Best Beaches near Tampa?

[Gmouse]

Heading out of Disney Jan 6, onto the Tampa area for Busch Gardens. We plan on a week in that area but unsure of where to stay. We haven't been to Tampa in 16 yrs and we stayed at Clearwater just for a night. It was really pretty. But we can't decide.
We want a CLEAN pretty beach...would love a couple palm trees dotted in the sand I don't remember CW being that way...
I've looked at Anna Maria, Desoto, Treasure Beach etc. and all are very pretty...still lookin for my palm trees though We may need to head on down to the KEYS to find that! That'll have to be another trip!
We have 2 kids so in and out of the car all day to go grab something to eat isn't always the most fun thing to do. I don't cook alot on vaca!! If you know of any beach in that area where we can walk to a few restaurants/entertainment maybe...that would be awesome! I can't seem to get a good feel for Pier 60 from pix I've seen online...it looks like only arts/crafts? We love that, and historical type things too....just need input on ALL of this!!
We are going to Weekie Wachee for day too...but don't want to be too far from Busch Gardens (no more than an hour)
I lived in FL for years when I was little and CW is as far south as we ever made it. Been to the panhandle (BEAUTIFUL), St Augustine (LOVE) , Daytona (do not like)
We don't do chain restaurants on vaca...local, hole in the wall joints are what we're looking for!
Any suggestions for resorts/homes (if that's allowed on here?) would be a huge help! I've been all over the rental sites for days....I am LOST

 

[Art 1]

I would recommend going to the Sarasota area. Longboat, Siesta, Lido. Those areas.

 

[java]

We were thinking of St Pete's, when BG was an option. Then I saw it would cost our family like $1000 for the day. So no Florida for us this year. At least not now anyway.

 

[aprilgail2]

We go to St Petersburg to the beach- love it there! We stay at this little hole in the wall hotel across the street from the beach and the hotel has an outside pool.

 

[IamErica]

My son and I stayed at St. Pete's beach. A very nice hotel right off the beach (across the street~ but the public access was our view) the other side was the pier for the boats. *Treasure Bay Hotel and Marina* I would highly recommend this place! The staff was friendly and the room was great. The price was decent too... I am pretty picky and like to travel on a budget! Our deck looked out over the pool area and the beach. The only downside is there is no restaurant on site, but there is a Waffle House next door and you can buy breakfast coupon for $5 at the hotel to use there. The amount of food you get for the price is pretty good. We walked the beach and ate at a few places on the beach as well.
We also drove to BG and the drive was pretty easy.
Good luck

 

[Gmouse]

We were thinking of St Pete's, when BG was an option. Then I saw it would cost our family like $1000 for the day. So no Florida for us this year. At least not now anyway.

WOW....$1000?? You must have a HUGE family! I know those park tickets are killer now. They are pricing average families out. We're looking into the Orlando Flex ticket. Saves a TON if you plan on being there more than a few days. You get 14 days unlimited access to all but Disney. We have some free Disney one day tickets so that is a big help. We usually do Disney for 10-11 days, but want to check out what else there is in Orlando this time We haven't been to BG since the last trip to Clearwater years ago

 

[aprilgail2]

WOW....$1000?? You must have a HUGE family! I know those park tickets are killer now. They are pricing average families out. We're looking into the Orlando Flex ticket. Saves a TON if you plan on being there more than a few days. You get 14 days unlimited access to all but Disney. We have some free Disney one day tickets so that is a big help. We usually do Disney for 10-11 days, but want to check out what else there is in Orlando this time We haven't been to BG since the last trip to Clearwater years ago

We went to Discovery Cove last time we were there but didn't do the Dolphin swim since we had done it the year before-- for 169.00 you also get-

Discovery Cove Day Resort packages include access to all of our signature experiences unless otherwise noted. Day Resort packages are available with and without the Dolphin Interaction. Packages also includes unlimited admission to SeaWorld® and Aquatica, SeaWorld's Waterpark™ in Orlando during your vacation. Upgrade to the Ultimate Package for an additional $22 to add Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay

If you planned on doing Sea World, Aquatica, Bush Garden and Discovery Cove and depending on when you went you could do all those places for under 200.00 per person!

 

[NotUrsula]

If you want restaurants nearby, your best bets are either Clearwater (more crowded) or St. Pete Beach.

A note about that CLEAN thing: if you mean the water quality, it should be fine unless you encounter a red tide bloom (which would cause a fish kill). However, because of the proximity of Egmont Key offshore of St. Pete, it is quite common for a fair amount of seaweed and sea grapes to wash up there. It is normally left to sit until it dries out; grooming the sand to remove plant matter is not something that is heavily done in the area, as it speeds up beach erosion. (Trash is picked up; and there are steep fines for littering.)

The two BEST beaches for sand quality and clearest water near Tampa are going to be at Ft. Desoto County Park or on Caladesi Island. However, you cannot stay in either location unless you are up for primitive camping, which from the sound it, you're not -- those beaches are day-trip destinations for you.