[dotti105]

Yep, John has it right!

Coming from The Villages, we usually take I-75 to 52 (dade city exit?) go west until you hit 589 south bound.

589 changes names several times. (Veterans memorial, Suncoast, Citrus highway) Just to make it more challenging I guess.

You can get off I-75 on 50, 52 or 54 to go west to 589 , but the northern most options help you avoid construction on I-75.

When you get to Tampa Internationsl, you exit onto Hwy 60 to Clearwater via the Courtney Campbell causeway.

Using GPS( google maps or Apple maps) it doesn't look much faster. But due to the construction EVERYWHERE it really does save time. If you look at the big picture on paper map or MapQuest you will see the east/ west connectors easily.

[jblum315]

Originally Posted by HimandMe

How great it would be if The Villages had a man-made beach...

Yes, but it would come with alligators in the water!

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by HimandMe

How great it would be if The Villages had a man-made beach...

Uh-oh. Watch out for the "I want an indoor pool" people.

[DeanFL]

A wild thought here. I always say that TV would be PERFECT if we had an ocean beach very close (and perhaps a mountain...).

We could all take matters into our own hands for the saltwater beach.

Looks as if we are about 40 miles (as crow flies) from Crystal River/gulf beach. And 70 miles from New Smyrna Beach.

TV has about 110,000 residents. Subtract about 25% that are Snowbirds and gone now. So we're down to 82,500. Able bodied folks, perhaps 80%, down to 66,000. Minus folks who hate the idea of some exercise, 10%, down to 59,400. Minus those who are out of town/traveling etc = 10%, down to 53,460. Round that all down to 50,000 TV folks.

OK, we each bring a bucket and shovel. Assign an area for each of the 50K of us along the route. We each dig a 1' wide by 1' deep hole. And each of us makes our dig 4.1 feet long. If all 50K of us makes our own 4' long dig from Crystal River area to TV... we have our man-made canal bringing Gulf sea water to us. And for the Pacific Ocean side, each of our digs would need to be about 7.3 feet long.

Next we have a nice large lake built in TV connecting the new east and west saltwater canals and viola, we have our own beaches. No big waves for surfing but,...

When that's done, we all tackle that mountain to make.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

A wild thought here. I always say that TV would be PERFECT if we had an ocean beach very close (and perhaps a mountain...).

We could all take matters into our own hands for the saltwater beach.

Looks as if we are about 40 miles (as crow flies) from Crystal River/gulf beach. And 70 miles from New Smyrna Beach.

TV has about 110,000 residents. Subtract about 25% that are Snowbirds and gone now. So we're down to 82,500. Able bodied folks, perhaps 80%, down to 66,000. Minus folks who hate the idea of some exercise, 10%, down to 59,400. Minus those who are out of town/traveling etc = 10%, down to 53,460. Round that all down to 50,000 TV folks.

OK, we each bring a bucket and shovel. Assign an area for each of the 50K of us along the route. We each dig a 1' wide by 1' deep hole. And each of us makes our dig 4.1 feet long. If all 50K of us makes our own 4' long dig from Crystal River area to TV... we have our man-made canal bringing Gulf sea water to us. And for the Pacific Ocean side, each of our digs would need to be about 7.3 feet long.

Next we have a nice large lake built in TV connecting the new east and west saltwater canals and viola, we have our own beaches. No big waves for surfing but,...

When that's done, we all tackle that mountain to make.

I think something along those lines was done down in Panama a few years back. I wonder how they dealt with the elevation changes.

I would guess that at some points the "canal" would have to be a lot deeper than 1'. Water won't flow uphill.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by beachx4me

It isn't on the Gulf side, but New Smyrna beach is about 1.5 hours away. If you go 42 through the Ocala National Forest to 44, it takes you right on through for the most part.

Been there. It can be difficult to get onto the beach. And the beach itself is mediocre compared to the gulf beaches.

[beachx4me]

I always go to the end of the street through their little "Main Street" area and you can drive right on, park your car and set up right behind it if you want. It may not be as beautiful as the other coast, but it is sand on my toes!

[LndLocked]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Is it still nude? Do people want to see nude senior citizens? Yikes.

only unofficially .... and on the FAR northern end ..... as in you have to park at the last lot and walk north on the beach for a mile or so.

I know this only because I have been told so.

[LndLocked]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

A wild thought here. I always say that TV would be PERFECT if we had an ocean beach very close (and perhaps a mountain...).

We could all take matters into our own hands for the saltwater beach.

Looks as if we are about 40 miles (as crow flies) from Crystal River/gulf beach. And 70 miles from New Smyrna Beach.

TV has about 110,000 residents. Subtract about 25% that are Snowbirds and gone now. So we're down to 82,500. Able bodied folks, perhaps 80%, down to 66,000. Minus folks who hate the idea of some exercise, 10%, down to 59,400. Minus those who are out of town/traveling etc = 10%, down to 53,460. Round that all down to 50,000 TV folks.

OK, we each bring a bucket and shovel. Assign an area for each of the 50K of us along the route. We each dig a 1' wide by 1' deep hole. And each of us makes our dig 4.1 feet long. If all 50K of us makes our own 4' long dig from Crystal River area to TV... we have our man-made canal bringing Gulf sea water to us. And for the Pacific Ocean side, each of our digs would need to be about 7.3 feet long.

Next we have a nice large lake built in TV connecting the new east and west saltwater canals and viola, we have our own beaches. No big waves for surfing but,...

When that's done, we all tackle that mountain to make.

- Ever heard of the Cross Florida Barge Canal?

- It would take a LOT more than 7.3 feet per resident to get from the Pacific Ocean to TV

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by LndLocked

- Ever heard of the Cross Florida Barge Canal?

- It would take a LOT more than 7.3 feet per resident to get from the Pacific Ocean to TV

Actually hope the ToTV folks know...I was just kidding...

Also, per google = New Smyrna is about 75 miles from TV, I used 70 miles for 'the canal'. 70 mi x 5,280 = 370,000 feet. Divided by 50,000 people, 7.4' each.

All for fun...unless we can get government funding.

[LndLocked]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

Actually hope the ToTV folks know...I was just kidding...

Also, per google = New Smyrna is about 75 miles from TV, I used 70 miles for 'the canal'. 70 mi x 5,280 = 370,000 feet. Divided by 50,000 people, 7.4' each.

All for fun...unless we can get government funding.

That would be the ATLANTIC ocean

[jnieman]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

Agree that Anna Maria Island is a very nice beach. Although the drive time sounds a bit optimistic to me.

I did a mapquest for it, so depending on traffic stops that should be accurate.

[Vladimir]

Dr B thanks for asking this question and I agree with many of your impressions and of the beaches mentioned.
Howard beach park is OK if you just want to sit and relax by a palm tree but the water is full of seaweed and not enjoyable. Smyrna beach is too far and its shark waters. The other beaches mentioned are just too far. I like Cocoa beach on the Atlantic especially since its a straight highway ride with little traffic and easy to get to (Alan Shepard park next to Ron Jons).
Clearwater beach (Sand key park area) is beautiful and more peaceful than the Pier 60 area. The only problem is the traffic and getting there. I am going to try the directions given by dotti105 and JonhW since 275 through Tampa is such a mess. I will time it and see if I can get there in 1 and 1/2 hours using this new route.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by beachx4me

I always go to the end of the street through their little "Main Street" area and you can drive right on, park your car and set up right behind it if you want. It may not be as beautiful as the other coast, but it is sand on my toes!

Last time we went, the beach was "full" and they weren't letting anymore cars on. We had to wait in line in our car until people left.

There are several access points but you have to know where you're going to find them. And after all that, the beach was disappointing.

[dotti105]

Besides 589 to bypass Tampa construction..... the REAL SECRET to getting to Clearwater Beach, Bellaire Beach or Sand Key is to take hwy 60 across the Courtney Campbell Causeway, but once on the Clearwater side, don't continue on Hwy 60.

Instead, turn south on Hwy 19 and go a couple of miles south until you reach East Bay Drive (Hwy 686). Take East Bay west and you will arrive on Bellaire Beach.

The will be no bumper to bumper traffic like there is in downtown Clearwater getting to Clearwater Beach on Hwy 60 (Gulf to Bay Blvd). We drive that way when we go on the weekends and never go through downtown Clearwater.

Since the Scientologists took over downtown Clearwater in the 80's it has never been the same. With so much property "church owned" the tax base has been flat and traffic improvements have been very slow. If you compare downtown Clearwater to downtown Dunedin or downtown Largo you will see what I mean. But I digress...

Just take East Bay Drive over to the beaches and then you can head north to Clearwater beach or south to Indian Rocks and on to Madiera Beach. Once you are on the beaches it is a barrier island with 20-30 miles of great beaches.