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Which beach in the Clearwater St Petersburg area is the best beach? This cannot be answered because it depends on what you are looking for in a beach. This is why we are letting you know what the best beaches are in Clearwater and St Petersburg area based on what you want in a beach. Some think of going to the beach to relax, some like to party, some like water sports, the beach can serve many purposes. With all of these beaches being on the west coast of Florida, they all make for great views of sunsets. Lets take a look further into each beach and see which beach to go to for vacation crowds, relaxing, bringing the dog, partying, and fishing.
Best Public Beach – If you like beaches with large crowds to meet new people and that are lined with hotels, restaurants, and beach stores, Clearwater Beach is the best beach in the area. Clearwater Beach is on an island just west of Clearwater and offers a lot to do without leaving the island. This beach does get crowded during peak season and is a popular spring break destination so it is a good place to meet people looking to have fun. There is Pier 60 which is a great place to watch the sunset as well as shop and be entertained at the daily sunset festival. You can enjoy water sports such as parasailing, jet skiing, and take a cruise on a pirate ship. Finding restaurants or shopping in Clearwater Beach will be as easy as taking a stroll down the strip. All this makes Clearwater Beach the Best Public Beach.
Best Relaxing Beach – Some people like to go to the beach to lay out and enjoy the natural scenery of a beach and Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island are the best for this. These beaches have not been developed so you can enjoy the natural beauty of the beach and what it has to offer. Honeymoon Island is accessible by car, however, Caladesi Island is only accessible via water transportation. If you do not have your own boat, you can take the Caladesi Island Ferry or rent a watercraft such as a kayak, sailboat, boat, and many other watercrafts in order to see the natural Caladesi Island beach. Since these beaches have had their natural beauty preserved and are part of the Florida State Parks, they are a favorite among locals who wish to enjoy the beach without all the crowds that are attrached to more commercialized beaches. These are the reasons that Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island are the Best Relaxing Beach.
Best Dog Beach – There are times when you want to take “mans best friend” with you to the beach and not all beaches are dog friendly. The best dog beach in Clearwater St Pete area is a beach that offers much more than just a dog beach, Fort De Soto Park. Historic Ft De Soto is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located on an island off the coast of St Pete Beach. There are many things this beach is known for like the camp ground, trails for walking, biking, roller blading, and more, the bird watching sanctuary, canoe trails, grill and picnic areas, and of course the old historic fort that you can walk through. So with all this you may wonder why it is the best dog beach. Fort DeSoto Dog Park offers two very large fenced in areas (one for small dogs and one for large dogs) that offer excellent ammenities such as the washing station. There is also a large unfenced beach area where dogs can rome off their leash on the beach. This dog park and beach area is well maintained and allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of the beach with your dog. Ft De Soto Park can rank top for many beach categories but it definitely is the Best Dog Beach in the Clearwater St Pete area.
Best Party Beach – Some people like to hit the beach and party like a rock star. The best beach for partying in the Clearwater St Pete area is Treasure Island. While Clearwater Beach does have some great spots to party like Shephards Beach Resort and is a spring break destination, Treasure Island offers a lot of great spots to enjoy a cocktail on the beach. Some of the favorite beach spots people like to go where they can dig their toes in the sand while drinking an adult cocktail are Caddy’s on the Beach and Undertow Beach Bar. These places get packed with partiers who want to have fun in the sun and this is why Treasure Island is the Best Party Beach.
Best Fishing Beach – Ok, so maybe this isn’t a “beach” where you can dip your feet in the water but to get good finishing you have to go a little off shore anyways. For those who do not have a boat to go fishing, the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers are the best places to go fishing. There are two piers, one that starts and the north side and the other on the south side, and they are the world’s longest fishing piers! The piers used to be the bridge that connected Pinellas County to Manatee County until the Skyway Bridge took its place. The center of the bridge was demolished to create these two piers and the rubble from the center was strategically placed along the piers to create artificial reefs and attract some great fish. Each pier has a Skyway Pier Baitshop where you can get your fishing pass, rent rods, and bait. This makes it easy to fish even for those who don’t fish often because you don’t need a license as the pass for the pier is all you need. All of this makes the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Piers the Best Fishing Beach in the Clearwater St Pete area.
While all the local Clearwater and St Petersburg beaches offer something unique and are enjoyed by many, the beaches listed above are the best for the respective categories. Next time you are heading out to the beach, think about why you are going to the beach and try one of these beaches.
