Clearwater Beach? (Tampa, Orlando, Bradenton: where to stay, spring break, real estate)

[eadams2]

I'm looking at possible places to visit for our honeymoon in September. We're thinking of taking a "road trip" and stopping at various places along the way.

What can you tell me about Clearwater Beach? Nice place to visit? Things to do? Is it even worth a stop?

Thanks in advance!

[knightgoose]

Clearwater is nice but for a honeymoon, Captiva and Sanibel island would be perfect, less congested, natural beauty
Official Sanibel Island & Captiva Island, Florida Chamber of Commerce. Visitor, Accommodations, Dining, Shopping, Entertainment & Local Business Information

[Lior Arel]

Captiva Island..LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!

Clearwater Beach is a family destination. For a romantic beach in our beautiful bay area try Ft. Desoto in St. Pete. Siesta Key is phenomenal, no joke, the sand is literally like baby powder! Holmes Beach in Bradenton is one of our most secluded "best-kept-secret" beaches.

[Oobie119]

I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE--- NOOOOO.
My husband and I went to that area for our honeymoon in 2004. We planned on going to clearwater beach for a few days, then to siesta key for a few days. Everything went to hell the day after we arrived and HURRICANE CHARLEY decided to pay us a visit. We ended up leaving Clearwater early as the weather was treachorous, so we headed to Siesta key since we already had reservations (and we had family nearby JIC).. Needless to say, the weather wasn't any better. After a day there, talks about evacuation were going on- We decided to pack up EARLY and head inland to insure we had somewhere to stay.. We had to fight traffic and got the last room available in the orlando area (the did call for an evacuation and my sister had no where to go so had to stay with us!). Disney was even closed for 2 days and our hotel was in shambles after dealing with 105 mile an hour winds, not to mention power outages and the only nearby walgreens cleaned out by panicked people!! LOL I am a fan of Florida, we moved here shortly after we got married. We picked Florida as a honeymoon destination to keep things simple, thought we could have the nice beacy romantic getaway. Yeah, the most romantic dinner we had was in our hotel room with pizza hut by candlelight! Im all for Florida honeymoons, but not during that time- while the season is dwindling down, I wouldn't risk it.

[jessiesma]

is a gorgeous beach but is undeveloped. Yay! There's no place to stay unless camping is your idea of a honeymoon. There may be a B&B or 2 in Holmes, Anna Maria but a B&B seems a bit claustrophobic for a honeymoon, IMO.
How about the Don Cesar on St. Pete Beach? or Sanibel is a great choice as one poster said.
To the psoter who posted about Hurricanes. It certainly is a risk ANYWHERE in FL. I honestly don't understand why you thought siesta key would help but Orlando was a surprise. Every one got blindsided by that hit.
To the OP I would only suggest that you get travel insurance, have a back up plan, watch Tampa Bay's 10 News, Weather, Traffic, Sports - WTSP TV - tampabays10.com/weather as the time gets close and certainly if we have another very active season as in 2004, look for an alternative. History is useless in predicting natural phenomena and weather patterns are changing anyway.

Originally Posted by Lior Arel

Captiva Island..LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!

Clearwater Beach is a family destination. For a romantic beach in our beautiful bay area try Ft. Desoto in St. Pete. Siesta Key is phenomenal, no joke, the sand is literally like baby powder! Holmes Beach in Bradenton is one of our most secluded "best-kept-secret" beaches.

[TampaKaren]

I, too, have opinions, but since you specifically asked about Clearwater....I've been to Clearwater many, many times and I love it. Great beach, lots of restaurants and bars (if you're into that sort of thing). Pier 60 is known for lots of craftspeople and a great boardwalk where you'll see people fishing. Of course there's always a group of people migrating out for the sunset. There's major construction going on in Clearwater and the changes look to be fantastic. During the real estate boom years in 05-06, we referred to it as Billion Dollar Beach and I expect the Hyatt Aqualea to be awesome. Read this ---> Clearwater Beach construction continues through spring break - Tampa Bays Local News (broken link)

[jessiesma]

but way ahead of schedule. Not in time for OP's honeymoon alas but great for the city.

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

I, too, have opinions, but since you specifically asked about Clearwater....I've been to Clearwater many, many times and I love it. Great beach, lots of restaurants and bars (if you're into that sort of thing). Pier 60 is known for lots of craftspeople and a great boardwalk where you'll see people fishing. Of course there's always a group of people migrating out for the sunset. There's major construction going on in Clearwater and the changes look to be fantastic. During the real estate boom years in 05-06, we referred to it as Billion Dollar Beach and I expect the Hyatt Aqualea to be awesome. Read this ---> Clearwater Beach construction continues through spring break - Tampa Bays Local News (broken link)

[TampaKaren]

Originally Posted by jessiesma

but way ahead of schedule. Not in time for OP's honeymoon alas but great for the city.

OP said honeymoon is in September. Super Bowl is in January. If construction is 6 month's ahead of SuperBowl schedule but after Spring Break, that should be somewhere around August...providing my calculation is correct.

[cb at sea]

We LOVE Lido Key--it's the key north of Siesta! Because of St. Armands Circle, there's so much to do! Depending on where you stay, you can walk to everything! Not as "college-y" feeling as Siesta! Very lovely!
All of this is just south of Clearwater!

[jessiesma]

The project was scheduled for completion by late next year but now they're saying hopefully by Superbowl and that's Beachwalk. The hotel looks far from that close to being ready. it's not even fully weathered in yet.
when construction is said to be ahead of schedule, it means before the projected deadline not from the day that announcement is made.
Hope that clarifies it.

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

OP said honeymoon is in September. Super Bowl is in January. If construction is 6 month's ahead of SuperBowl schedule but after Spring Break, that should be somewhere around August...providing my calculation is correct.