Clearwater beach

[Disneymoon2007]

Hi everyone, we are going to Clearwater beach after a fun week in Disney, how is it? We want to go to Caladesi Island for a day while we are there too. I've heard clearwater beach is beautiful, but couldn't find many pics of it. Has anyone ever been there?

 

[swilshire]

Clearwater Beach is very nice. It's one of my favorite walking beaches. Nice park with playground and public restrooms. Always clean.

Sheila

 

[Markstudy]

Hi everyone, we are going to Clearwater beach after a fun week in Disney, how is it? We want to go to Caladesi Island for a day while we are there too. I've heard clearwater beach is beautiful, but couldn't find many pics of it. Has anyone ever been there?

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I've lived in Florida for 30 years.

Clearwater beach is still my favorite. (world's softest sugar-sand, and flat easy to walk and swim)

They are building a "walking mall" where the south parking lot and Adams Mark use to be. So you have some construction traffic and loss of parking and rooms. (didn't notice any noise the times I've been down there, so the beach is still very nice).

You can walk to Caladesi Island....its just 4 miles up Cleareater beach (hard to walk in soft sand) see the very top of attached photo... you can see where the sand filled in between Top of Clearwater Beach and bottom of Caladesi is just visable.

The walk is a tough one, so most people drive to HoneyMoon State Park, and take the boat to Caladesi Island. Honey Moon Island and Caladesi are very nice state Parks...(no rooms to stay) but its only a 6 mile drive north of Clearwater. Good place to rent kayack(sp?) on causeway.

Another close-by beach is -
Sand Key Park just a few miles south of clearwater Beach (if you look at photo I posted..it is just over the bridge at the bottom of the photo). Sand Key is the place to stay if you want a quite simple stay away from the tourist...just lots of beach and nothing to do- http://www.sheratonsandkey.com/Gallery.php

Also Fort Desoto, at the tip of St Pete is very nice is you want to venture out for a day trip and see a great beach with a historic fort....also another great place to rent kayacks(sp?). This would be the best place to stay and enjoy St Pete beach and Fort Desoto- http://www.doncesar.com/ But this area is 30 miles away...so more of a package for someone who is more interested in St Pete instead of Clearwater area.

Back to Clearwater Beach.....(I"m getting off topic)
You just need to plan and get a room and plan not to be driving all around at the heavy traffic times. (no big deal really). Might be a few less T-shirt and ice cream shops open but still plenty to do.

Both easy walk from the Hilton Resort- "The Beach Comber" is great fine dining, and they have a second resturant that is behind the main restuarnt that is also fantastic!. Another way to go, is the casual beach meal, great food, great sunsets....the best is "Rock-a-way Frenchy's" right on the beach (ask for a seat on the rail, if you want to sit right out on the beach)

There is only one resort to stay at on Clearwater beach, so book early ( They tore down a bunch of the other hotels to make new CONDO/Resorts....but at the moment it makes the Hilton a little busy). It has a fantastic location,... if you can afford it? (not sure what they charge now?) But its right in the middle of everything...and away from the constrction zone. You can just park your car and forget about it.
Hilton Resort Clearwater Beach
www.hilton.com
400 Mandalay Avenue
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
(727) 461-3222
Get directions



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[madisonsmom]

Clearwater Beach is beautiful! I took my daughter(6yr) this past spring for a mommy-daughter trip and it was great! The beach is gorgeous and plenty to do if you want to get off of the beach for a little while. I HIGHLY recommend the Clearwater Aquarium, it is a rehab aquarium and they put on a little dophin show and you can have a true hands on experience there. It is a place you actually feel great spending your $$ at because you know it is going to a good cause and not just someones pocket book. Majority of people that work there are volunteers. I paid extra for the behind the scenes tour and dolphin photo and my DD LOVED it.
Also drove to Weeki Wachee for the Mermaid show, perfect for a little girl, not so sure about boys

Must eat at Frenchy's Rock-a-way Grill and Crabby Bills...I still dream about their conch fritters, lol!

 

[motofox4]

i agree with the above posters that Clearwater Beach is absolutely beautiful. We vacation there about 2x a year. Going to The Pier at sunset is lots of fun and absolutely beautiful. The food at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill is fantastic and there are plenty of shops to walk around and browse through and lots of fun stuff to buy. We stay at a small resort 1 block off of the beach called The Royal Camelot. The prices are great and the resort was remodeled within the past few months and the rooms are very clean and beautifully decorated. The Royal Camelot is in a great location, within a nice walking distance to The Pier and Frenchy's and a short walk across the street to the beach. I'd highly recommend a visit to Clearwater Beach.. you won't regret it!!

 

[markey]

We just returned from Clearwater Beach on Saturday, it was a add on to the end of our Disney/Universal trip. This was the 2nd time we stayed there. This time we chose one of the older, newly remodeled motels instead of a large hotel. We liked it much better, pool right outside your room, small kitchen for breakfast and late night snacks and no hotel lobbies to go thru. We also ate at Frenchies and I agree it was great. We went to 3 different beaches, and Honeymoon Beach was our favorite.

 

[f7prez]

Caladesi Island is beautiful. We love Clearwater beach, but if you are like us and you want a beach without all the noise and distractions like stores and traffic, Caladesi is great.

 

[maraki527]

Clearwater Beach is beautiful...We have stayed there more than 10 times. Make sure you also eat at Post Corner Pizza and Frenchy's both are great.

 

[Taratink]

Now I want to go. Can anyone recomend any specfic hotels or motels that are family friendly?
Tara

 

[madisonsmom]

Now I want to go. Can anyone recomend any specfic hotels or motels that are family friendly?
Tara

When my DD and I went we stayed at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel. I have mixed feelings about our stay. It is a LARGE historic hotel, very family friendly, but in need of some updating. Some pro's about it: outside pool is VERY large, indoor pool incase of rain, playground, ice cream shop, valet parking, good restaurant on site(kids eat free with paying adult), good sized rooms, walk-in closets, beach club on Sand Key, not touristy and overcrowded. Cons: Roof had damage from last hurricane and was re-constructing it while there in April 07, shower in room needed retiled(it was clean, but desperate of repair), confusion at check in about reservation(thank goodness I had printed my info up!), good customer service was spotty and inconsistent in different places(front desk, restaurant, beach club). I got a great deal through travelocity with my plane ticket, so I didn't mind the few issues we had. The good outweighed the bad, but might try a different place next time unless I could get another great deal. It is not on the beach but only a 5-8 minute drive to CLearwater Beach and they also have a private beach club on Sand Key(also has pool at beach club) that is for use for guests that they will shuttle you free too, it was about 10 minutes away.

I have head great things about the Hilton in Clearwater, my parents have stayed there and really enjoyed the time there...I have also had good luck with renting a condo in Indian Rocks Beach just down the road from Clearwater from www.vrbo.com

 

[Taratink]

Thanks Madisonsmom! That is great info. I was curious about the Biltmore. How far is Clearwater from Busch Gardens?
Tara

 

[Trishqtpi]

I think its between 60-90 minutes. My parents live there and we visit all the time. If you go, you also have try Gondolier Restaurant. Its a great place anytime of the day and is famous for thier oatmeal, if youre a fan. lol I am and its my favorite ever!!!

Clearwater beach is the best! it is beautiful and so warm. Plan on hanging out until late or even going back out in the water late. We were boogie boardin at 8:00 at night and it was amazing! The pier is fun too! Have a greattime! The Sheraton Sand Key is a great place to stay, with an awesome pool area an beach area thatthey will cater to you too. Its away frm the craziness of the construction of Clearwater Beach, it is a little nuts right now, but its still fun!

Have a great time!!

 

[ss0414]

I know you said Clearwater, but I justed to tell you that the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete's Beach is as kid friendly as Disney. If you go to their web site, www.tradewindsresort.com, what you see is exactly what you get. It is fantastic with kids. The suites have kitchens, minus a stove, and are fabulous. You can walk to any restaurant in the area and the food at the hotel is great. The pool is great, with a 3 story slide on the beach, and there is a kids club called KONK. There are activities all day for the kids. We have been there 3 times in one year! I can't recommend it enough for families. Another poster mentioned the DonCesar in St. Pete's, which is absolutely beautiful; however, I would not recommend it for families. IMO, it is more of an adult environment. That's just my opinion, though.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[E&BMom]

DH and I just stayed at the Tradewinds and enjoyed it. So much so we are taking the kids for Spring Break in march!!!!

 

[motofox4]

Tara, as i mentioned in my previous post, i recommend The Royal Camelot. it really is a very nice little resort, family-friendly and only a block from the beach. Their rates are very reasonable for the area (we paid $130/night in July), they have a pool, sundeck and a grill free for all guests. It's convenient to the shops and The Pier and right next to it is a park. Check it out.

 

[lovethattink]

Does anyone know a decent family friendly motel/hotel near pier 60? DH and ds13 only want to fish there, but ds3 and I can play at the beach or a motel pool while they are out doing that.

ETA: Motofox, sorry didn't see your post. How close to the pier is it?

 

[madisonsmom]

Thanks Madisonsmom! That is great info. I was curious about the Biltmore. How far is Clearwater from Busch Gardens?
Tara

Because of traffic, I would say about an hour...

 

[madisonsmom]

I know you said Clearwater, but I justed to tell you that the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete's Beach is as kid friendly as Disney. If you go to their web site, www.tradewindsresort.com, what you see is exactly what you get. It is fantastic with kids. The suites have kitchens, minus a stove, and are fabulous. You can walk to any restaurant in the area and the food at the hotel is great. The pool is great, with a 3 story slide on the beach, and there is a kids club called KONK. There are activities all day for the kids. We have been there 3 times in one year! I can't recommend it enough for families. Another poster mentioned the DonCesar in St. Pete's, which is absolutely beautiful; however, I would not recommend it for families. IMO, it is more of an adult environment. That's just my opinion, though.
Enjoy your trip.

SSo414: I agree with you about Tradewinds(and Don Cesar), we stayed there about a year ago and it was a great family friendly place to stay. Tradewinds can be a little pricey depending on the time of year. We went in January of 06 and paid almost $400 for a suite on the beach, ouch...but it was an unexpected treat from a good friend that lives in the area and wanted to surprise my DD and I. I like St. Pete just as much as Clearwater wish it didn't take so long to get between the two places, you really can't go wrong with any of the towns between St. Pete and Clearwater...good recommendation!

 

[tropical depression]

Because of traffic, I would say about an hour...

more like a half hour

 

[Markstudy]

more like a half hour

I just did it today... Just got back from Adventure Island (very nice water park) right next to Bush Gardens. We had a great day! Low crowds today 10am-3pm

Because of traffic 60-minute drive. And I drive a fast car

With no traffic and a fast car, It could be done in 35 minutes (maybe on a weekend morning before the roads fill-up).

Traffic in Tampa has gotten so much worse than when I went to college at USF back in 1990's.
Back then you could live in Clearwater and drive to school in Tampa. USF was cool because its right next door to Bush Gardens and Adventure Island