BEACHES VisitSPC.com/ClearwaterBeach CLE ARWATER BEACH Kick back along a lapping surf. Sink your toes in sugary sand. Little ones in tow? They can swim safely in the usually gentle waters at Clearwater Beach , a sparkly hub for fun for all ages. Stroll along Mandalay Avenue and Gulf Boulevard , indulging in a variety of eats, treats and much-needed retail therapy. Add some amusements and aquatic sports, and you have more than enough to fill a vacation and keep coming back for more. RECENT BUZZ: No. 1 beach in Florida and No. 2 in the U.S. by Tripadvisor in 2026, and USA Today recently named it the “Best Beach in the South.” WHERE TO STAY: Location meets luxury at the ChartHouse Clearwater Beach Marina Hotel , where you can pamper yourself with “a rain spa.” Families love the Sandpearl Resort and its zero-entry pool, and the Wyndham Grand near the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise . WHERE TO PLAY: Head to Clearwater Watersports for sightseeing tours, floating Tiki bars, Jet Skis and jet cars, the latest craze in water recreation: a hollowed-out sports car-turned-Jet Ski-like vessel. The nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 event is a twilight tradition with entertainers and vendors. The pier is also a favorite Florida spot for fishing, extending almost a quarter-mile into the Gulf. WHAT LOCALS KNOW: Crabby’s Beachside Pavilion is a new go-to in North Clearwater, where residents go for a more mellow beach stroll. BEST BEACH St. Pete Beach/ CLEARWATER BEACH/ SAND KEY Treasure Island/Sunset Beach Indian Rocks Beach/ Madeira Beach Indian Shores Pass-a-Grille Beach Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival 22 AMERICA’S FAVORITE BEACHES
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