West Central Florida has all the good things about Florida - and much of it free for the asking. Head to one of the coast's beautiful beaches. Sarasota's are particularly lovely. So are Clearwater's, and there's a new fishing pier. Take your pets to Honeymoon Island in Dunedin.
Diversity is West Central Florida's strongest characteristic.
Tarpon Springs in Pinellas County is home to one of the larger Greek populations in the Southeast. Sarasota boasts excellent theaters, art galleries, restaurants, shopping areas and waterways. Manatee County has a prized planetarium and is one of the better places in the state to spot manatees. Clearwater has an unusually good jazz festival every year. St. Petersburg has a picturesque waterfront downtown and Haslam's, one of the state's bigger bookstores.