Clearwater Beach

[jodi16s]

Hey everyone! We leave for WDW 5/11 but plan on taking our kids to the beach one day. We had originally decided on Cocoa Beach, but after reading many DIS-reviews, we decided to go to Clearwater Beach.

However.. I need to mapquest directions from our Pop Century Resort to the beach. Anyone know a good destination in Clearwater Beach I could use for directions?

 

[rcrk10]

Will be at DW for 10 days in early June... We want to take a full 'beach' day and looking for which one to go to. Friends have suggested Clearwater, but I have never been there and I am also wondering the same - Clearwater (or another Gulf Coast Beach) or a East Coast Beach.

 

[swilshire]

Clearwater is definitely the best choice.

There is a pier/park right on the main part of the beach. It would probably show up in Mapquest as an attraction. I think the highway is 60. You just go to the end of it and you run right into the beach. You can also follow the signs that say "to beaches".

Sheila

 

[reenie1]

I went last week for the first time. Plugged in Clearwater Beach on mapquest and my GPS and both gave the same directions - it was very easy to get there and find parking,... We had a fun day there!

 

[jodi16s]

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[turning40withMickey]

How long to Clearwater? an hour like Cocoa?

 

[dioxide45]

How long to Clearwater? an hour like Cocoa?

Probably closer to an hour and a half or two hours.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Probably closer to an hour and a half or two hours.

I would say that is accurate.

 

[GlennandAnn]

After countless trips to WDW, we took a 3 day trip to Clearwater last year. What a great realxing break from WDW. The picture in the signature is from Pier 60 in Clearwater. As the previous posters have said.

-1.5 hours
-Easy Drive
-Lots to do
-We stayed last year (and will again this year) at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort. It is a little high in price, but offers a very quiet semi-private beach.

Enjoy,
Glenn

 

[rdevine10]

We went to Clearwater Beach for a day last week and it was FANTASTIC! We loved it! In fact, I liked the beach so much, I want to make it a future vacation desination!

Beach was super easy to find, and there was parking (it was metered parking, so make sure you bring a ton of change!). I think it was $1 or $1.25 an hour?

Enjoy!

 

[loveysbydesign]

We went to Ft. Desoto beach near St. Petersburg instead of to Clearwater as it was highly recommened by another Dis member and it was AWESOME! It's a county park and there is actually a fort there you can tour(we only went ot the beach) it was actually voted as #1 beach in America a few years ago! It was clean and beautiful and had tons of shells and we even found a live conch!

It was free with free parking....great beach house changing area with showers and a small snack bar...but we packed lunch and ate it there.

 

[dpuck1998]

We loved clearwater beach, we stayed at the sandpearl hotel prior to our last disney trip and loved it. Check out Pier 60 late afternoon/early evening, we have a blast hanging out there.

As for destinations, I know the Sandpearl is right on the beach, so that would at least get you to the main strip.

 

[Jacklynn]

I'm not so good with the directions thing, but my husband and I took our honeymoon to Clearwater Beach May '07 so if you have any questions or would like any pics just PM me!

 

[stevepete]

After countless trips to WDW, we took a 3 day trip to Clearwater last year. What a great realxing break from WDW. The picture in the signature is from Pier 60 in Clearwater. As the previous posters have said.

Pier 60 is where we end up every year too. There was hourly parking right at the Pier last time we were there. Across the street is the marina. We went on a speed boat called the Sea Screamer. There were dolphins jumping out of the wake of the boat, it was unreal. Our kids loved it. They have a sunset festival at night which we all liked too.

Have a great time!

 

[madjohn]

Are there any showers and bathrooms for beach users to use. Dont want to drive back all sandy and sticky.

Thanks
John

 

[MandyMaloo]

I actually grew up in Clearwater! Fantastic place to grow up!

There are plenty of showers and bathrooms along the beach. There are a lot of beautiful pier areas too so take advantage of those! Usually there are little performances and such along there and they're really neat to catch.

I would suggest stopping by Sand Key beach too. There's a really cool sandbar out a little way from the beach adn they used to let you take your chairs/coolers/etc. out there and camp out on it! It's great!

Have fun and remember to do the stingray shuffle!!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Anyone familiar with Hilton in clearwater?
We want pool and on the beach and reasonable nightly rate (under 250). Is this close to the pier everyone is mentioning?

The Sandpearl looked nice but that one is more than 300 a night so thats out. I also heard there is a Sheraton???
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, its for just 3 nights before Disney, DH, DS (teen) and me!
THANKS!~!

 

[dpuck1998]

Anyone familiar with Hilton in clearwater?
We want pool and on the beach and reasonable nightly rate (under 250). Is this close to the pier everyone is mentioning?

The Sandpearl looked nice but that one is more than 300 a night so thats out. I also heard there is a Sheraton???
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, its for just 3 nights before Disney, DH, DS (teen) and me!
THANKS!~!

If you can get a decent deal at the sandpearl and/or squeeze out the little extra for it then you won't regret it! It was a fantastic resort.

 

[a1tinkfans]

If you can get a decent deal at the sandpearl and/or squeeze out the little extra for it then you won't regret it! It was a fantastic resort.

Thanks for the heads up on Sandpearl, but REALLY trying to SAVE money not go for more, LOL! It does look beautiful, but we recently returned from a FABULOUS cruise $$$ and this Disney trip is icing on the cake, so cutting back where I can.
ANYONE recommend Hilton or Sheraton???

 

[spartn1]

in mid June. We're looking for a 2-3 star hotel...just somewhere to spend a weeknight. Anyone have suggestions on a decent place with a good location...on or near the beach?