BEST BEACHES on Gulf Coast?

[antwill1]

Lo peeps...
1st 2 weeks Orlando, have this sort of organised.
But.
Last week in New Port Richey (Gulf Coast)
Just wondering if anyone knows the best beaches around here?
If anyone has been to New Port Richey before, any tips? We are just looking for a relaxing last week, although we do have 2 teenage daughters we might not get it.
We are planning to do Bush Gardens and Adventure Island water park this week.
TY

[lelee]

there are plenty of decent beaches around the new port richey area like clearwater and st petersberg. however if you dont mind the drive, about an hours drive down the coast is a beach called siesta key, which is a beautiful beach with clear blue sea and white sand and is a lot less crowded than clearwater and more upmarket.

[Iloveflorida]

I give a vote for Clearwater the beach is beautiful and very clean.

[ticky15]

vote here for st petes...or there Fort de soto beach,its won awards for the best beach on the gulf coast.:spin:

[antwill1]

thanks peeps.
yup some truly triffic beaches, cant wait to walk hand in hand with wifey on romantic sunset strole..... with the kids and parents in toe... ah well...

[wombat]

Hi,

Clearwater Beach is our favourite.

I also recommend being there in the evening, the pier is filled with craft stalls and there are street entertainers, a really nice atmosphere.

Call in at Tarpon springs and see the "sponge" boats.

[Dollar_Bill]

Whilst I like Clearwater, I much prefer St Petes for swimming.

[lausan]

St petes,North Beach Fort de Soto,Manatee beach sarasota

[Fiona]

St. Pete`s is our favourite. Have a look here www.stpete-pier.com www.floridasbeach.com www.stpetebeach.com www.johnspass.com John`s Pass is by Madeira Beach. :-)

[miler]

Venice beech , Sharks teeth collecting capital of the world ...well thats what they tell you ...very long uncrowded , Sharkies diner for a nice evening meal .

[Bradleysmummy]

If you want a georgeous beach all to yourself pretty much, then I vote for Caladesi Island, you have to get there by boat and its an uninhabited island it is lush!!!!

[summertime85]

We had a lovely time in Clearwater last year but we haven't been to any of the others so we can't compare.

[pepsicube]

Anna Maria Island

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s29/pepsicube/100_0707.jpg

[anna68]

Naples is gorgeous

[kylali]

pepsicube: i have that exact photo, i love anna maria, its the most beautiful place. cant wait to go back.

[fred20]

Heading to Anna Maria Island in September for 3 nights - can't wait, it looks boootiful :D

Staying at the Harrington House bed and breakfast

Cheers
Fred

[Lola]

Hiya Antwill in Blackpool from another 'Sandgrownun'. Our favourites are down the coast at Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, Sannibel. Nearer is Siesta Key also good

[antwill1]

ROFL seem to be quite a lot ov peeps from the Fylde on here.
Thank you all for your opinions about beaches, but now im stuck, as cant choose between them now. Thanks....

[loates123]

siesta key beach is easy the best in florida

[kellyd]

take a look at my wedding pics clearwater beach was amazing !

[wombat]

Hi,

We love Clearwater, great in the evening when the Pier is full of craft stalls and there are street entertainers.

Would also recommend the evening Pirate Ship Cruise, great fun.:wavey:

[sammyteach]

Please dont mention Anna Maria island it belongs to me it is a secret and only i am allowed to visit! (I let the family go but only if they behave themselves);)

[NinaUK]

we went to seista beach, beautiful soft white sand, plenty of room and nic clear warm water.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/siestabeach2.jpg

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/siestabeach3.jpg

[SusieK]

Please dont mention Anna Maria island it belongs to me it is a secret and only i am allowed to visit! (I let the family go but only if they behave themselves);)

Sorry but we love it too:smile: Check out my countdown;)

[Sunfreak]

Clearwater???, St Petes??? - heaven forbid - Siesta Key??? - I thought you wanted a relaxing week! - if you go for these joints you'll spend half you week in the flamin car!. There are a couple of nice beaches in New Port Richey itself. Can't remember the names but they are signposted off the main highway. One is in like a local nature park, it is really quiet and sheltered - and Dolphins come to call most days. Shallow shelves, loads of sea life, good snorkling and the like. You need to take you own food,drink and stuff

Check out Tarpon Springs - brill place, outstanding pastries

Also take a trip upto Homasassa Springs.

One more tip, if you do venture down to the Tampa area - which you will for Adventure island and Busch, use the Sunshine freeway thing. This is a tollroad and it costs about 5 bucks from New Port down to Tampa. Sounds like a lot but it takes half the time and avoid all the city traffic

[loates123]

we went to seista beach, beautiful soft white sand, plenty of room and nic clear warm water.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/siestabeach2.jpg

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/siestabeach3.jpg



looks nice

be there for one night soon( any good cheap places to eat?) also a night in clearwater for me.
drive to each place from oranlando only takes a few hours as i have plaaned the trips already on my tomtom 910

[bexwg]

If you want a georgeous beach all to yourself pretty much, then I vote for Caladesi Island, you have to get there by boat and its an uninhabited island it is lush!!!!

I would have to go with Caladesi too! You get there from Honeymoon Island by boat. We are off there in about a week!

[jules_c]

We stayed in New Port Richey in 2005. Tarpon Springs is good. Lots of Greek restaurants!! and also if you venture off from the town there is a nice beach but no food stalls so get something from the town to take down there. Interestingly there are signs that point out the six types of shark that live in the area:erm: . Didnt see any though although we thought there was one in Clearwater along with about 50 people and it was like a reinactment of Jaws with people clearing the water :omg: but think it was a dolphin. You will also need to do the Stingray shuffle in the sea. To get to the main beach area at Tarpon Springs you will need to drive to the beach down past all the posh houses, its not a huge beach but very pretty and tranquil. Also agree that Clearwater is a great beach for entertainment with the stalls on the pier and street entertainers. Didnt go to Wakiki Springs but understand there are mermaids there - worth a look? There is a Publix nearby the villas for shopping and subway etc and plenty of restaurants on the main road.

Hope this helps and I havent put you off with the Shark and Stingray bit.

[Sunfreak]

I was in Hudson in 2005, didn't see you though ;)

I liked the beach at Tarpon Springs, I liked those houses even more!!!. Didn't see any sharks, but loads of dolphins.

[spoony]

I am looking to visit Clearwater in August, from maps I noticed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge which I will probably travel over to get further down the coast in the afternoon. But the map also shows some roads off the bridge which appear to go to a dead end, what are these for are they viewing platforms or restaurants?

Also when at Clearwater I noticed a sealife rescue centre which does a half-hour dolphin training/interaction session has anyone done this?

[essexmick]

only ever been to clearwater on the GC, love it, superb

[antwill1]

Thanks once again, to all the helpfull posts.
Sunfreak i think your advice sounds gud tho, as dont wana spend all 3 weeks in car.

Was the park called Robert K Rees Memorial Park, or Howard Park?