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I have to go to a meeting in Tampa, and wanted to book a romantic pre-meeting weekend on the gulf shore. Any recommendations as to which beaches are nicest, the two I have looked at are St. Pete and Clearwater. I'll have a rental car so don't mind doing a reasonable drive to get there from tampa airport. Also places to stay that are nice but reasonably priced.
I spent part of my childhood summers on Anna Maria Island, about an hour's drive south of Tampa (including the incredible highway 19 bridge). We would stay at some motel in Holmes Beach, now called the Anna Maria Island Beach Resort. It was a great beach, not many waves, and I loved the long pier. There were often dolphins and manatees swimming around people there.
That's a really long time ago, though, maybe development has taken over. (Really long time, like 15 years. Not 50. But still.)
And the sunsets.
Here's a photo of the pier:
http://www.annamariaislandbeachresor...s/DSC_0062.jpg
*sigh*
I grew up in Talahassee and I like the beaches closest to there. At least 30 years ago they were uncrowded and undeveloped. Especially Alligator point.