St. Pete beach or Clearwater?

[*disgal*]

Hi all. Long time reader of this board with many, many trips to Florida and Disney. But I would like your help on something please.

We will be going to WDW for 2 weeks in August and would like to spend one day at a beach(it would be on a Monday or Tuesday). We love Myrtle Beach when we go, but I much prefer gulfside beaches even though it's been a long time since I've been there. When I was a teen, we visited my aunt in Tampa and she took us all over. I can't remember too much about the visit except that I loved the gulf and the sand.

We want: white sand, to sit on the beach and relax, a restroom nearby, place to park (obviously), maybe a restaurant (not anything fancy since we will be in beach attire)

We do not want or need: big waves, aquariums, ron jon shops, lots of activities including water sports (these are some reasons we don't want Cocoa beach)

St Pete looked like it had a nice beach/park but I don't hear much talk about it on these boards.......anyone ever been?

Would Clearwater be better? I assume they have a public beach?

This is just for the day so we won't be staying at a hotel.

Thanks for your help.

 

[spiceycat]

okay be aware that is at least 90 minutes from Disney - so you are talking about 3 hours.

I think either would do.

clearwater is pretty!

 

[fla4fun]

I used to live over there, so maybe I can help.

Plan on 2 hours travel time, depending on where you're headed. Sometimes you can make it in less, but usually, the traffic once you get into and beyond Tampa will slow you down a bit. The most direct route is I-4 to I-275.

My two favorite places beach wise are Fort DeSoto Park, which is south of St. Petersburg, and Sand Key Park, which is just south of Clearwater Beach. Both have great beach areas and basic amenities like bathrooms, since they are county operated parks. Fort DeSoto has concession stands in some areas. Sand Key, being so close to Clearwater Beach, would be closer to restaurant dining, but Clearwater Beach itself is kind of like Cocoa Beach (which is why I prefer Sand Key).

Most of the restaurants in the St. Pete/Clearwater area are fairly casual. If you take shorts and a tee shirt to cover up the swimsuit, you would be just fine. There is a good restaurant at the Marriott Suites Sand Key, across the street from the park. I'm sure there's probably a decent restaurant in the Sheraton Sand Key right next door to the park, but I haven't been in the Sheraton for a long time (I've gotten rather spoiled with the Marriott Suites). The Columbia Restaurant next door to the Marriott is also good. These would all be within 5 minutes walk from the park.

I've usually packed a picnic lunch when going to Fort DeSoto, so I haven't paid attention to what the closest restaurants are. I can tell you that it would be a bit of a drive to leave the park to find a restaurant (the park is huge and is an island). So you might want to stop at a Publix grocery, get some of their great deli subs, chips and sodas, and take your meal with you.

 

[DanenRox]

I spent much of this past weekend comparing the 2 beaches myself, ultimately settling on St Pete Beach. We've been to St. Pete Beach a few times and here's what I know...

St. Pete Beach
Beach is nice, long, 50 yards from most of the beach front properties.
The sand is not fine white sand, but coarser with plenty of shells to find.
A strip of resorts/hotels line the beachfront. We've stayed in Tradewinds Sandpiper and The Alden. Both nice, but rooms are basic, not elegant. Basic concrete accomodations that always smell a little musty (the price of being on the beach I think).
Plenty of "walk to" stores/restaurants for casual settings and reasonably priced meals.
Close to Tropicana Stadium where we go to see the Red Sox.

Here's what I concluded after a weekend of investigation...
Clearwater Beach
Beautiful beach.
Fine, white, packed sand.
Hotels/Resorts on the beach are not necessarily on the beach. A short walk or dunebuggy ride is required to actually get to the water.
The resorts/hotels appear more elegant. Frankly, they look nicer.
Not many "walk to" establishments near the beachfront properties.
As always, there's more I don't know than I do know, but I'm happy to share.
Good Luck!

Just reread your post and realized you're daytripping. In that case, look into Fort DeSoto State Park. I hear great things!!!!

 

[motofox4]

the past 2 trips we went we've stayed on St. Pete Beach. This year we're going to Clearwater Beach for 2 days to see what that's like. I can say that St. Pete Beach was very nice, short walk to the water, beautiful water, beautiful area. I've heard nothing but nice things about Clearwater Beach so i thought we'd give that a try this time, my fiancee's been there, however, I have not so i want to go there to see which of the 2 I prefer. However, I don't think you can go wrong with either!

 

[*disgal*]

You guys are great!

Yea, I know it will be a drive. We are used to driving......we are coming from upstate NY and have a 20 hour drive. We've done it many times and are used to it. I wish WDW was closer to the west part of Florida.

Question about St pete beach..............I am getting the impression that their isn't a public beach area there except for the state park south of St pete where Fort Dosoto is, is that right? If this is so, is there a problem finding a place on the beach? Where do you enter/park?

I'm wandering if Fort Dosoto is maybe too far. Do you think it is more than 2 hours? That's probably the max we want to drive. I don't see a problem with 90 minutes - 2 hours, but I don't think I want longer than that. Should I go for Clearwater instead, like Sand Key?

 

[motofox4]

st. pete beach is a public beach, you just need to find parking. i know you can park (for a fee) at what used to be the best western resort (6200 gulfview blvd) but is now the Beachcomber Resort. We stayed last year when it was Best Western and they would let you park if you weren't staying there and paid a fee for parking. I'm not sure if they still do this since they've changed hands, but if you can, you can walk right through the property (past the wonderful beach bar with GREAT frozen drinks!!) onto the beach.

 

[Amity 3]

You guys are great!

Yea, I know it will be a drive. We are used to driving......we are coming from upstate NY and have a 20 hour drive. We've done it many times and are used to it. I wish WDW was closer to the west part of Florida.

Question about St pete beach..............I am getting the impression that their isn't a public beach area there except for the state park south of St pete where Fort Dosoto is, is that right? If this is so, is there a problem finding a place on the beach? Where do you enter/park?

I'm wandering if Fort Dosoto is maybe too far. Do you think it is more than 2 hours? That's probably the max we want to drive. I don't see a problem with 90 minutes - 2 hours, but I don't think I want longer than that. Should I go for Clearwater instead, like Sand Key?

\

st pete beach and ft desoto share the same exit off of 275. it's a state park, so it's very rustic. the sand isn't groomed, and there's only a few concesssion stands and basic facilities.

that's why it's my favorite beach in the area. clearwater, sand key park, and st pete are great beaches, but traffic and parking can be a major headache.

 

[*disgal*]

Thank you all for your help. I think we are leaning toward Sand Key Park.

Do you think we will have traffic/parking problems on a Monday or Tuesday in late August? Florida is back in school, right?

 

[Amity 3]

school is back in so you should be ok. traffic will be hit or miss, they're rebuilding everything west of I-75.

 

[fla4fun]

The most direct route to Sand Key is to take I-4 to I-275. Once you cross Tampa Bay, you will exit on to SR688 (Ulmerton Road). Take Ulmerton Road to Gulf Blvd. Ulmerton Road changes name about 5 miles from the beach to Walsingham Road, just in case the signs confuse you. Turn right on Gulf Blvd. Continue north until you start seeing the really tall condos on the left. You will pass the condos, then the Sheraton Sand Key, then you will see the entrance to the park. If you cross the bridge, you have gone too far. The park is on your left when driving north.

 

[jcriket]

Clearwater beach is undergoing lots of construction right now, both road, and condo's replacing beach and hotels. It will be nice, but the next few years I would go to St. pete beach, and Fort desoto is a must to see, florida beach untouched. It was named #1 beach last year. I think it's exactly the beach your looking for. Here's a link
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm