Belleair Beach Area??? (Clearwater, Sarasota, St. Pete Beach: motel, neighborhood, new construction)

[looneytoon]

We have been visiting central/southern Florida a couple of times a year for the past 25 years.................we have enjoyed the "old" Florida style with low rise (no more than 2 story) buildings and beachside, waterfront (gulf) motel and small resorts.

Siesta Key, south of Sarasota has just gotten way too developed. We are now seeking a new place to go.

We enjoy a very slow pace yet the ability to walk to a spot for coffee and grab a U.S.A. Today newspaper. We drive down from the Carolina's, enjoy the beach, very casual dining, good happy hours and beautiful sunsets.

If anyone has experienced the Belleair Beach area, we sure would love to hear from you......................

Thanks in advance...............Jack and Micki

[LeoLad]

There was time when it was illegal to drink coffee in Belleair Beach. hehe

It is a very small town with private beaches and beachfront mansions. I prefer Siesta Key. Theere is a better vibe to the whole place.

[cariad]

Look at Pass A Grille. It is the historic district of St. Pete Beach, and is much as you describe your desired florida location. There is some new construction but it does have height limitations.

[Fletchman]

Belleair Beach is all residential. It's a nice place. No motels or tacky development.

Problem is, if you are looking for a beach front view, be prepared to pay up.

They do, however, have several beach access parking areas. So, if you don't mind walking or driving a few blocks, you are right there. The beach is very quiet and not many tourists visit Belleair Beach unlike Clearwater Beach or St. Pete Beach.

[On-da-Beach]

I never found Belleair to be a very friendly place. LeoLad's comment about coffee is a true story about some folks who were visiting and drinking coffee at a beach access. There was quite a news article about that since the police were going to arrest them but I believe just cited them for using the access without ownership rights or something like that.
Pass-a-Grille might be nice, indeed. You should also check out Cedar Key further north.
If you like urbanistic living...check out Seacrest Beach or Rosemary Beach in the panhandle! I fell in love with it and moved here straight away.

[Starr Palmer]

I live in Belleair Beach and it's a great place to live because it's primarily a residential neighborhood. I'd recommend not parking in the beach access parking lots because those are regularly patrolled. You have to have a parking sticker showing you are a resident. The beach is nice because it's always so quiet. I'd recommend however going just south of Belleair Beach to Indian Rocks. It has really tropical feel and a lot of restaurants and beach access parking available.

[ferret111]

Then there's that creepy town of Belleair Shore that exists solely along the western part of Gulf Boulevard.