Clearwater Side Trip

[CND_Disneyfan]

I am planning on a 4 day side trip to the Clearwater area and was wondering if there are any "kid friendly" hotels/motels on the beach.

I have sifted through many advertisments of some really nice looking hotels, but are they for us?

Have 2 boys: 4 yrs & 5 yrs and we will be hitting WDW end of Sept 2007!

 

[meka15]

I use to go to Clearwater every year but now they have torn down a lot of the hotels that are right on the beach. THe water and the beach is the nicest there but I don't really know of any kid friendly hotels. Don't stay at Sheppard Beach resort because it is the party hotel and I have heard a lot of late night drunks there. Some people say to stay at Sandkey beach which is over the bridge from Clearwater. The sand is not as nice there very shelly not white sand. I am staying at St. Pete's bech instead fo Clearwater this year and it's suppose to be nice too. For kid at St. Pete's beach I heard the Sandpiper tradewinds resort is nice.

 

[Kellydelly]

I use to go to Clearwater every year but now they have torn down a lot of the hotels that are right on the beach. THe water and the beach is the nicest there but I don't really know of any kid friendly hotels. Don't stay at Sheppard Beach resort because it is the party hotel and I have heard a lot of late night drunks there. Some people say to stay at Sandkey beach which is over the bridge from Clearwater. The sand is not as nice there very shelly not white sand. I am staying at St. Pete's bech instead fo Clearwater this year and it's suppose to be nice too. For kid at St. Pete's beach I heard the Sandpiper tradewinds resort is nice.

We stayed at Sheppard's last year. I don't rememeber there being a lot of loud partiers there (it was the first week of Dec.). I loved the breakfast buffet at their restaurant, YUM!!! Oh, we stayed there with our four young children.

 

[caribbound]

We got a room right across from the beach at Travelodge. Bigger room with kitchenette and not a bad price. Have not stayed there yet but I did do my homework first.

 

[magicmouse2]

There is a hilton on the beach which is where we had dinner and right beside it was a large covered otdoor playground and fenced outdoor pool. It seemed nice and quiet and clean in there. We are trying Siesta Key in Sarasota for a change this year.

 

[Amity 3]

if it has to be on Clearwater Beach, the Hilton Clearwater is a good bet. Shephard's is nice, right on the beach, and has great Sunday brunch. but it advertises itself as a nightlife destination on TV/radio ads around here.

the Sheraton Sand Key is nice as well.

 

[CND_Disneyfan]

Thank you so much. At least now I have an idea or two on where to start looking. ...

But now you all have me wondering....

Is Clearwater area the best area for shelling? That is our main attraction. Is there another place to stay that isn't to far. I know Sanabel Island is suppose to be good but with a 3 hour one way trip, it is a bit much for us.

Any thoughts on the best shelling towns/beaches?

 

[Kellydelly]

Is Clearwater area the best area for shelling? That is our main attraction. Is there another place to stay that isn't to far. I know Sanabel Island is suppose to be good but with a 3 hour one way trip, it is a bit much for us.

Any thoughts on the best shelling towns/beaches?

We usually stay in Englewood, on Manasota Key when we visit the beach. It's a great place to gather shark's teeth. The shells are there, but many of the good ones are broken. I didn't like the beach in Clearwater as well. I did find some live abalones, which was interesting. I think our beach was on a bay, though (at Shepard's). Make sure you have a map that shows where the resort you are staying at is located on the water.

 

[swilshire]

Is Clearwater area the best area for shelling? That is our main attraction. Is there another place to stay that isn't to far. I know Sanabel Island is suppose to be good but with a 3 hour one way trip, it is a bit much for us.

Any thoughts on the best shelling towns/beaches?

I worked in St Pete for two weeks in November and drove over to either Clearwater beach or one of the others nearby every day. I saw very few shells. Maybe it was the time of day or year I went, but slim pickings.

Sheila

 

[meka15]

I did go on a shelling trip to a very tiny island from Clearwater. It was a net pull and then 15 mintues on the isalnd to collect shells. They were ok shells nothing fantastic. We are staying at St. Pete beach and planning on going to a shelling trip that goes to Egmont key. Apparently this is the place to get shells but I haven't been there myself

 

[Amity 3]

around the St. Pete/Clearwater area, you've got to go out to the sandbars with dive mask to find the best shells. and they usually have a resident living inside.

the best places to find them are where the least amount of people go. I work five minutes from a little beach on Old Tampa Bay. I've found nice shells there because the majority of the people just use it for fishing or to set crab traps.