Enjoy the Best of the Gulf Coast in Clearwater Beach, Florida
A Clearwater Beach vacation can be just the right medicine for the winter doldrums.
Located on a small peninsula on the west coast of the Sunshine State, Clearwater Beach, Florida is consistently rated among the top beaches in the area.
Often paired with neighboring St. Petersburg, the Clearwater area consists of more than 35 miles of sandy, white beaches located on eight major barrier islands.
Location, Location, Location
The sunny beaches of Clearwater and St. Petersburg are situated in one of Florida's premiere locations, nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the Tampa Bay. That means you'll enjoy vast recreational and sporting activities, especially on the water.
A Clearwater Beach vacation also puts you within reasonable proximity of some of Florida's other premiere attractions. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is just a 30-minute drive. You can be in Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in just 90 minutes and you won't have to deal with the crowds in the Orlando area when you stay in beautiful Clearwater and drive to Disney.
The Best Beaches
A number of beaches in the Clearwater Beach area have often been voted among the top in the country by a variety of media, including travel magazines, travel television, and independent researchers.
On several occasions, Clearwater Beach has been touted as the number one city beach on the Gulf Coast. Along this beach you'll find a family recreation complex, playgrounds, plenty of concession stands, and areas for fishing.
The beach on beautiful Caladesi Island is perfect for both families and adventures. In this state park, you'll find areas ideal for swimming, shelling, fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving, as well as a 3-mile nature trail that winds through the interior of the island.
Probably the most highly-acclaimed of the beaches in the area, Fort DeSoto Beach is a must on your next Clearwater Beach vacation. Here you'll find seven miles of beaches and nine-hundred acres to explore.
You'll also find an old fort from the Spanish-American War, concession stands, camping areas, picnic shelters, bathroom facilities, and two fishing piers. It's a great family beach for swimming and it also offers a biking and skating trail as well. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent at Fort DeSoto Beach and Park, too.
Activities
It goes without saying that water sports are king here in Clearwater Beach. Besides swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving, you may also want to try your hand at parasailing, wind surfing, or high-flyin' jet skiing.
For golf fanatics, however, Clearwater is one of the top areas on the west coast of Florida. More than four dozen golf courses are located here, many built by world-famous golf architects and home to national or international competitions.
If you're an angler, you'll have a ball here. Go fly fishing for tarpon or board one of the many charters available for some wonderful deep-sea fishing. Experienced guides will lead you to the perfect place for your catch-of-the-day.
Sports
This region of Florida is home to a number of professional sports teams, mainly located in Tampa. You can watch the Devil Rays play baseball or the Buccaneers toss around the football.
In the spring, Clearwater is the training ground for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nearby Tampa hosts the New York Yankees and Dunedin is the spring home of the Toronto BlueJays.
Getting There
It's quite simple to get to your Clearwater Beach vacation destination by air. The area is home to two international airports: Tampa and St. Petersburg-Clearwater. The latter usually has smaller crowds and lesser airfares but both are convenient to the beaches and other area attractions.
Watch out for hurricane season! The Gulf Coast experiences a few lashings each year from hurricanes that brush the west coast of Florida. If you're planning a trip to Clearwater Beach between August and October, keep your eye on the weather map.