Recommend a beach! (Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon: to rent, hotel, neighborhoods)

[kab0906]

Hello,

We will be in the Tampa area (Brandon, I75 & 60) and the only time we have in our schedule to go to the beach is Monday, October 7th - late afternoon or evening. Can anyone recommend a beach to visit?

Thanks!

[MisnSoFL]

I would recommend Clearwater Beach! It is a great place for both tourists and residents. Beautiful beach and also lots to do right there, and right on the Pier!

[rezfreak]

Clearwater or indian rocks

[bentlebee]

Siesta Keys near Sarasota is the most beautiful one but that is a little drive South but in the afternoon it might not be a longer drive than crossing Tampa at that time to get to Clearwater.

Siesta Key has the whitest sand, very special!

[kab0906]

Thank you!

We will actually be spending 2 days looking at Sarasota later in the week. We have 2 days in the Tampa area looking at schools/neighborhoods and the night we arrive we'll have free for a beach visit.

Mapping it both Indian Rocks and Clearwater are almost an hour from the hotel. That might be a bit far for this trip.

Are there any beaches along the bay? I've only been to Tampa once and that was just an overnight trip so I'm not really familiar with the area.

Thanks!!!

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by kab0906

Thank you!

We will actually be spending 2 days looking at Sarasota later in the week. We have 2 days in the Tampa area looking at schools/neighborhoods and the night we arrive we'll have free for a beach visit.

Mapping it both Indian Rocks and Clearwater are almost an hour from the hotel. That might be a bit far for this trip.

Are there any beaches along the bay? I've only been to Tampa once and that was just an overnight trip so I'm not really familiar with the area.

Thanks!!!

No beaches in the bay, well there are 3 Ben T davis, there is picnic island, and Cypress Park. Nothing anyone would recommend, other than picnic island for its dog beach. People from Brandon mostly go to Sarasota, or brandenton places like Anna Maria Island are popular, and those are 45 min+, If you are goign to that area at a later date the other thing you can do, its a little counter intuitive but its an easier ride than Clearwater or Dunedin would be Ft De Soto, becasue you can take the crosstown all the way to St Pete, its like a 15 min ride then you cross the gandy bridge jump on i275 for another 15 min, then follow the exit signs for Ft Desoto. You are still talking about 45 min but its a lot better than cutting across Tampa and Pinellas to get to Clearwater.

[EngGirl]

Sarasota hands down!!!

[kab0906]

Great information, thanks! Perhaps we'll just swim in the hotel pool or go shopping the night we arrive.

I appreciate it!

[bavariantransplant]

I swam on the beach outside my hotel on Sand Key and loved it, even had a group of stingrays swim right by me.

[FloridaKash]

Clearwater - perfect sand, neat atmosphere, chairs and umbrellas to rent.