanks, think will give that a try

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Albert the Frog
If you are looking for a show I can recommend Blue Man Group-for all of you!
[/quote]

Wanting to see that but Cirque du Soleil is also a good show.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Laurel Oak
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Albert the Frog
If you are looking for a show I can recommend Blue Man Group-for all of you!
[/quote]

Wanting to see that but Cirque du Soleil is also a good show.
[/quote]

We'd like to see both of these but think we will have to wait until we are going on our own due to finances [msnsad]

We did the half-day deep sea fishing trip (booked on this site), and had a blast. You might want to bring some food as they serve your basic greasy cheeseburger and chips. Take some water and juice too. Besides that they took great care of the kids, we caught all sorts of fish, octopus, someone got a shark and even a huge manta, but that one got away after a very long fight. We saw dolphins (a lot more than on the dedicated tour in Clearwater) and a sea turtle. You can bring your fish back to the villa, or leave it to the crew. At the time we went they said we could also take it to some place down the road where they'd cook it for us, I don't remember the details as we just left the fish.

Blue Springs State Park was also a great off-the-parks day. Lots of wildlife, I'm not sure you'll be able to see manatees at that time of the year. If the manatees are not there, you can swim in the river, but it's pretty cold ( a constant 72°F/ 22°C), so if your kids have a body surf suit you may want to bring it. Bring a picnic, rent a canoe or take the boat tour, it's a nice relaxing place. Take binoculars if you have a pair, to get a better sight of the gators, and the birds.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lafifille
Blue Springs State Park was also a great off-the-parks day. Lots of wildlife, I'm not sure you'll be able to see manatees at that time of the year. If the manatees are not there, you can swim in the river, but it's pretty cold ( a constant 72°F/ 22°C), so if your kids have a body surf suit you may want to bring it. Bring a picnic, rent a canoe or take the boat tour, it's a nice relaxing place. Take binoculars if you have a pair, to get a better sight of the gators, and the birds.
[/quote]

I agree Blue Springs is a nice day out, you will probably not see and manatees, but there should be gators, turtles etc. and yes you will be able to swim in the river, right up to the spring (If you have scuba gear you can register and the adults could go into the spring). The boat trip is also worth a go, very informative. There are lots of places to picnic and a small playground.

Silver Springs is another nice park with 3 boat trips on glass bottom boats amongst other things.