Clearwater Beach
Encyclopedia
Clearwater Beach is a resort area located on the Gulf of Mexico
in Pinellas County on the west central coast of Florida
in the United States
. It is a part of the city of Clearwater
. The geographic latitude is 27.57 N and longitude 82.48 W.
The average local temperature of this subtropical tourist haven is 73 degrees, with fall and spring being the most comfortable seasons.
The area is characterized by a white sand beach
stretching for 2.5 miles along the Gulf and sits on one of the county's barrier islands. It has a full marina on the Intracoastal Waterway
side and is linked on the south by a short bridge to another island called Sand Key, where on the near end is found a large public beach park, directly on the Gulf.
Sand Key Park, which closes at dark, has picnic and fishing accommodations, a nature trail, beach concession stands, and very spacious parking lots. By contrast, the main part of Clearwater Beach is so densely developed that it can be difficult to navigate by car. (Both areas have metered parking spaces; the hours of enforcement vary.) These two islands as well as the island containing the Island Estates neighborhood belong to the city of Clearwater
, whose downtown core a.k.a. "Cleveland Street District" lies a couple of miles to the east over the newly-completed Clearwater Memorial Causeway
.
Clearwater Beach is approximately 20 miles from Tampa International Airport
, 25 from Downtown Tampa
and offers such activities as parasailing, jet ski rentals, boat tours (with a common sighting of dolphins in the Gulf waters), miniature golf, fishing charters, and "pirate ship" cruises.
Pier 60, named for Florida State Road 60 which terminates here, is a central spot for beachgoers and has a playground, a snack bar with attached souvenir shop, and a long fishing pier. 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.
The Jolley Trolley bus provides transportation up and down the beach. Mandalay Avenue is the main drag on the north end of the beach with Gulfview Blvd. being so on the south. Both areas feature myriad activities and establishments.
Clearwater has been ranked one of the best beaches in the U.S.
frequently.http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Family-Lifestyle/Travel/The-10-Best-U.S.-Beaches.htmlhttp://www.travelchannel.com/Places_Trips/Travel_Ideas/Beaches/Beach_Guide/Clearwater_Florida and its Sandpearl resort was named one of the best beach resorts in the U.S.http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-beach-hotels/16 In 2009 an episode of Brooke Knows Best
was shot on the beach.http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/tourism/article1012764.ece
trees is available nearby which parallels the Clearwater Memorial Causeway to the city.
Just up the road is located the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
(home of Winter
, the bottlenose dolphin
featured in the movie Dolphin Tale), as well as a grocery store and other amenities.
In July 2008 the long-anticipated Beach Walk project was completed, featuring a compact pedestrian zone with high-end hotels and condos. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/17/171406/clearwater-beach-opens-piece-beach-walk-project/news-money/http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/see-whats-new-along-tampa-bays-beaches/1087314 The beach is also known for its nightlife scene.http://www.tampabay.com/features/consumer/area-beach-bars-offer-a-cure-for-spring-fever/1087318http://tampabay.metromix.com/facets/bars-and-clubs/loc.tampa_bay_market.pinellas_county.clearwater.clearwater_beachhttp://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/clearwater-beach/restaurants/
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
in Pinellas County on the west central coast of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a part of the city of Clearwater
Clearwater
-Places:Canada* Clearwater, British Columbia* Clearwater, Manitoba* Clearwater County, Alberta* Clear Water Academy, a private Catholic school located in Calgary, Alberta...
. The geographic latitude is 27.57 N and longitude 82.48 W.
The area is characterized by a white sand beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
stretching for 2.5 miles along the Gulf and sits on one of the county's barrier islands. It has a full marina on the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
side and is linked on the south by a short bridge to another island called Sand Key, where on the near end is found a large public beach park, directly on the Gulf.
Sand Key Park, which closes at dark, has picnic and fishing accommodations, a nature trail, beach concession stands, and very spacious parking lots. By contrast, the main part of Clearwater Beach is so densely developed that it can be difficult to navigate by car. (Both areas have metered parking spaces; the hours of enforcement vary.) These two islands as well as the island containing the Island Estates neighborhood belong to the city of Clearwater
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, whose downtown core a.k.a. "Cleveland Street District" lies a couple of miles to the east over the newly-completed Clearwater Memorial Causeway
Clearwater Memorial Causeway
The Clearwater Memorial Causeway is a four-lane road between downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, Florida, and includes a fixed-span bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway...
.
Clearwater Beach is approximately 20 miles from Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
, 25 from Downtown Tampa
Downtown Tampa
Image:Tampa_Skyline.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Downtown Tampa looking from the Hillsborough Riverpoly 2403 537 2441 500 2488 483 2516 455 2566 439 2597 410 2649 390 2682 358 2803 315 2949 342 2956 362 3068 383 3074 406 3202 431 3204 447 3332 473 3350 484 3485 1616 2446 1587 Wachovia Centerpoly 1745 1216...
and offers such activities as parasailing, jet ski rentals, boat tours (with a common sighting of dolphins in the Gulf waters), miniature golf, fishing charters, and "pirate ship" cruises.
The Jolley Trolley bus provides transportation up and down the beach. Mandalay Avenue is the main drag on the north end of the beach with Gulfview Blvd. being so on the south. Both areas feature myriad activities and establishments.
Clearwater has been ranked one of the best beaches in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
frequently.http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Family-Lifestyle/Travel/The-10-Best-U.S.-Beaches.htmlhttp://www.travelchannel.com/Places_Trips/Travel_Ideas/Beaches/Beach_Guide/Clearwater_Florida and its Sandpearl resort was named one of the best beach resorts in the U.S.http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-beach-hotels/16 In 2009 an episode of Brooke Knows Best
Brooke Knows Best
Brooke Knows Best was a VH1 reality series spin off from the hit VH1 reality program, Hogan Knows Best. The series first aired July 13, 2008...
was shot on the beach.http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/tourism/article1012764.ece
Beach Walk
Plenty of restaurants and shops can be found near the southern part of the beach, whose attractiveness was greatly improved in recent years due to a beautification project called Beach Walk. There are drinking fountains, shower nozzles for beachcombers to rinse the sand off, and bicycle racks, as part of the upgrade. Beach "renourishment" efforts such as dune restoration enhance the area's natural beauty along a wide curving sidewalk. A paved bicycle trail lined by mangroveMangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
trees is available nearby which parallels the Clearwater Memorial Causeway to the city.
Just up the road is located the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a non-profit organization in Clearwater, Florida dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals, public education, animal-assisted therapy and research....
(home of Winter
Winter (dolphin)
Winter is a bottlenose dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida, widely known for having a prosthetic tail. She is the subject of the film Dolphin Tale, a dramatization of her story. Winter was found off the coast of Florida in December 2005, caught in a crab trap, which...
, the bottlenose dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose dolphins, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Recent molecular studies show the genus contains two species, the common bottlenose dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin , instead of one...
featured in the movie Dolphin Tale), as well as a grocery store and other amenities.
In July 2008 the long-anticipated Beach Walk project was completed, featuring a compact pedestrian zone with high-end hotels and condos. http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/17/171406/clearwater-beach-opens-piece-beach-walk-project/news-money/http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/see-whats-new-along-tampa-bays-beaches/1087314 The beach is also known for its nightlife scene.http://www.tampabay.com/features/consumer/area-beach-bars-offer-a-cure-for-spring-fever/1087318http://tampabay.metromix.com/facets/bars-and-clubs/loc.tampa_bay_market.pinellas_county.clearwater.clearwater_beachhttp://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/clearwater-beach/restaurants/