[redwitch]

I need some advice. Jess will be 21 in mid-May. She loves beaches, amusement parks, wants to see Blue Man Group, wants to try gambling. Since we've been here, beaches have been mentioned the most.

I'm thinking it would be fun to take her to the Hard Rock in Tampa but not stay there (sorry, $300/night is just a tad too pricey for me). Any suggestions on places to stay near the Hard Rock that is also close to a good beach (hotel rate not more than $150 for two people)?

If not there, the other thought is Orlando and the Blue Man Group. Any thoughts about there?

So, which idea is better for an coming-of-age, wonderful brat? Or do you have a better idea? I'll only be able to take her for one night wherever we go because I doubt I can get her boss to let her off more than two days in a row.

The budget is limited but enough to make it semi-decent. Please name some good beaches, decent hotels and other things a young adult would enjoy doing with dear (or not-so-dear at times) ole mom.

If you do go to Tampa, there are two beaches in nearby Clearwater well worth the drive and cheap price of admission. Honeymoon Island http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/ and Caladesi Island which you can get to from a ferry from Honeymoon Island. http://www.floridastateparks.org/cal...nd/default.cfm

[redwitch]

Tal, appreciate the park info and will definitely plan a visit to one that offers camping but for this one, want to go the "adult" route -- hotel on the beach type of thing.

[Pete]

Give treasure island on the gulf coast a thought,

1/2 day gambling trips on the boat

Band at Thunderbird motel

Parasailing

Shelling

shopping

and a gr888t place for sunsets

Clearwater is good too, but i don't know if there are gambling boats out of there

[redwitch]

TI seems more for couples. If I saw more blurb for a romantic sunset I was gonna scream. lol Not quite rocking enough for a mother-daughter celebrating, I think.

I may have to give up the beach idea and go for Blue Man Group but the beach is still first choice. Who knows, maybe she'll find a bunch of kids to party with at Hard Rock (mom can sit in the background and make sure she's safe hehe).

[nhsnowbird]

Red, we saw Blue Man Group in Boston twice. First time my daughter and her husband went with us ... they were early 30 somethings then, second time took all ... son and his wife and daughter and her husband ... they all really enjoyed it ... definitely not your everyday group. I have no idea about hotels but I vote Blue Man Group.

[floydfan]

We saw Blue Man Group in Vegas, total waste of time, hated 98% of the show, if you like seeing 3 goofballs splashing around paint and banging on drums then go for it. There must be something more interesting to do in Florida than this.

[redwitch]

LOL -- Love the two reviews on BMG. I know their music and like it a lot. So does Jess. It's not my first choice for her birthday -- she wanted to take me there for New Year's but couldn't quite afford it, so I'm sure she'd feel I was hijacking her gift.

My first choice is still something around the Hard Rock Casino. I may just pop her into the car and go there and see what we can find once arriving. So, if you know anything around there, please let me know.

If worse comes to worse, there's always New Orlease, which we both now love.

Casinos are fun for people watching. Grew up in Reno, Nevada. Was there from 1968 or so through the Summer of 1983.

Many Reno residents did not seem to gamble or gambled very rarely. I guess they knew that the house usually will just wind up taking whatever money you take to the slots and gaming tables.

New Orleans is also great for people watching!

[English Ivy]

If you're looking for casinos and are thinking of driving to New Orleans, why don't you consider Biloxi/Gulfport, MS? They have a Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi that opened last summer. We lived in that area before moving to TV and it's a great area for casinos. Unfortunately due to the damage from Hurricane Katrina there are still a lot of sad sights to see as the area continues to come back, but the casinos are, in some cases, bigger and better than ever! An interesting note about the Hard Rock, it was scheduled to open two or three days after Katrina hit. Of course it was pretty much destroyed and had to be rebuilt, finally opening last July. There were stories of the musical artifacts being found miles from the site, up in trees, etc.

In addition to the Hard Rock, you have the Beau Rivage which is a beautiful place and the Island View in Gulfport where Emeril Lagassee opened a restaurant last year. If I remember correctly in the three coastal counties of Mississippi (which is approx 80 miles east to west) there are ten casinos you can choose from. The majority of them are in Biloxi within 8 to 10 miles of each other.

If you're seriously considering that length of a drive I would definitely go to Biloxi rather than the Hard Rock in Tampa. There is no comparison other than Tampa is close if you want to get a slot machine fix ;D! You'll also get a much better room rate in Biloxi.

Hope this helps. Happy Birthday to Jess!

I stopped at Panama City Beach in Florida while driving cross country from the San Francisco area to Tampa back around 1996. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_City_Beach,_Florida

These beaches are gorgeous. May want to avoid them though anytime near Spring Break. They become zoo like in atmosphere and I expect it is very difficult to get a hotel room.