Advice on Gulf Coast FL Beaches
 

Hello all! TIA for any advice!

My husband and I are thinking of heading to FL from Baltimore for a long Memorial Day Weekend (Thurs-Mon). We can get pretty cheap flights to Tampa, so were looking for a nice beach town somewhere between Clearwater and Siesta Key. We'd be renting a car. We've never been to this area of FL before, so we'd love any feedback on any good places to stay.

Obviously, with it being Memorial Day weekend, I already expect to encounter the crowds, etc. However, we'd like a beach where we can go and relax, read a book, and then check out some nice restaurants for lunch/dinner and stroll around shops. Night life isn't super important and I'd like to avoid any crazy party areas. I'll be 24 weeks pregnant, so no partying for me :) Just looking for rest and warmth!

Check out Anna Maria Island.

Thanks, AustinTraveler! Any particular reason you enjoy Anna Maria Island? I'll look into it!

Clearwater Beach is the most well known, and touristy, but I avoid that area at all cost! St Pete has the MOST laid back and beautiful beaches on this coast as far as I am concerned. Pass a Grill, Ft Desota, and St Pete Beach are favs of mine, ........(and I live here....) Enjoy!

Agree Anna Maria may be a perfect fit for you.

Relax, read a book, nice restaurants, shops. What you asked for can be found on Anna Maria.

Although we live in Naples, we recently did a long weekend in the Clearwater/Tampa/St. Pete area. I "grew up" with my summer vacations on the beaches in that area. OMG. I thought traffic was bad in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale! This was like a parking lot all the way from St. Pete Beach to Clearwater Beach. Somehow "relaxing" doesn't seem likely there. I agree with Anna Marie Island. Not a lot to do, but really laid back and gorgeous beach.

I have been both to Clearwater and Siesta, and I liked it most the latest one. The beach in Siesta is realy amazing, check entry 8 and 9 besides the most common ones. Free Parking, realy nice places.
Clearwater has really good beaches, and city is closer to Tampa, but I would take the small trip to Siesta and Sarasota