Don't forget that the St. Pete/Clearwater area is more than blue skies & white sandy beaches, it is a premier arts destination too! There are always new exhibits to see and plays to enjoy happening in Pinellas County & Tampa Bay.
So, I wanted to offer you a few suggestions as alternatives for mornings or afternoons that may seem wet so you can still experience the area and have a great vacation without being stuck inside. In the house you should also have a book of ideas for things to do as well:
Johns Pass Village- http://www.johnspass.com/ Located on the waterfront at Johns Pass, this quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village has stores and merchants that inhabit the Village with unique retail shopping, a variety of restaurants, the local fishing fleet, dolphin watching and shelling tours.. in Madeira Beach
Craft Beer Trail:Think of it as the Sunshine State's answer to California's wine country. Along the Trail you'll stumble upon an array of small, independent breweries crafting fresh artisan beers unavailable anywhere. Watch out with the link because if you follow their order you will be driving all over the county. the highlights are 3 daughters, Cage, Pinellas ale works, St Pete Brewing, Cycle brewing - these 5 are all in a 2 mile radius of each-other. http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/list/craft-beer-trail
http://www.verticalventures.com/stpete/Vertical Ventures is Florida’s first & St Pete’s indoor rock climbing gym, providing a training environment for climbers of ALL skill levels
http://www.flaquarium.org/ -Come see why The Florida Aquarium is one of the top aquariums in the country
Local mall, Tyrone Square, has an indoor play area as well as great shops and a food court. For more details, check this link: http://www.simon.com/mall/tyrone-square
Movie Theater- Cobb Theater- Kitchen and Bar is located in the theater lobby and serves homemade pizza, burgers, salads and other entrees. A barista bar serves coffee and smoothies. You can enjoy a meal in the restaurant's dining room before or after a movie, or take the food into the theater.
Dali Museum- if you stop by the Dali you wont be disappointed! Fantastic docent experience worth the trip to downtown a nice lunch/dinner spot can be found on Beach Drive (Bella Brava- italian, Cassis- French/euro, or 400 Beach- Seafood are all among some of the best places to eat on Beach drive- but there are others)
With Kids:
Great Explorations Children's Museum- Designed for children 10 and under, the 24,000 square foot museum is filled with exhibits and activities to stimulate learning through creativity, play and exploration. http://greatex.org/
http://www.birdsonbeach.com/ - Birds on Beach is a “Bird Quest” throughout downtown St. Petersburg, along Beach Drive, where locals and tourists can embark on a sort-of scavenger hunt to find the Warbleson family of birds. The project was created by Molly Doyle and the sculptures brought to life by local artist Donna Gordon to showcase downtown St. Pete and some of the historical background associated with the city.
Children’s Museum http://glazermuseum.org/- children are given the rare space to imagine, pretend, and grow. Rest easy knowing that while children play here, they’re mastering math, science, and reading skills that encourage lifelong learning.
There are indoor gymnastic's places, Tampa Bay Turner's or Bayside, where children under 5 can work of some energy. See these links for details:
http://tampabayturners.com/
and
http://www.baysidesportsacademy.org/
Many libraries have story time; check website for info: http://www.pplc.us/calendar.asp