Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg Area

[donnajz]

We've never been to the west coast of Florida and decided to start our Disney vacation by first spending a couple days on the west coast. We'll be there January 4 & 5. Any suggestions on things there are to do there in the winter. Anything recommended that we should see? We'd probably also enjoy a shopping trip somewhere.

 

[mich1073]

I would personally try Anna Maria Island or even Siesta Key over Clearwater any day. Clearwater is over crowded a massive PAIN to drive around. Plan to take an hour to get ANYWHERE even if its only a mile away is its busy. Very tourist trap and drunks everywhere.

I live here just outside of Tampa and go to maybe Indian Rocks, if I went to Pinellas at all. But almost always drive the AMI or Siesta Key. AMA is very old school florida style as it passed a law that no high rises and that includes hotels. So you have places like anna maria cottages or Sailfish on Holmes Beach and other. AMI has a trolley that goes up and down the island all day.

Siesta Key has tons of high rises and so forth but the beach is amazing. Sand is NEVER hot. I love Siesta Key as well, and you can find alot more rooms and so forth here. If you got Sarasota (Siesta Key) you have to try Owens Fish Camp and they have tons of non beach to do there like Ringling . https://www.ringling.org/ Even just walking down the main strip in Sarasota is cool as its a very very laid back artsy town. Tons of cute little shops and cafes.

 

[danielleburns]

It's a beautiful spot I used to live there .If you want to see dolphins use the boat the little toot it's the best one for spotting them .
http://m.littletoot.us/ . January is colder time of the year but it's not to bad and with a jacket and pants you will be fine outside .
I usually would pack a pair of shorts and tee shirt that way if the weather gets warmer during the day you always change .
We always loved the Quailty inn on us 19 in clearwater it's a little ways from the beach but only a short drive or you use the city
Bus (take the 60 downtown and get on the beach trolley)The beach charges for parking but using the bus cost $4.50 for a day pass and you can ride up to St Pete beach and back getting on and off as much as you want .The hotel has great owners ,right next to mini golf,
lots of shopping and restaurants . It's got a great pool and hot tub .
https://www.choicehotels.com/florida/clearwater/quality-inn-hotels/fl033 If your looking for the beach I always recommend
Staying on Sand key as its right across the bridge and it's quieter then on Clearwater beach
.We really like the Marriott but it's little on the pricey side but the views are to die for .
https://www.choicehotels.com/florida/clearwater/quality-inn-hotels/fl033

A great place to shop is John's pass in Madeira beach . https://www.choicehotels.com/florida/clearwater/quality-inn-hotels/fl033
And there is great place for ice cream in St Pete beach call Larry's really like there ice cream .I really don't recommend
Staying in St pete area it's kind of rough and not much downtown but the area of St Pete Beach is much nicer .And I know there
Are few places there that are nice there .You will fine doing outside activities and even swimming but it might be a little cold.
I usually like to bring something like a kite or just go sit on the the beach watching the waves .It's great way to relax .

 

[sharona]

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is definitely worth a visit. Not sure if it's gotten more crowded since the "Winter's Tale" movies but we really enjoyed our visit there back before it became famous.

 

[katallo]

We are planning the same thing. One hotel we found that looks nice is the comfort inn gateway in st pete. Hoping it is in a decent area.

 

[sharona]

We stayed at the Hilton on Clearwater Beach - nice pool and good service. It was very convenient and right on the beach. The public beach access was adjacent so there was a pier and a children's play area with inflatable slides and other things right next door. It was a few years ago though so check out recent reviews if you're interested.

 

[danielleburns]

I am thinking the Comfort Inn should be fine I think it's kind off on the edge of everything so I don't see you would have issues .
There is a Target over there and few other places but as long as you have a car you will be ok nothing really walkable around it through .
downtown itself is kind of rundown and maybe where you want to avoid staying in.

 

[jerseygal]

I would personally try Anna Maria Island or even Siesta Key over Clearwater any day. Clearwater is over crowded a massive PAIN to drive around. Plan to take an hour to get ANYWHERE even if its only a mile away is its busy. Very tourist trap and drunks everywhere.

I live here just outside of Tampa and go to maybe Indian Rocks, if I went to Pinellas at all. But almost always drive the AMI or Siesta Key. AMA is very old school florida style as it passed a law that no high rises and that includes hotels. So you have places like anna maria cottages or Sailfish on Holmes Beach and other. AMI has a trolley that goes up and down the island all day.

Siesta Key has tons of high rises and so forth but the beach is amazing. Sand is NEVER hot. I love Siesta Key as well, and you can find alot more rooms and so forth here. If you got Sarasota (Siesta Key) you have to try Owens Fish Camp and they have tons of non beach to do there like Ringling . https://www.ringling.org/ Even just walking down the main strip in Sarasota is cool as its a very very laid back artsy town. Tons of cute little shops and cafes.

We were at Clearwater Hilton for a night once when we were fleeing a summer Orlando hurricane event, could not get a flight back home from Orlando and instead got switched to Tampa. Seemed fine. We also LOVE Siesta Key as we vacationed there a few times when the kids were younger. BEAUTIFUL sand, lovely beaches. Never tried Anna Maria Island, sounds NICE. Longboat Key was also BEAUTIFUL! ENJOY!

 

[katallo]

I am thinking the Comfort Inn should be fine I think it's kind off on the edge of everything so I don't see you would have issues .
There is a Target over there and few other places but as long as you have a car you will be ok nothing really walkable around it through .
downtown itself is kind of rundown and maybe where you want to avoid staying in.

Thanks. We are really hoping to explore the Tampa/Clearwater/St Pete area so as long as the hotel area is safe we should be ok. It has great ratings on Tripadvisor. We'll probably also drive to Siesta Key.