Clearwater Beach is located on an isthmus west of downtown Clearwater. A 40-minute drive from the airport, and you find yourself on the best white-sand beaches. The beaches are clean, but you need to pay for parking if you are going to spend some time strolling along. There are plenty of fun and tasty restaurants on Gulfview Blvd. It’s a bonus f you stay in a hotel along the beach. Venture out at dusk when Pier 60 comes alive with music and street vendors displaying all their crafts. We enjoyed taking a long walk along the beach and then relax listening to the many bands in the large gazebo. There are all sorts of vendors and very talented locals. Clearwater has many of the popular water sports which are located either on the beach or at major hotels. A fun pirate ships sails throughout the day. We enjoyed seeing dolphins in the bay having dinner. Of course the sunsets are beautiful. What more could you ask for a beach front haven?
We spent an afternoon at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay. They have a great collection of sea dragons (sea horses). You can touch manta rays and watch the volunteer tank cleaners give a presentation on aquatic life. There are beautiful natural corals and a fun kids' playground with misters when it gets too hot to be outside.
If you are a Cincinnati Reds fan, visit their summer camp at either the old stadium located a short distance from downtown Clearwater or the newer facilities located about 10 miles east of downtown close to the highway. Either way, baseball is very enjoyable in either facility.
Take a drive south to St. Petersburg. There are many public beaches along the way; however, not all of them are white sand. Most are crushed shell and tough on sensitive feet. Stop at John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk in Madeira Beach. It is an old fishing village that now hosts a large boardwalk, unique shopping, and restaurants. It’s a close drive from Clearwater.
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Driving is a necessity from the Tampa Bay Int'l Airport. Once you get to Clearwater Beach, you can walk the short distances between hotels and activities.