Best thing, all the properties skirt the beach or the backwaters of Clearwater Bay. Newer high-rises like the Sandpearl and Hyatt Regency resorts provide aerial views of the Gulf and its shoreline.
#TROPIX CLEARWATER BEACH FULL#
But you’ll also find condos and ultra-luxurious resorts replete with heavenly spas, fine dining and suites with full kitchens for a weekend or extended-stay. Humble little bungalows, charming cottages and mid-century motels verging on historic add charm to this beach town. “Electric Slide,” anyone? 6 Resorts of all Sorts Take in the sunset at Tommy’s Tiki Bar at the Hilton Clearwater Beach, then dance the night away at Shephard’s Backyard Tiki Bar, where live reggae and rock bands occasionally jam an ’80s tune or two. Clearwater has the beach and vibe that’s perfect for tiki bars, and there are plenty beach-bum spots to indulge in libations. Nothing says you’re in a tropical locale better than your toes planted firmly in the sand with a frosty cocktail-umbrella optional-in hand and the thatched roof of a tiki hut overhead. Parents with youngsters in tow find magicians and balloon artists to keep the little ones enthralled. Live bands and street performers, from fire eaters to break dancers, entertain while vendors sell everything from handcrafted jewelry to artsy photos of the pier. However, the best time to visit the pier is at dusk, when sunset celebrations happen nightly. Nature lovers find this to be a good perch for spotting brown pelicans, long-legged waterfowl and an occasional dolphin. A bait house rents fishing gear and sells live bait so even if you didn’t plan ahead, you can cast a line. With 1,080 feet jutting into the Gulf of Mexico, this public pier is populated with fishermen and sightseers. Pier 60 is the heartbeat of Clearwater Beach. Anyone looking to rub elbows with the locals can head south and cross the bridge over Clearwater Pass to Sand Key, a more residential barrier island with a park and beach. But for those in search of a little solitude, undeveloped Caldas Island sits just north of Clearwater Beach here you can walk hours without seeing nary a soul. Nearby restrooms and turtle-topped showers let you leave the sand at the beach.
#TROPIX CLEARWATER BEACH PLUS#
Concessionaires sell ice cream and rent water-sports equipment, plus there’s a large beachfront playground to keep kids busy. 3 Find Your Beach StyleĬlear, shallow waters and super-observant lifeguards make Clearwater Beach ideal for families. On land, follow the growing trail of dolphin sculptures created by local artists, starting with the blue-and-silver sculpted wire trio near Clearwater’s landmark Pier 60, the gem-covered Jewel dolphin sculpture in the Hilton Clearwater Beach’s lobby, and Rush, Palm Pavilion Inn’s dolphin decked out in straw hat and tropical shirt.
Daily boat excursions from the municipal marina take passengers out in open water, creating dolphin-attracting wakes. 2 Dolphins by Land and Seaįollow the squeals of delight and chances are your fellow beachgoers have spotted one or more frolicking dolphin just offshore.
Cross over and the street is lined with swimwear boutiques, open-air cafes, bicycles shops and a marina, making this a great beach town where there’s more to do than just hang out on the sand. The 2008 beautification project introduced wide curvy sidewalks, sand dunes and tropical landscaping along the beach side of Gulf View Blvd. But what really earns it a ranking as one of Florida’s ultimate beach towns is its pedestrian-friendly Beach Walk. Its 2.5 miles of white sandy beach and its average temperature of 73 degrees make it an attractive year-round destination. 1 The Ultimate Beach TownĬlearwater Beach sits on a barrier island sandwiched between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico about half way up Florida’s peninsula. Recently named USA Today’s 2013 “Best Beach Town in Florida,” Clearwater Beach is an everyman’s place and a microcosm of the world, from bankers to bikers, lawmakers to laborers. With its laid-back, come as you are style, this Gulf of Mexico tropical island is super chill, friendly and continually receives kudos as one of the best beaches in the country. Clearwater Beach is the hippy to its tri-city sisters Tampa and St.