Question about Clearwater Fla.
 

The wife was looking at places in the Clearwater Fla./ Clearwater Beach area to go to for a week in the spring, does anyone have anything on this area?...Is it a decent area....good restaurants.....low in crime etc.....Thank for any info.....Fred

CLW
 

Clearwater is great, low in crime e.t.c. Couple nice restaurants & beach is real nice. Caladesi Island (north of Clw Bch)has been voted one of the top beaches in the US. Just don't arrive at Spring break as trafic is horrific. They are building a new bridge onto the Island & trafic can be real slow in peak times. Are you bringing a boat with ya? Plenty of great boating & lots of ICW to cruise. Check out St Pete. Beach as well, IMHO better location to interstates & plenty things to do in 20mi radius. St Pete Bch is probably just 20mi. south of Clw.
John

Both St. Pete and Clearwater Beach are both nice...

If you looking for somewhere to stay try the Don Cesar in St. Pete or Adam's Mark Clearwater Beach Resort.

I lived in Clearwater Beach in '88. The beach is great but it is dry. No alcohol was allowed on the public beach. You had to go in front of one of the hotels to drink. Town was clean and crime was low back then. I think cuda on this board is from there.

Ron

We go to St. Pete Beach every Jan. It is very nice there and we have a ton of fun.

The Don Cesar is fanatastic. St. Pete if very nice an tranquil.

Fred - Clwr. Beach is great..a bit touristy for me tho. If you bring a boat, there are a lot of great boating spots. If you stay on the beach, hit Frenchy's for a good quick meal or Island Way Grill for a "GREAT" dinner. The beach has a lot of everything but if you bring a boat and mingle abit, the water has alot more to offer. The beach is about a 15 min boat run for me from the house.We go down occasionally and usually hit Frency's. Wardey

Thanks for the response all....that info was what I was looking for,...Thanks...Fred

Fred,
I live about an hour north of that area. You picked a great area to visit. Plenty of fun for water enthusiasts. If you need any help just email & will respond.

Fred~ Don Cesar is very nice. They are located right on the beach, but I don't think (you'd have to check more into this)that, it has a marina.
On the otherhand, The Vinoy (my favorite hotel) does have a marina, but they aren't right on the beach. But, if you pay the money to stay there, you might want to discover the history on the Vinoy and enjoy their pool and spa!! It's really not that bad in price, considering what a neat place it is!!
Downtown Tampa has an area called Ybor City, which ends up feeling more like Bourban St. in New Orleans if you know what I mean.
St. Pete also has the Pier and the Baseball Field right there. And a shopping area called the Boardwalk, which has some nice shops.
Actually, I just realized we have some neat pic's from the Vinoy........

Todd in the waterfall....

The lobby.....

The Courtyard (also, has a waterfall & the sound of it is awesome!!)

Hey Fred,
All the info so far is great! Clearwater is a nice place to stay, there's plenty to do. The Adam's Mark is probably the preferred place to stay, also make certain to have a few cocktails at Sheppard's! It's a happening place.

Also, if time allows, and you have the freedom to choose where to stay, I would recommend the Don Ceasar in St. Pete. There's probably a little more going on in St. Pete.

Tracy, you're advice is right on. The bayside has so much to offer and it really is such a neat place(The Vinoy).

:cool:

Frenchy's=great food!
Sheppards=cool place :D
Gators is also another cool place and some powerboats hang out there every so often too. :D

Thanks again for all info and pic's....Fred

Any of the beaches from Clearwater to St Pete Beach is fine. Clearwater beach is pretty crowded at times.

I myself would probably stay somewhere like the Tradewinds at St Pete beach. Easier access to everywhere. It's just a 30 minute drive up the beach to Clearwater. The Don Cesar is a 4 star hotel, it is very nice, but in all reality, it is a real old hotel, and the rooms are rather small. I know this from doing an estimate to remodel all the rooms a couple years ago.

I have stayed at the Vinoy, and it is a first rate hotel too. Baywalk is a place built two years ago downtown with restaurants, shops, and movies within walking distance of the Vinoy. If you go to Baywalk, take note of the exceptional tile and marble work there at Dan Marion's and the Dish Restaurant. (shameless self promotion:) ) ***Personal note: The best filet mignon I ever had was at the Vinoy.

If you like a real party atmosphere, check out Ybor City in Tampa on the weekend. Kind of a cross between Duval Street in Key West and Bourbon Street (again note the tile work at Dish, Adobe Gila's, and Big Mouth Burger ;) ) A couple weeks ago, they just started a trolley that runs from downtown Tampa thru Channelside (while at Channelside please note.........ah never mind:) ) then to Ybor.

Crime is never a problem in the beach areas, the chambers of commerce would never allow it.

When are you planning on going? If there are any questions I can help you with, just ask!:)

Thanks Cuda, I think the wife is looking at going there around the end of March or first of April, one of her girlfriends at her work lined her up with some place she stays at in Clearwater Beach....we usually go to Orange Beach in Alabama that time of year....thought we would try something different this year, thanks for the info.....Fred