Know Before You Go: About Clearwater
Say “ahoy” to your mates in Clearwater on Florida’s Gulf Coast!
Good times await in a welcoming “Old Florida” community with inviting sands and water. Its beach and community consistently earn accolades, including “Best Beach Town in Florida” from a USA Today readers' poll. To give you an idea of how much fun you can look forward to in Clearwater—the Tampa Bay Times dubbed it the "Disney World of Beaches." Pack your flip flops and sunscreen for some fun under the Florida sun in Clearwater.
Warm and Mostly Clear Sailing in Clearwater
The subtropical climate delivers year-round warm temperatures with the "coldest" daytime temperatures in January, averaging 71. Most of the annual 74 inches of rain falls in summer, which is refreshing on August’s 90-degree days. In summer, you’ll likely need nothing more than a swimsuit because temps average the same as the typical indoor swimming pool—84 to 86. January through April's ocean temperatures average 68, so bring a wet suit or swim shirt if you plan to spend extended time in the water.
Fun, Fun, Fun
Frolic with friends at Clearwater Beach where white sand gently slopes into gentle waves back-dropped by turquoise, crystal clear water. Sail out to sea on a Little Toot dolphin tour, where the tugboat shape creates a big wake that has dolphins jumping for joy. Safety netting on the deck’s railing allows you to fully appreciate the dolphin’s antics without worrying about accidentally joining them. As the sun begins to sink, walk the shoreline to Pier 60. Be mesmerized by the colorful sunset and showmanship of craftsmen and crafty entertainers in the nightly festival. By the light of day, it’s “Yo Ho Hos” on Captain Memo’s Cruise on which kids engage in mutinous water fights and grownups hide out on the Poop Deck, fortified with tropical concoctions and calypso.
Cruisin' Clearwater
Dart around Clearwater in A Fun Ride Rental’s street-legal Scoot Coup. Or rent a surrey built for two—or six—and pedal Beach Walk, Clearwater’s artistically landscaped promenade. Go on an island safari with your friends on the Caladesi Island Ferry, which takes you to the state park island of the same name; join a mangrove kayak tour, search for shells on deserted beaches, and view gopher tortoises and other wildlife. Back at Clearwater Beach, focus on your friends instead of hassling with hard-to-find parking. For a nominal fee, relax on the polished wooden seats of the Jolly Trolley, leaving the driving—and parking—to its concierge driver. Or call Florida Free Rides for an open-air, electric taxi that costs nothing but a tip. Clearwater is about a 35-minute drive on SR60 West from the Tampa International Airport.
In the Business of Entertaining You
Clearwater's main industry, hospitality/tourism puts beauty front and center. Even kitschy places the pro wrestler-owned Hogan’s Beach Shop with his hulking, tanned, chest-baring statue emit an artistic sense. Of Florida’s 100 million annual vacationers, the midsize city attracts 4 million. You’ll feel welcome here—from the friendly, concierge drivers to the Pier 60 nightly festival—to the down-home hospitality of the mom-and-pop venues in the old neighborhoods of Clearwater.
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An escape to this year-round recreation destination will make for a great time.
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