Driving to a Tampa Bay Beach?

[weluvpluto]

I don't know if this is the right board or not...

We want to go to a beach near Tampa Bay (some relatives have suggested Maderia (sp?) Beach) but I have no idea (except to head towards Tampa ) of how to get to a nice clean one.
Does anyone have directions or suggestions? And is it better to go to a beach during the week then on the weekend?

 

[ducklite]

Madeira Beach isn't in Tampa. It's actually West of St. Pete. That said, it is a nice beach, as is Indian Rocks in the same area. Take I-4 East to I 275 South. It's been a long time, and hopefully this is right--haven't been there in ten years or so, get on Bayway which should take you out onto the causeway--from there you need to go north about 5-6 miles or so.

You can probably look on Mapquest to get better directions. Plan on it taking a full two hours from WDW, more if you hit traffic or the neverending construction on I-4.

Anne

 

[weluvpluto]

Thanks Anne! I didn't think of Mapquest
We know we want to spend a day at the beach, we're just not sure where to go. The first time (5 years ago) we went around Daytona and it was ok, but I wasn't overly impressed (Somehow we ended up in a residental area)
The last time we went towards Tampa Bay, I have no idea where we ended up, but it was deserted, and it was a couple days after a tropical storm hit the area, lots of trash around, so we didn't go in the water; just not a very good experience.
Would the drive to the Daytona area be less stressful then to Tampa? And are there any areas there you could recommend?

 

[ducklite]

I have a definite preference to the Gulf over the ocean.

It's been many years, but I definitely enjoyed the Treasure island, Indian Rocks, Madeira Beach area.

Sorry I can't be of more help--hopefully someone else might be able to.

One thing you might want to do is get a day room at one of the hotels on the water--use their beach and facilities and then have a place to shower and clean up after you swim before driving back ot WDW. I recall a couple of Holiday Inns in that area right on the water that might offer day room rates.

I don't recall there being public facilities, but then again I wasn't looking for them, my friend had an apartment right across the street from Indian Rocks Beach

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I found this for you:

http://www.ci.madeira-beach.fl.us/tour/beaches.htm

http://tampabaybeaches.com/madeirabeach.htm

Anne