Are Clearwater and St Pete comparable to the Caribbean?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been to the Caribbean, but never to St Pete or Clearwater. I’ve heard the water in the Tampa area is calm and clear, but would it be disappointing compared to the Caribbean? Any recommendations for Florida resorts with lots of activities for a toddler that are under $400/night?

[Anonymous]

They're okay but nothing like the caribbean. The water is much more rough, and not clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're okay but nothing like the caribbean. The water is much more rough, and not clear.

What this person said. If they were comparable, would anyone go to the Caribbean?

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

I live in St Pete - we don't have the reefs and diving that you've got in the Caribbean. It's not that crystal clear water with endless visibility and incredible marine life.

On the other hand, we do have manatees! (And other cool marine life!)

But if you want to hang out on the beach, and swim, and get some fish tacos, it's pretty nice here.

[Anonymous]

The Clearwater beaches are pretty still though. Good for kids. I wouldn't go all the way to the Caribbean for the difference.

[Anonymous]

There are sections of the beach at Fort de Soto State Park (in St. Pete) that I have commented feel like I am the Caribbean. It feels totally isolated.

[Anonymous]

The beaches are really nice. White sand, calm water. Not as clear as the nicest Caribbean beaches but nicer than any other US beaches I've been to.

I don't know about resorts (we rented a house) but I don't think it's quite like the Caribbean or Mexico with the big resorts with a million activities. It's more like other beach towns in the US, but with a nicer beach. There are big hotels and some resorts, but the mostly looked older and a little rundown to me. However there is stuff to do-- we took a boat tour of the bay, rented kayaks, and spent time in downtown St. Petersburg. The Rays also play in St. Petersburg, if you like baseball.

It's a different vibe than Caribbean beaches that are mostly resorts. More like going to Outer Banks or Delaware but with MUCH better oceanfront.

[Anonymous]

I love Fort de Soto.

[Anonymous]

Great beaches but no. Maybe look at Tradewinds? It’s been ages since I’ve been but I think it’s pretty kid friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Clearwater beaches are pretty still though. Good for kids. I wouldn't go all the way to the Caribbean for the difference.

This is the draw for me. I love the Caribbean but we can fly to Tampa on point and get a very nice condo rental in or near St. Pete/Clearwater for $300-400 a night. It's a much cheaper vacation but you still get to relax at the beach, eat seafood, go swimming, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Clearwater beaches are pretty still though. Good for kids. I wouldn't go all the way to the Caribbean for the difference.

I would

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go to the Caribbean if the kids don't swim well. That's how I see it. You want visitors to be able to swim well and go snorkeling, diving and endure the rough waves because there are few if any lifeguards.

[Anonymous]

No, they aren’t similar at all

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for white sand beaches and calm, warm water, the Gulf Coast of Florida is about as close as you will get to that in the continental US.

So while not "comparable" to the Caribbean, exactly, it has more features of Caribbean beaches than you will find in other domestic coastal areas.

Also, I would rank these beaches above certain specific beaches in the Carribean. Not every Carribean beach is perfect white sand and perfectly clear water. Some are much nicer than others and it often depends on the specific geography of a given island and what side of the island the beach is located -- some Caribbean beaches are much nicer than others.