Clearwater Hotel Guide

This popular resort city, known for its sunshine and hospitality, offers a family atmosphere and fantastic amenities at affordable prices.

Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater is one of the 26 diverse communities on the Pinellas Suncoast that comprise the premier vacation destination known as Florida's Beach. A sprawling city with a quaint downtown and many small shopping plazas, Clearwater is 12 miles north of St. Petersburg.

For visitors and locals alike, the main attractions are the warm ocean surf and sugary sand of the beaches along the barrier islands offshore. Clearwater Beach, part of the city, is connected to the mainland by the two-mile-long Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

Clearwater Beach is the No. 1-rated city beach in the Gulf of Mexico region, according to the annual survey conducted by noted coastal geologist Dr. Stephen Leatherman, also known as "Dr. Beach."

Because of the calmness and warmness of the Gulf, families can enjoy activities in the water year-round. You can have fun swimming, sailing, shelling, windsurfing, jet skiing, and parasailing. Other marine activities include deep sea fishing, backwater salt flats fishing, canoeing, sea kayaking, and scuba diving.

Pier 60 Park (across the street from the Clearwater Municipal Marina) on Clearwater Beach is a great place for family fun. Overlooking the water under shaded pavilions is a huge playground and water fountains for kids to play in. As the sun dips into the sea, the Pier at sunset becomes a street festival filled with jugglers, clowns, magicians, musicians, and local artisans selling handmade items such as oil-dipped candles and shell necklaces.

After the sun falls, try the world-famous grouper sandwiches at the casual beachfront Frenchy's Rockaway Grill. To work it off, take a moon nature walk on the beach near Frenchy's with the It's Our Nature group. Or, if you're in the mood for romance, take a champagne evening cruise. If you're feeling lucky, climb aboard the SunCruz Casino docked at Clearwater Bay Marina for dinner, dancing, and Caribbean stud poker.

During the day, Sea Life Safari Cruises are available at the marina. Affiliated with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the two-hour cruises are guided by a marine biologist and allow guests to touch sea horses, crabs, and sea urchins, as well as visit bird sanctuaries and look for shells on a barrier island.

The Clearwater Ferry Service, also at the marina, offers visitors an opportunity to view dolphins and feed seabirds. As you can see, there are plenty of fun things to try on Florida's Beach. It's relatively easy to get around, although traffic can be quite slow along some routes.

Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, or State Road 60, is the main artery through Clearwater. The city grew along U.S. Highway 19, a very heavily traveled road that can't handle the volume of present-day traffic. Gulf Boulevard, 25 miles long, is the major road to get along the gulf beaches. Also known as County Road 699, the boulevard is home to many of the area's hotels and restaurants. Gulf Boulevard, which ends at Clearwater Beach, is four lanes most of the way. Traffic slows to a crawl during the tourist season, especially when the drawbridges that connect the mainland to the beaches are up for boats passing through.

A striking roundabout with 33-foot waterfalls marks the entrance to Clearwater Beach. Opened in January 2000, it is the source of some traffic confusion. Many drivers have said the posted signs are not clear. City officials advise drivers who can't safely exit from the inside lane of the roundabout to "smile, go around, and try again."

Driving is the main mode of transportation because there is very little public transit. There are plenty of places to rent a car, including the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport and Tampa International Airport. It's easy to rent a taxi or limo. Your hotel can help you get a car or taxi.

Clearwater has lodging options galore. Many visitors prefer to get a room directly on the beach. Gulf Boulevard and Gulfview Boulevard are your best bets for direct beach access. U.S. Highway 19 is studded with hotels to fit a variety of needs, especially for travelers watching their budget. For those who would like to stay close to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport, just a few miles from Clearwater's downtown and beaches, busy Ulmerton Road offers several choices.

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