Dunedin or Indian Rocks Beach? (Tampa, Clearwater: rent, condo, how much)

[Mrs. P]

Originally Posted by kdubose

I would have to say Indian Rocks Beach as well, since you are looking for a laid-back vacation consisting of hanging on the beach, riding bikes, lots of walking, casual but good dining, and most of all...relaxing.
Downtown Dunedin would be nice for the walking, casual but good dining but you would have to commute to either Clearwater Beach (pay for parking) or Honeymoon Island ($8.00 to get into to go to the beach.
At least at Indian Rocks you can get on the beach free and you dont have to worry about paying for parking. Also as a bonus, you can either do lots of walking along the roads of the beach or walk on the beach whereas in Dunedin you have no choice but to walk on the Pinellas Trail or the sidewalks.
Hope you enjoy your vacation!!!

errrrrr( me putting on my brakes)............no beach access anywhere in Dunedin? none?

[Laughingindian]

I.r.b.!!!

[kdubose]

Originally Posted by Mrs. P

errrrrr( me putting on my brakes)............no beach access anywhere in Dunedin? none?

As far as I know... you have either the Dunedin Causeway (ick!) which leads to Honeymoon Island (nice! but $8.00). All along Bayshore Blvd down to the Marina and down to Union St is waterfront but does not have beach access.... unless you feel like jumping off of a seawall onto rocks full of barnacles and wading out through the muck into a boat channel and possibly feeling one grain of sand between your toes along the way.

[GoldensTimes2]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but I have considered both Indian Rock and Dunedin as a vacation destination but am also wondering about Bellair/Bellair Beach, how is this area?

Thanks.

[ferret111]

Belleair is on the mainland. It's very ritzy and I don't think there's an actual beach there, even so, it wouldn't be on the Gulf proper. Belleair Beach is next to Clearwater Beach and it is very, very quiet. I think there is only one, maybe two motels in the entire town; there are no restaurants or any entertainment venues. While Belleair Beach has free/public beach access, the neighboring town of Belleair Shore (exists only on the west side of Gulf Blvd.) has private beach access points, which are monitored.

[kdubose]

Originally Posted by ferret111

Belleair is on the mainland. It's very ritzy and I don't think there's an actual beach there, even so, it wouldn't be on the Gulf proper. Belleair Beach is next to Clearwater Beach and it is very, very quiet. I think there is only one, maybe two motels in the entire town; there are no restaurants or any entertainment venues. While Belleair Beach has free/public beach access, the neighboring town of Belleair Shore (exists only on the west side of Gulf Blvd.) has private beach access points, which are monitored.

This is true! Belleair on the mainland doesnt have a beach... this town is about 1 mile from the Gulf and you would have to cross the Belleair Causeway to get there. Belleair Beach is a really nice beach but like Ferret said there really isnt anywhere to "vacation" around there since it is primarily residential. I personally think you would be better off going to Indian Rocks since it is only about 1/2 mile from Belleair Beach but yet has the hotels, villas, cottages, restaurants, etc that most people look for when vacationing. You might also care to check out the Sand Key area... it is North of Belleair Beach towards Clearwater Beach, they have a few great hotels there and also a few great restaurants... plus you would be between Clearwater and Indian Rocks with access to all along the Beach Trolley

[lavender]

IRB or Indian shores for sure. If you are near the town of IRB then you can walk to all the eating/drinking places and dont need the car. But there is also a trolley bus if you dont' want to drive

[Mrs. P]

Originally Posted by kdubose

As far as I know... you have either the Dunedin Causeway (ick!) which leads to Honeymoon Island (nice! but $8.00). All along Bayshore Blvd down to the Marina and down to Union St is waterfront but does not have beach access.... unless you feel like jumping off of a seawall onto rocks full of barnacles and wading out through the muck into a boat channel and possibly feeling one grain of sand between your toes along the way.

Ok thank you. How about Largo or Palm Harbor beach access ?

[ferret111]

Largo and Palm Harbor don't have any beaches either.

[lavender]

But beach access is easy from Largo, just over the bridge at Walsingham road, if you are close enough.
Check the addresses of the property you are considering, I know there are a couple of homes to rent on VRBO.com in Largo and Seminole, not really walking to the beach, you'd need the car, but you can park pretty easily. Palm Harbor no beach unless you to to honeymoon island