Clearwater Beach is situated on a barrier island approximately 20 miles from Tampa International Airport and 25 miles from downtown Tampa. It includes a resort area and a residential area on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County on the west central coast of Florida, just west over the Intracoastal Waterway by way of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway from the city of Clearwater.
Clearwater Beach is characterized by white sand beaches stretching for 2.5 miles along the Gulf. It has a full marina on the Intracoastal Waterway side and is linked on the south by a short bridge to another barrier island called Sand Key, where Sand Key Park is located.
The area offers shopping, restaurants, and activities such as parasailing, jet ski rentals, boat tours, fishing charters, and "pirate ship" cruises.
Clearwater Beach has frequently been ranked one of the best beaches in the United States. Its Sandpearl resort was named one of the best beach resorts in the U.S. In January 2013, Clearwater Beach was awarded the designation of Florida's Best Beach Town by a USA Today reader poll ranking 10 Florida beach destinations. In February 2019, Clearwater Beach was named the best beach in the United States and sixth-best in the world by TripAdvisor.
Pier 60, named for State Road 60 which terminates in Clearwater Beach, is a central spot for beachgoers and has a playground, a snack bar with attached souvenir shop, and a long fishing pier. There are professional entertainers who perform on the pier every day, along with children's acts. It's the site of a daily event called Sunsets at Pier 60, which includes street performers and musical acts. On the pier itself is a nightly display of goods sold by local artisans such as jewelry, candles, and other gift items.
Numerous restaurants and shops can be found adjacent to the beach, whose attractiveness was greatly improved in recent years with a beautification project called Beach Walk. The Beach Walk is located just south of Pier 60. There are drinking fountains, shower nozzles for beachcombers to rinse the sand off, and bicycle racks, as part of the upgrade. It also is a great spot for fishing. Beach "renourishment" efforts such as dune restoration enhance the area's natural beauty along a wide curving sidewalk. In addition, directly across from the pier is the Clearwater Municipal Marina, which offers deep sea fishing and boating activities for visitors. The beach is also known for its nightlife scene.
Caladesi Island offers one of the few untouched pristine beaches in Florida, which is why it’s regularly recognized as one of the world’s best. It’s a short ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park or accessible by kayak or personal boat.
Showcasing a hefty, sandy beach with plentiful parking, Sand Key Park has all the amenities needed for a great family outing with a multi-million-dollar view. Beach cabanas, large bathhouses, a dog park, a playground and seasonal lifeguards are just a few of the facilities you’ll find.
Photo: Slapp9 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
