[NECHFalcon68]

Originally Posted by beachx4me

It may not be as beautiful as the other coast, but it is sand on my toes!

Or you can just take off your shoes next time you hit a fairway bunker....

[dbussone]

There's another thread about an experience someone had when they were in sand without shoes. I'll keep mine on thank you.

[lanemb]

I vote for Holmes Beach on Anna Maria island. They have a public beach with restrooms, grill and an outside bar for drinks. They also have a trolly for free that runs up and down the island if you want some other entertainment. We dropped the wives off to tan and rode the trolly to the pier to see how the fishing was going.

[SyrNancy]

We like New Smyrna, but using 42 to 44 can never get there in under 2 hrs.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by lanemb

I vote for Holmes Beach on Anna Maria island. They have a public beach with restrooms, grill and an outside bar for drinks. They also have a trolly for free that runs up and down the island if you want some other entertainment. We dropped the wives off to tan and rode the trolly to the pier to see how the fishing was going.

Yes, Anna Maria Island and Siesta Key beach in Sarasota are very nice, but I'm looking for a place that is less than two hours away and is a quality beach for day trips.

It's got to be at least 2-1/2 hours to Anna Maria.

[Philip Winkler]

Clearwater Beach--Sand Key Island

[justjim]

I haven't read all the posts in this Thread but you might want to consider the Atlantic. Our grandkids love Cocoa Beach (some real waves) and its a large clean beach with lifeguards and 2 hour drive from The Villages. Just a thought.......oh, good restaurants and watering holes too.

[Vladimir]

Originally Posted by John_W

I don't know exactly where the I-75 construction begins, but starting with Route 50 (Brooksville exit), there is also Route 52 and Route 54. All east-west roads that will take you west to Suncoast Parkway. That parallels Hwy 19 southbound and then you can exit at Courtney Campbell Blvd (Hwy 60) and that takes you right to Clearwater Beach.

OK as I mentioned earlier I just tried the alternate route and it seems to me that there is no clear winner route here - it still will take at least 2 hours and I was driving at 80 MPH on 75 with no traffic. Route 54 has slow red lights for a number of miles ( I even took a shorter route to get from 54 to Suncoast Parkway and that still was too long). Taking rt 19 when one crosses the causeway to avoid central Clearwater added 7 miles to the route and was full of traffic lights. So it all depends on time of day and day of week to determine which route to take. After my experiment I am leaning on taking my chances on the rt 75 and rt 275 route if I go to Clearwater and will opt for Cocoa Beach which is a simpler and faster drive.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by justjim

I haven't read all the posts in this Thread but you might want to consider the Atlantic. Our grandkids love Cocoa Beach (some real waves) and its a large clean beach with lifeguards and 2 hour drive from The Villages. Just a thought.......oh, good restaurants and watering holes too.

We've been to several east coast beaches and in IMHO, they don't compare with the gulf beaches. But thanks for the suggestion.

[John_W]

Originally Posted by Vladimir

OK as I mentioned earlier I just tried the alternate route and it seems to me that there is no clear winner route here - it still will take at least 2 hours and I was driving at 80 MPH on 75 with no traffic. Route 54 has slow red lights for a number of miles ( I even took a shorter route to get from 54 to Suncoast Parkway and that still was too long). Taking rt 19 when one crosses the causeway to avoid central Clearwater added 7 miles to the route and was full of traffic lights. So it all depends on time of day and day of week to determine which route to take. After my experiment I am leaning on taking my chances on the rt 75 and rt 275 route if I go to Clearwater and will opt for Cocoa Beach which is a simpler and faster drive.

I haven't been down to St. Pete in about a year. At that time I took I-275 all the way, and malfunction junction (I-4 and I-275 meet), was a major mess in Tampa. I read they are trying to fix that area, but I think that started in 2002 and they still not done.

With that in mind, I would try and avoid Tampa as much as possible. I took a AAA bus to a Phillies game in Clearwater in March, and Route 54 at Wesley Chapel to Suncoast Pkwy to Courtney Campbell was the route he took. I figured AAA bus drivers would probably know the best way. So apparently the I-75 construction in Pasco, Hernando and Sumter Counties isn't that bad, and I think most of it is being performed at night. So the latest route you took seems to be the best, and we'll just have to learn that it's a 2 hour ride to Clearwater.

Having grown up in St. Petersburg and later living in Pinellas Park, Largo and Spring Hill, I learned to avoid driving on Hwy 19 as much as possible.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by John_W

I haven't been down to St. Pete in about a year. At that time I took I-275 all the way, and malfunction junction (I-4 and I-275 meet), was a major mess in Tampa. I read they are trying to fix that area, but I think that started in 2002 and they still not done.

With that in mind, I would try and avoid Tampa as much as possible. I took a AAA bus to a Phillies game in Clearwater in March, and Route 54 at Wesley Chapel to Suncoast Pkwy to Courtney Campbell was the route he took. I figured AAA bus drivers would probably know the best way. So apparently the I-75 construction in Pasco, Hernando and Sumter Counties isn't that bad, and I think most of it is being performed at night. So the latest route you took seems to be the best, and we'll just have to learn that it's a 2 hour ride to Clearwater.

Having grown up in St. Petersburg and later living in Pinellas Park, Largo and Spring Hill, I learned to avoid driving on Hwy 19 as much as possible.

I've driven down to Tampa and St pete several times and you are correct. The I-75 construction is not a major problem. It's once you hit 275 where the insanity begins.

I don't mind if it's two hours. The problem is two hours and easily turn into 4+ hours by taking 275.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by justjim

Our grandkids love Cocoa Beach (some real waves) and its a large clean beach with lifeguards and 2 hour drive from The Villages. Just a thought.......oh, good restaurants and watering holes too.

I agree.....real waves....... I've never been to Cocoa Bch. for swimming but I'll take Daytona. The west coast is like swimming in a lake. If that's what you prefer then I really enjoyed St. Pete beach which was rated the top beach in Florida.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

I agree.....real waves....... I've never been to Cocoa Bch. for swimming but I'll take Daytona. The west coast is like swimming in a lake. If that's what you prefer then I really enjoyed St. Pete beach which was rated the top beach in Florida.

Actually, it's Clearwater Beach that has been rated the best beach in Florida. But, I've been to both and honestly, there is not that much of a difference.

[LndLocked]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Actually, it's Clearwater Beach that has been rated the best beach in Florida. But, I've been to both and honestly, there is not that much of a difference.

As rated by who????

[joldnol]

Originally Posted by OpusX1

Howard Park in Tarpon Springs is the closest. A little farther South is Caladesi State Park in Dunedin. Spectacular! It can only be reached by ferry and reservations must be made.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Caladesi-Island

We take 75 to 50 west to 19 south to alt. 19. Gets you to both Howard Park and Dunedin. You miss the Tampa traffic.

There are no beachs worth going to North of Tarpon Springs in our opinion, until you get around the big bend.

Caladesi is frequently rated the best beach in Fla and in the top ten nationally