Things to do in Tampa/St.Pete/Clearwater for the 4th of July weekend

Don't go to clearwater beach, stick to the smaller local beaches to the south. Pass-a-grill it good balance...Indian Rocks and Shores good too, get there early and find one of the small parking lots that fit 10-15 cars and you will have the beach to yourself. Rent a kayak at Ft. Desoto and go through the mangroves. Also, boat out to Caladese island from Honey moon island (think 8 bucks a person) is a fun. Killer beach and since it is boat access only.

Safety Harbor puts on a good small town fireworks display and is a fun downtown to walk around in for July 4th.

Food wise crappy joes blows...don't go there. Guppies is good on the beach, ditto for a bunch around Belair Beach. Marlin Darling and E&E Steakhouse are good and just off the beach. Dunedin also a fun downtown to hit-up one night. Casatina is a great Mexican place there.

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I lived there in the early 90's and haven't been there in forever. I'll be spending most of my time at the beach because I'm so friggin tired of living in landlocked cities for last 20+ years.

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Where will you be staying. And what do you want to do?

Go to a Rays game

Mons Venus is a must.

Also downtown clearwater if you want to be able to say you saw some Scientologists in their natural habitat

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People will recommend Berns for steak but not worth the price IMO

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Berns is a don't miss.

Berns = overrated IMO

Whatever you do, fly through Sarasota Bradenton International Airport--they're a client of my company.

Local here. I can speak authoritatively re: Pinellas County/Downtown St. Pete.

If you haven't been here since the 90's, you're in for an incredibly pleasant surprise. St. Pete, and DTSP in particular, are going through (I can say this with a straight face) a cultural & economic renaissance. The green benches are gone (Green Bench Brewery is the only reminder); God's Waiting Room has given way to a thriving food, art, and bar scene. As a matter of fact, just Uber over to Beach Drive and you'll immediately see what I'm talking about. You like museums? Hit up the Dali, Fine Arts, and Chihuly. Bars? Start with rooftop drinks at the Canopy, work your way to Tryst for beer & a light meal, walk over to the new Ringside by Jannus Landing (Ringside usually has great live music going), then hit up the Central Ave bars - Mandarin Hide for Moscow mules, Mastry's/Five Bucks for cheap drinks and darts if that's more your speed.

Do you like breweries? My personal favorite is Three Daughters, then St. Pete Brewing Co on 1st Ave N and then Green Bench. Restaurants? Birch & Vine or Parkshore Grill nice sitdown meals on Beach Drive; El Cap on 4th Street for the best burgers, the original Red Mesa (not Red Mesa Cantina downtown, although they have cheap margs and a cool atmosphere) for the best latin food in town. Nataly's is an insanely good mexican/thai fusion spot. Ted Peters for a St. Pete classic. Go catch a ballgame at the Trop; it's not the nicest place to watch a game, but it's air conditioned and tickets are cheap. And it's Major League Baseball.

Are you dead set on staying by the beach? You could stay downtown, close to bars/museums/the Trop, while only being ~15 minutes away from St. Pete Beach and Tampa depending on traffic. I don't know your budget, but I'd recommend 1) The Birchwood 2) The Vinoy. If you're looking for somewhere on the beach, I'd vote for 1) the Tradewinds 2) the Don Cesar.

I could talk about St. Pete all day. I'll keep an eye on this thread, let me know if you have any questions.

ETA: Places downtown like the Birchwood usually do a ticketed open-bar event for the night of the 4th to watch fireworks. They aren't cheap, and it sounds like you'd want to stay on the beach (there are fireworks there too), but it's something to keep in mind.

I'm sitting on the beach on Lido Key right now near sarasot, it's very nice. St. Armands circle is great, lots of good restaurants and shops. One of my favorite get away from it all places