Chasing Summer… and Manatees

Travel

Audio By Carbonatix

My family and I absolutely love warm weather—whether it’s weekends at Lake Wallenpaupack, trips to the iconic Jersey Shore, or our annual getaway to Ocean City, Maryland. If it’s sunny and 84 degrees or warmer, you’ll find smiles on our faces.

Lately, though, Florida has stolen our hearts—specifically Indian Rocks Beach, where the weather reminds us of Aruba.

We stumbled upon this quiet town after a few trips to Clearwater Beach and St. Pete, both favorites for our kids. The relaxed vibe and wholesome fun made us hope they’d choose it again this year—and they did!

Once the family vote was in, we booked quickly. We stay at Harborside Condos, which can be rented at newhotelcollection.com or through sites like Airbnb and VRBO. We always snag a two-bedroom unit with two full bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a balcony overlooking the bay. Waterpark passes are included (two for a one-bedroom, four for a two-bedroom), and mornings are spent sipping coffee on the balcony, with afternoons filled with adventure.

By 9 a.m., you’ll find us at the waterpark—racing down slides or floating the lazy river with frozen drinks from the tiki bar. After a healthy lunch back at the condo, we stroll a block and a half to the beach. Each condo has a closet stocked with chairs, toys, umbrellas, and carts, making beach days a breeze. The skies are blue, the water is clear—and it’s never crowded.

While we love making breakfast and lunch at the condo, dinner is usually a night out. Walkable options include Guppy’s on the Beach, The Original Crabby Bill’s, and the Kooky Coconut. Our favorite? Jimmy Guana’s Waterfront—just next door—with live music, bay views, fantastic margaritas, and a great kids’ menu.

No vacation night is complete without ice cream! Tropical Ice Cream, boasting over 140 flavors, is just a few minutes’ walk away. The stroll back is lively but family-friendly, keeping the town’s atmosphere charming and safe.

Within walking distance, you’ll find Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve, the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, and the Indian Rocks Historical Museum.

A quick 15-minute drive gets you to Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival every April—packed with carnival rides, bouncy houses, shops, street performers, and a fantastic sand playground for little ones. Details at sugarsandfestival.com.

We also love starting and ending our trip with a water adventure. Just over an hour north, Paddletail Waterfront Adventures offers semi-private tours to swim with manatees—$89 per person for groups of six or fewer. Wetsuits, snorkel gear, and a boat captain/guide are included, and they even provide underwater videos on a flash drive to take home! Visit swimmingwiththemanatees.com to book. We went with guide Sara this year and had an unforgettable experience.

On our last day, after checking out, we stopped at King’s Landing for kayaking through crystal-clear spring-fed waters and mangrove tunnels. Rentals (kayaks or paddleboards) start around $49–$69 for four hours. While morning slots are popular, we suggest the afternoon to avoid traffic jams—yes, even in kayaks! Book early at kingslandingfl.com.

Locker rooms are under renovation, but clean, spacious porta-potties are available if you need to change.

Indian Rocks Beach remains one of our favorite escapes—a safe, quiet, bungalow-style town with just a few larger hotels. It’s the ultimate spot for a laid-back, family-friendly beach vacation. Hope you give it a try!