| Long considered one of the Best Beaches, Florida's | | | | (2009) by TripAdvisor. Citing a "spectacular |
| Clearwater Beach is perhaps the busiest on the gulf | | | | combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water and |
| coast. It is 3 miles long and broad, and you can walk | | | | a laid-back atmosphere," the popular online travel |
| from one end to the other. Its soft, powdery white | | | | network put the park's North Beach at the top of its |
| quartz sand attracts locals, tourists and its fair share of | | | | annual best-of list. In 2005 Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, |
| spring breakers. Watersports like jet skiing, parasailing | | | | a.k.a. "Dr. Beach," named Fort De Soto the nation's #1 |
| and water biking are popular. Clearwater Beach has | | | | Bch. |
| something for everyone. Dinner cruises and Pirate | | | | Pass-a-Grille Beach |
| Cruises are a fun diversion and if you must bring your | | | | Location: 1000 Pass-a-Grille Way, Pass-a-Grille |
| laptop, there's free Wi-Fi access. | | | | Phone: 727-367-2735 Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| Two favorite Clearwater Beach restaurants are Bob | | | | Parking: metered $1-$1.25/hour |
| Heilman's Beachcomber and Bobby's Bistro & | | | | Amenities: 1 mile long, concessions, playground, picnic |
| Wine Bar located next door to one another on | | | | areas, restrooms and showers. Handicapped |
| Mandalay Avenue in North Clearwater Beach. The | | | | accessible & handicapped wheechairs (call |
| Beachcomber is a Clearwater Beach tradition since | | | | 727-367-8300) |
| 1948. A free bottle of wine with dinner for two from | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, walking, sunbathing |
| their world class wine cellar is yours with a certificate | | | | Pets: no |
| from The Florida Beach Book. | | | | Of Special Interest: Relax and take in beautiful sunsets, |
| A favorite Clearwater Beach hotel is the Sandpearl | | | | and discover the historic charm of this Old Florida |
| Resort. There are plenty of affordable Clearwater | | | | fishing community. You won't find any high rise hotels, |
| Beach motels, inns and condos to choose from as | | | | just a wide open bch. Located on the southern tip of |
| well. The southern end of Clearwater Bch is chock full | | | | Long Key, Pass-A-Grille features restaurants, small |
| of hotels, restaurants and resorts. There's nightlife, | | | | inns and eclectic shops. Historic 8th Avenue contains |
| shopping and plenty to do. Pier 60 is an event in and of | | | | the oldest dwellings on the Pinellas bchs, and one of |
| itself! Every night at Sunset join the party (modeled | | | | the largest Historic Districts on the Gulf Coast. |
| after Key West's sunset event) with entertainers, | | | | Treasure Island Park |
| artists and craftspeople. | | | | Location: 10400 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island |
| Clearwater Beach is located in Pinellas County which is | | | | Phone: 727-547-4575 Treasure Island |
| home to Clearwater, the county seat, St. Petersburg | | | | Hours: sunrise to sunset |
| & Tarpon Springs. The county is located on a | | | | Parking: metered $1-$1.25/hour |
| narrow 280 square mile peninsula with the Gulf on one | | | | Amenities: 2 miles long, concessions, handicapped |
| side and Tampa Bay on the other. It is one of three | | | | accessibility & handicapped wheelchairs, picnic |
| counties that make up "Greater Tampa Bay." | | | | areas, restrooms, showers, volleyball courts |
| Pinellas County offers 35 miles of white-sand bchs on | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing, jet skiing, |
| 20 barrier islands. 1 or 2 of them frequently wind up on | | | | volleyball, surfing, sunset watching |
| noteworthy Best Beach Lists! | | | | Pets: no |
| Want to check out the area but tired of walking? Just | | | | Of Special Interest: On a two mile stretch of this large |
| hop on the trolley and it will take you there! From north | | | | bch, visitors can fly kites, rent jet skis, or play on one of |
| to south and all the stops in between, from Clearwater | | | | the dozens of volleyball courts. Accommodations of all |
| Bch to Pass-A-Grille in St. Pete Bch, the trolley stops | | | | sizes and price ranges dot the bch, and nearby bistros |
| at every beach and town in between. | | | | provide a great place to recharge. Treasure Island's |
| Here are some specifics on Clearwater Beach from | | | | wide bch and family friendly accommodations have |
| The Florida Beach Book, along with a few others in | | | | made it a prime vacation destination for multiple |
| the county: | | | | generations. |
| Clearwater Beach | | | | Treasure Island Beach (Access) |
| Location: west on U.S. 60. The municipal bch is located | | | | Location: 100th Avenue & Gulf Blvd. |
| on the southern half of Clearwater Bch between the | | | | Phone: 727.549.6165 Pinellas County |
| Clearwater Pass jetty to the south and Avalon Ave. | | | | Hours:sunrise to sunset |
| to the north. | | | | Parking: metered $1-$1.25/hour |
| Phone: 727-562-4800 | | | | Amenities: restrooms and showers, biking/jogging path |
| Website: | | | | Activities: swimming, sunbathing, biking, jogging, walking, |
| Hours: 24 hours | | | | surfing |
| Parking: metered lots/streets, $.75-$2.00/hour | | | | Pets: no |
| Amenities: 3 miles of white sand, concessions, | | | | John's Pass Beach and Park |
| showers, restrooms, cabana, umbrella and watercraft | | | | Location: Gulf Blvd. @129th St., Madeira Beach |
| rentals, volleyball courts, showers, playground, Pier 60 | | | | Phone: 727-391-9951 |
| fishing pier, picnic shelters, grills | | | | Hours: 6 AM to midnight |
| Activities: swimming, volleyball, fishing, sunbathing, | | | | Parking: metered, $1/hour |
| walking, shelling, surfing | | | | Amenities: 500 feet of beachfront, restrooms, |
| Pets: no | | | | showers, picnic tables, jetty, handicapped access |
| Of Special Interest: Pier 60 is open 24 hours and is | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing |
| located ½ mile north of Clearwater | | | | Pets: No |
| Pass."Sunsets at Pier 60" are every evening, starting | | | | Of Special Interest: on Sand Key, which is 14 miles long |
| two hours before sunset. Modeled after Mallory | | | | and extends from John's Pass to Clearwater Pass. |
| Square in Key West, you can join local artists, | | | | Kitty Stuart Park |
| craftspeople and performers at this famous landmark. | | | | Location: Gulf Blvd. @ 140th-141st Avenues, Madeira |
| Pier 60 has restaurants, shopping and concessions on | | | | Beach |
| and around it as well as bait and tackle shop and rod | | | | Phone: 727-391-9951Hours: 6 AM to 10 PM |
| rentals. | | | | Parking: limited metered, $1/hour |
| Beach Walk is a winding beachside promenade with | | | | Amenities: shower, picnic table |
| lush landscaping, artistic touches and clear views to | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing |
| Clearwater's award-winning bch and the water | | | | Pets: no |
| beyond, a place where bicyclists, rollerbladers and | | | | Madeira Beach |
| pedestrians all have safe and convenient access and | | | | Location: Gulf Blvd. @ 144th Avenue, Madeira Beach |
| where visitors and locals can socialize, dine, play | | | | Phone: 727-391-9951 |
| games, or simply enjoy the spectacular sun and surf. | | | | Hours: 6 AM to midnight |
| Fort De Soto Park | | | | Parking: limited metered, $1/hour |
| Location: 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde | | | | Amenities: 3.5 miles long, rental concessions, restrooms, |
| Phone: 727-893-9185 Pinellas County | | | | showers |
| Hours: sunrise to sunset | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, sunbathing, surfing |
| Parking: free | | | | Pets: no |
| Amenities: this park consists of 1,136 acres made up of | | | | Redington Shores Beach |
| five interconnected islands. It has over 7 miles of | | | | Location: 18200 Gulf Blvd., Redington Shores, Sand |
| waterfront, including almost three miles of the finest | | | | Key |
| white sand bch in the United States, an 800-foot-long | | | | Phone: 727-397-5538 Redington Shores Town Hall |
| boat launching facility with eleven floating docks and a | | | | Hours: 7 AM to dark |
| 238-site family camping area with facilities including | | | | Parking: metered, $1/hour |
| picnic tables, grills, water, electricity, washers, dryers, | | | | Amenities: 3.5 acre park with 1 mile of beachfront, |
| sanitary disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, | | | | restrooms, showers, handicapped accessibile |
| play areas, and a camp store. Two large swim | | | | Activities: swimming, fishing, shelling |
| centers including a food concession area located at | | | | Pets: no |
| the North Bch Swim Center. It has two fishing piers | | | | If a Clearwater Beach vacation is in your future, |
| with food and bait concessions. Restrooms, picnic | | | | another popular choice in a hotel is the Sheraton Sand |
| shelters, snack bar, recreation trail, nature trails, canoe | | | | Key Resort. And athough it's not techincally one of the |
| trail and a dog park complete the picture! | | | | Clearwater Beach restaurants, Gulf Bistro in Madeira |
| Activities: swimming, fishing, boating, camping, hiking, | | | | Beach is well worth your time. It's a quaint French |
| walking, biking, in-line skating | | | | restaurant with very reasonable prices. A gift |
| Pets: yes, in designated areas | | | | certificate for Gulf Bistro can be found in the Florida |
| Of Special Interest: Fort De Soto Park was named | | | | Beach Book. |
| America's Top Bch for the second consecutive year | | | | |