10-08-2006, 03:33 PM
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#21
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Crash and Bang Winger
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Florida, USA
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I live about 40 minutes south of Tampon Gay...this area of Florida is a really great place to be, lots of sun, beaches, nightlife, babes, all that stuff. It is a football town through and through, even in the wake of the stupid Dolts...
Everything here is Buccaneer football and until the Dolts were in Game 7 of the Finals, nobody within 5 lightyears of this place knew who Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier were. It is a fair-weather sports town for sure and they are IN LOVE with anyone who is doing well. The only people that know about hockey down here are people who haved relocated, so if you're expecting intellectual hockey conversation, forget it.
Anyways, Tampa and Clearwater have plenty of things to keep you occupied on your trip, make sure you have a stay on Clearwater Beach and if you are a strip club group, Mons Venus is a place you can't miss. You will have more than ample eye candy at any time and you will enjoy Raymond James Stadium, just don't sit close to the pirate ship in the endzone (those cannons are LOUD!).
Anyways, to finish up my rant, you will have a good time...Tampa fans are really bad, though, I can't even begin to tell you how much flak I've gotten from all of the Flames magnets and logos on my car, not to mention my whole wardrobe being Flames stuff. Anyways, enjoy your trip down here and wear those Calgary sweaters with pride, it CROSSED THE LINE IN GAME 6!!! 
GO FLAMES GO!!!
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10-08-2006, 03:36 PM
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#22
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#1 Goaltender
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Calgary, AB
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I went there a couple times when I lived in Florida. I went downtown to were the Lightning play and went to Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens is fun with all the rides and you can go on a beer tour.
Lots of Trailer Parks around Busch Gardens and lots of the girls looked like thats where they came from. If you want the hot ladies go to South Florida.
__________________
You lack rawness, you lack passion, you couldn't make it through war without rations.
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10-08-2006, 04:11 PM
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#23
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Franchise Player
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Flames4LifeFLA,
I really have no idea what side of the stadium we are setting on. I know we're in the first bowl but that's all I really know.
Everyone else, thanks for all the responses. Sounds like it should be a good time, I'm just crossing my fingers for nice weather.
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10-08-2006, 04:58 PM
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#24
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Crash and Bang Winger
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Florida, USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze
Flames4LifeFLA,
I really have no idea what side of the stadium we are setting on. I know we're in the first bowl but that's all I really know.
Everyone else, thanks for all the responses. Sounds like it should be a good time, I'm just crossing my fingers for nice weather.
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Just letting you know if you happen to end up by the pirate ship, so you are prepared and don't go deaf!  You should have really nice weather by the way, it's been around 85 and clear here lately, with decreasing humidity the whole month. By the time you get down here, you should have perfect weather. Safe travels and have a great time, Eddie!
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10-09-2006, 10:04 AM
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#25
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Crash and Bang Winger
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: san diego
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don't worry about the cannons, they only fire when the bucs score.
i have lived in tampa for about 10 years, and i agree with most of the recommendations.
-busch gardens is very nice especially with the addition of the new dropcoaster last year. they are currently running 'hallowscream' at night, which i haven't been to yet this year, but was great last year. tickets for busch gardens are a little pricey at around 60 bucks. do not get a hotel near busch gardens, as it is not in the nicest part of town. if you go on the weekend, you will most likely be waiting in long lines for the rides. try to hit busch on friday or monday if possible.
-clearwater beach or st. pete beach are both great beaches. if you are looking for outdoor bars on the beach, i would recommend the Palm Pavilion on the north part of clearwater beach or the Undertow on st.pete beach. beach parking is more abundant in clearwater, although i would recommend going early on the weekends. remember due to beach traffic it will take you around an hour to get between tampa and clearwater or st.pete beach depending on exactly where you are staying. traffic will be worse in clearwater.
-nightlife depends on what you are looking for. ybor city is usually a younger rowdier crowd, and safety can be a problem, especially later at night, because it is located in the heart of the worst part of tampa. channelside is a little classier and is located about a block from the stpetetimes forum, and you can always check out channelside and ride the trolley over to ybor city after the lightning/panther game. plenty of hot ladies at both locations. there is also south tampa, with places like Macdenton's or the Dubliner. as someone else mentioned FourGreenFields is a nice little bar also, but not usually too many ladies unless it's stpatty's day. south tampa can be a little pretentious, but Macdenton's is always teeming with sweet ladies on friday nights.
if you only really have saturday and sunday to do anything, i would skip busch gardens and head to the beach on saturday.
other things that might be helpful:
- i like to park in the channelside parking garage for lightning games. it's 10 bucks, but you can get a parking validation if you grab something to eat at any of the channelside establishments. then you only have to pay the regular parking fee, which should only be a few bucks. just ask for a stamp on your receipt.
-there are a couple of pre(lightning not bucs)game hangouts across the street from the stpetetimesforum. grab a few beers at newk's or get something to eat at andreychuk's grille.
thats all i can think of off the top of my head. i would grab a beer with you at the lightning game, but i will be fishing up in minnesota. have fun.
Last edited by badnarik; 10-09-2006 at 10:07 AM.
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10-09-2006, 11:15 AM
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#26
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Scoring Winger
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That is wicked! I'm going the the Tampa/Carolina game also! Flames jersey will be worn - and 2004 stanley cup banner will be brought back!
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10-12-2006, 07:00 AM
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#27
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First Line Centre
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Table 5
yep, just came back from California, and neither L.A or San Diego's downtown can even compare to Calgary, and they are some pretty massive cities population wise.
For a city of only one million, Calgary has an amazing skyline and a pretty lively downtown (or atleast during the day).
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The reason that California cities don't have nice downtowns is because of the EARTHQUAKE factor........and San Francisco has a great downtown (the whole city is a downtown) because they redid their buildings after the 89 earthquake.
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10-12-2006, 07:28 AM
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#28
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Crash and Bang Winger
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: London, England
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I have been to Tampa yeah. South beach was a blast, lots of great looking girls loving my accent. Kelly and Kristin if i remember...
I went with them to bush gardens then after to busch gardens 
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10-12-2006, 04:30 PM
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#30
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Lifetime Suspension
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^^^^ Channelside. It's a night club and kind of cheesy if you ask me.
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10-12-2006, 06:17 PM
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#31
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In the Sin Bin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddie Bronze
Everyone else, thanks for all the responses. Sounds like it should be a good time, I'm just crossing my fingers for nice weather.
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From what I understand, and what I experienced, the weather changes as rapidly as Calgary's can. Except that instead of temperature, the change is rain/sun.
Also, shame Newks closed down. You could have visited the unofficial bar of Flames fans from 04.
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