Where To Stay In West Coast Florida?
When you plan a vacation to the beautiful west coast of Florida to soak in the Gulf of Mexico, you want to be where the action is - right on the beach. Steer clear of spending precious vacation days stuck in traffic, looking for a parking spot and enduring crowds just to claim your private stretch of sand.
That is why it is so important to choose your beach vacation home base with great care. You have put a lot of time and effort into planning the perfect beach vacation, from researching the prevailing weather patterns for various times of year to scouring the travel websites in search of the lowest airfares. And how much time you have put into discovering the perfect location, a home base that is close to the action, yet far enough away so you can enjoy the peace and serenity of your beach vacation is essential.
The right location matters more than you may realize. After all, you are not the only one planning the perfect beach vacation. No matter which beach you plan to visit, you can be sure other people have the same idea.
That company can be a great thing, especially if the folks you meet are friendly and helpful. Even so, dealing with large quantities of other tourists on the road can be challenging --- one that could quickly transform your dreams of a luxurious and quiet beach vacation into a less memorable experience.
So, which is the best home base for your long-awaited beach vacation? Which town offers the perfect combination of quiet, solitude, and convenience? As with all things travel, there is no one right answer to this question, but there are some compelling reasons to choose Indian Rocks Beach as your central point.
When planning your perfect beach vacation, you will want to weigh the pros and cons carefully. The nature of your getaway and the needs of your family will weigh heavily in your decision, so knowing what each location offers can help a great deal. Only you know your travel party - and whether your ideal vacation means sitting side by side on the beach or dancing the night away at the hottest nightclub in town.
That is why we are taking a careful look at the various locations for a spectacular Gulf of Mexico Florida beach vacation. Each destination point is listed, along with some helpful statistics and the pros and cons of each.
Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Rocks Beach is truly a hidden gem, a spot that many tourists have not yet discovered. That fact works heavily in your favor, especially if you are looking for a long weekend getaway or a secluded beach vacation. Unlike many of the other possible destination points, Indian Rocks Beach is more laid back than crowded, filled with friendly locals who would love to share their favorite town with you.
Indian Rocks Beach is the perfect home base for a number of reasons, including its central location and easy travel times. If you want to visit Busch Gardens, the theme park is just an hour or so away. If Tampa is your destination for the day or evening, you can likely get there in less than half an hour. Convenience matters, and it does not get more convenient than Indian Rocks Beach.
If you are looking for a romantic getaway for two, Indian Rocks Beach has a great deal to offer. It is hard to be romantic when the beaches are overcrowded, but you should not have that problem when you stay at Indian Rocks Beach. Unlike St. Pete and Clearwater, which have become overrun with tourists, Indian Rocks Beach is still somewhat of a hidden destination.
That means more time with your sweetheart, more time watching the sunset and more time enjoying a romantic dinner for two. At the same time, Indian Rocks Beach offers easy access to Florida's many wonderful destinations. Everything you could ever want is just a short car ride away. Feel free to spend your time exploring the wonders of Florida's many beaches, but make sure your home base is one you can live with.
Clearwater
Clearwater Beach has long been a magnet for vacationing tourists, including first-time visitors to the Sunshine State, snowbirds escaping the cold of a northern winter and international visitors drawn to its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.
Clearwater Beach does have a lot to offer, but it is not a perfect home base for everyone. If you are looking for a secluded getaway, Clearwater Beach is probably not where you want to be. The Clearwater Beach area has been undergoing somewhat of a renaissance in recent years, and a building boom is currently underway.
That building boom means you should have no trouble finding a hotel room, even in the high season. You may pay a bit more in the cold winter months when thousands of other tourists have the same idea, but hotel room availability is rarely an issue here.
Clearwater Beach also features some truly stunning one of a kind attractions, and the area is always worth a visit. If you are a nature lover, the nearby Pinellas Trail is a must-see, with local flora and fauna in all their glory. And the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is one of the highlights, with a fantastic array of sea life and engaging shows to entertain and educate.
On the other hand, those abundant hotel rooms come with a price. Each of those tourists will come equipped with a rental car, and that means lots of traffic on the local freeway system, and even more vehicles on the streets leading up the crowded beaches.
Clearwater Beach is often crowded, even in the offseason. You will also face lots of tourist attractions, including some designed to take your money. That does not mean that Clearwater Beach is a wrong place to stay. It just means that there are other options to consider.
St. Pete
St. Petersburg, or St. Pete to the locals, is another popular home base for first-time visitors to the state of Florida. Like Clearwater Beach, St. Pete has a lot to recommend it, including abundant nightlife, excellent restaurants, lots of shopping and plenty of hotel rooms. If you want to party all night and shop till you drop, you might want to consider St. Pete as your home base, or at least come here for a day trip or two.
Like Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg is home to some world-class attractions. If this is your first time here, you simply must visit Fort DeSoto Park. Whether you choose to camp, fish or just walk around, you will have a great time.
If you are a lover of modern art, the Salvador Dali museum is a real standout. Whether you are already a fan of Dali or a newcomer to his work, you are sure to be enthralled.
Unfortunately, as a home base, St. Pete has many of the same downsides as Clearwater Beach. Like Clearwater Beach, St. Pete is undergoing a building boom, with new shopping malls, new restaurants, and new residential developments. That is great for the people who live in St. Pete - there are plenty of high paying jobs and lots of new opportunities. For out of town visitors, however, the traffic congestion and constant construction noises can be hard to take.
Since St. Pete has been growing rapidly, getting around can be a challenge, especially for first-time visitors. If asking for directions is not your thing, you might want to rethink St. Pete as home base for your Florida vacation. It is an excellent place for a day trip, with lots of things to see and do, but you might want to stay somewhere quieter, like Indian Rocks Beach.
While there are many possible jumping off points for a great Florida beach vacation, you should not simply assume that each home base is equally attractive. Where you stay will impact your beach vacation in countless ways, and making the wrong choice could be hard on your wallet as well as your nerves.
If you stay too far away from the action, you could end up spending more time on the road than on the beach. In addition to the wasted time, all that traffic means more money spent on gas and more aggravation for yourself and your family. You may think you are getting a spectacular bargain by booking a cheap hotel in St. Pete or Clearwater, but there are substantial reasons to choose a home base at Indian Rocks Beach instead.
Unlike St. Pete and Clearwater, Indian Rocks Beach has not outgrown its small-town feel. Many first-time visitors to Indian Rocks Beach are surprised at just how homey and down to earth the town feels. While Indian Rocks Beach is very much a beach town, with secluded coves, pristine beaches, and crystal blue waters, it feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Clearwater and St. Pete.
At the same time, Indian Rocks Beach is very close to the action, with easy access to both of those larger locations. If you crave a secluded beach vacation but love to shop, the new malls of St. Pete are just a short car ride away. If you long to dance the night away, you can hop in your car, enjoy the hottest nightclubs in Clearwater Beach and still be back in time for breakfast.
And here's an excellent tip to consider: The SunCoast Beach Trolley runs the full coastline daily between the regions of St. Pete and Clearwater through Indian Rocks Beach and other coastal towns. It's quite economical to purchase a single fare or a 3-day, 7-day or monthly pass to ride to surrounding beach cities as often as you'd like. Located within the heart of the trolley route has significant advantages when it comes to exploring the surrounding cities!
Choosing the perfect home base for your Florida beach vacation is never an easy decision, but there are plenty of reasons to make Indian Rocks Beach that jumping off point. Indian Rocks Beach indeed has a small-town feel, but it does not sacrifice fun and excitement for its down-home feel. Indian Rocks Beach is central to everything you want to do, from the water sports of St. Pete to the romantic sunset cruises of Clearwater Beach.
Clearwater Beach, St. Pete and Indian Rocks Beach are all convenient lodging points for your Florida vacation. Each one has a lot to offer, from convenient gear rental and fishing charters to lovely parks and great restaurants. The sunsets are equally spectacular in each location, although the secluded nature of Indian Rocks Beach makes it a standout in this regard.
In the end, the population differences tell the tale. Indian Rocks Beach is home to just 4,300 people, while Clearwater has a population of 114,300 and St. Pete is home to some 261,000. It is easy to see how the differences in population impact everything from traffic and travel times to wait times at the local restaurants.
Last but not least, Indian Rocks Beach has the engaging Splash Harbour Water Park making it an excellent choice for families with children. The whole family can also enjoy the well-liked Harbourside attractions, with plenty of fun activities for everyone.