Clearwater Beach has that signature super-fine, sugar-white sand, which is special, but you can actually find that (or something close to it) at various other spots on the gulf. What truly separates Clearwater Beach from others is how well the city maintains it. “It’s raked every single day, very early in the morning, and it’s pristine in terms of cleanliness, too.
Lined by a boardwalk, Clearwater Beach was built around the idea of being accessible to pedestrians. “Pier 60, the long concrete pier that extends into the gulf, is the center of it all, and Sandpearl sits on the north side of it, while Opal Sands is on the south side,” says Cimney, director of sales & marketing for Opal Sands Resort and Sandpearl Resort. “In general, though, wherever you’re coming from, the beach itself is so easy to access, whether by car, trolley, or water taxi,” Not to mention, the boardwalk is lined with restaurants, shops, and vendors.
In addition to being open to the public for strolling, fishing, and sightseeing, Pier 60 is also known for its daily evening sunset celebrations, which boasts an open-and-airy carnival-like atmosphere frequented by street performers, musicians, and local artists selling their pieces. Families especially love the location’s summer Sunset Cinema series, celebrating its tenth year showing free outdoor movies every weekend year-round, right beside the water.
Sunsets in Key West’s Mallory Square are legendary, but they’re also a big deal in Clearwater Beach. While many enjoy them during the Pier 60 nightly sunset celebration, for guests of Sandpearl, there’s another primo place to take in the cotton-candy skies. “Sandpearl has this ritual, where the moment the sun touches the horizon, our turtle mascot, Ridley, rings our special sunset bell on the beach,” says Cimney. “But he also regularly selects other visitors or children to take on the sacred honor.”
According to visitstpeteclearwater.com; opalunpacked.com. Source of photos: internet
