Looking for suggestions for a Gulf Coast beach for DD's Honeymoon :)

[blessedby3]

We are trying to find a Gulf Coast beach for DD and her fiance to head to for their July Honeymoon. They would fly into Tampa/St Pete by Allegiant and rent a car.
If anyone could give suggestions of a nice beach and oceanfront accomadations. They are not drinkers/partiers, so I dont want any areas like that. Thanks for the help

 

[musicluvr40]

I would highly recommend Treasure Island. We just visited there this past October for the first time. My brother-in-law suggested we try it - he used to live in Tampa. We took our daughters, and we found it to be perfect. We stayed at the Sunset Vistas, right on the ocean. There is also a nice Residence inn next to the Sunset Vistas. The beach is gorgeous, the whole town is friendly, and it is not like some beach cities where it's bar after bar. There is wonderful shopping and dining, and they could easily visit other gulf beaches from there as well.

It's about a half hour from Tampa, maybe a little longer if you get stuck in traffic!

Hope this helps!

 

[Pembo]

Anna Maria Island!!!!

 

[FINFAN]

I was going to suggest Siesta Key or Anna Marie Island...beautiful beaches. Hyatt Siesta Key, Turtle Beach,White Sands, Hilton Longboat Key are all very nice...Clearwater is beautiful too, closer to the airoprt, but I am not too familiar with resorts there.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

Being from that area, I would have to say Anna Maria Island or Siesta Key.

On Anna Maria, in the Bradenton Beach division, I highly recommend Tortuga Inn. Every time we go back home that is where we stay and no where else, ever .

You can certainly stay on Anna Maria and take a few hour trip down to Siesta Key, for sure you have to check out St. Armands cricle on Lido.

Other than that a few hours south of Tampa is where we went on our Honeynoon to Sanibel Island and we stayed at the West Winds Inn.

 

[barbarabini]

a couple hours south - naples.
Stay at La Playa. google it -- its very romantic. We stayed at the ritz this summer but ate twice at la playa and it seemed to have more of a honeymoon feel. ( the ritz had a lot of kids).

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks for these suggestions! Im going to go check out the places mentioned. Keep the suggestions coming guys

 

[lakelandgal70]

It is north of Tampa and very laid back place. Lots of birding and outdoor activities like biking and kayaking to do there. Tons of places to stay as well. No Walmarts or movie theaters on the island so if they like to do things than it might not be for them. But if they just want to stay in room and well do what honeymooners do or just relax and chill with nature this is place for them. Here is their Chamber of Commerce website. Has tons of places to choose to stay at. http://www.cedarkey.org/island.html

 

[daly7o9]

I vote for Anna Maria Island. Its very quiet but there are numerous restaurants on the island...some of them *very* good. There are also places to rent bicycles, kayaks and fishing gear. My family has been visiting there for 50 years. Its beautiful...nice white sand beaches.

 

[blessedby3]

bump

 

[kim929]

I've only been to Clearwater beach, that is beautiful lots of things to do up and down the beach.

 

[girli565]

I'd also suggest Naples. I stayed at The Naples Beach Resort http://www.naplesbeachhotel.com/

It was AMAZING! It has great reviews on trip advisor and is so relaxing while still being right on the beach. it's rare to find a beach front hotel in Naples. The spa is great, their restuarants and bars are delish and it's near so much! Naples has great restuarants and close to Everglades National Park and the Miccossukkee(sp?) indian village.

 

[njmomtoone]

Hands down, Lonboat Key. It is beautiful. We stay in a condo that is oceanfront and it is so nice! It is laid back and the water/beach is amazing. There are alot of nice restaurants as well as low key, beach type places to eat in. We fly into Tampa and the ride is about 1 hr and 10 minutes. I highly recommend it. I can PM you the place to stay, if you are interested.

 

[blessedby3]

Hands down, Lonboat Key. It is beautiful. We stay in a condo that is oceanfront and it is so nice! It is laid back and the water/beach is amazing. There are alot of nice restaurants as well as low key, beach type places to eat in. We fly into Tampa and the ride is about 1 hr and 10 minutes. I highly recommend it. I can PM you the place to stay, if you are interested.

That would be great! I would love info on where you stayed

 

[blessedby3]

I'd also suggest Naples. I stayed at The Naples Beach Resort http://www.naplesbeachhotel.com/

It was AMAZING! It has great reviews on trip advisor and is so relaxing while still being right on the beach. it's rare to find a beach front hotel in Naples. The spa is great, their restuarants and bars are delish and it's near so much! Naples has great restuarants and close to Everglades National Park and the Miccossukkee(sp?) indian village.

Naples looks really pretty. Someone else mentioned the La Playa resort. Im heading to check out the link you posted now!

 

[reginaastralis]

Being from Tampa, the only beaches we like going to are Anna Maria, and Siesta Key. We go a little further down from the touristy areas of Anna Maria, but there isn't a lifeguard tower. Also, personally, I HATE St. Pete beach and Tampa beaches. Maybe it's just me, but I think they are blech. I'm not overly fond of Clearwater either, especially in "season" ...

We stayed at this amazing little condo on Siesta Key a couple of months back, but I can't remember the name of it for the life of me. I saw a Groupon deal for it a little while back as well for like $99/night. It had "private beach" access, and I say that in quotations because it's as private as you and about 20 other hotels. This place used to be oceanfront, but they built a hotel in front of it a few years ago, but I don't think it took away from the place at all. We rented a two bed/two bath place, and it was nice. I'll try to figure out what it was called and let you know.

 

[reginaastralis]

http://www.beachclubatsiestakey.com/ - Ha! That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

 

[blessedby3]

http://www.beachclubatsiestakey.com/ - Ha! That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Thanks for the link! Going to check this one out now

 

[lillygator]

siesta....no comparison....anna maria is not all that..beer can island is right there...not too nice....

 

[TinkTock]

I haven't been to all the places mentioned, but I love Siesta Key. I stayed at Siesta Sands on the Beach, which is condos right on the white sand beach. The sunsets were beautiful, and it was easy to walk into town for shopping and dining.