Clearwater Beach Live Cam

Exploring the Surroundings of Clearwater Beach, FL

Clearwater Beach, located on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, is world-renowned for its stunning white sands, turquoise waters, and vibrant atmosphere. However, beyond the beach’s immediate vicinity, Clearwater and its surrounding areas offer a host of attractions, natural beauty, and technical points of interest for tourists and locals alike. From marine life research to world-class parks and coastal ecosystems, Clearwater’s surroundings provide a unique mix of leisure, science, and adventure.

1. Caladesi Island State Park

Just north of Clearwater Beach lies Caladesi Island State Park, one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Florida. Accessible by ferry, kayak, or boat, Caladesi Island is a natural paradise. Its pristine beaches, maritime forests, and tidal marshes provide a rich habitat for wildlife, making it a key ecological reserve in the region. The island is also a significant research area for studying coastal erosion, mangrove ecosystems, and sea turtle conservation. A 3-mile nature trail allows visitors to explore the island’s interior, while kayaking through mangrove tunnels offers a closer look at its diverse marine and birdlife.

2. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is more than just a popular tourist attraction; it is a working marine life rescue center focused on rehabilitation, education, and research. The aquarium gained fame for being the home of Winter, the dolphin with a prosthetic tail, and its commitment to marine animal welfare has since expanded. The research facility collaborates with universities and marine biologists to study dolphin behaviors, sea turtle nesting patterns, and manatee rescue efforts. Visitors can tour the aquarium to learn about the latest advancements in marine animal prosthetics, the impacts of ocean pollution on wildlife, and the work being done to rehabilitate injured marine life.

3. Honeymoon Island State Park

A short drive from Clearwater Beach, Honeymoon Island State Park offers a more secluded beach experience along with an opportunity to explore Florida’s coastal ecosystems. Honeymoon Island features a four-mile stretch of beach and over two miles of hiking trails through pine flatwoods, where gopher tortoises, ospreys, and eagles thrive. The park plays a significant role in environmental education, providing visitors with insight into Florida’s native species and the importance of preserving these habitats. Additionally, the surrounding waters are home to a variety of fish species, making it a prime spot for fishing and snorkeling enthusiasts.

4. Pinellas Trail: Engineering Marvel & Recreation Hub

Running through Clearwater and extending to neighboring communities, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a multi-use pathway that stretches 38 miles along a former railroad corridor. This rail-to-trail conversion is an engineering success, providing a safe and scenic route for cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians. The trail connects several key points of interest, including downtown Clearwater, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs. The development of the trail not only promotes alternative transportation and sustainability but also highlights the region’s commitment to eco-friendly infrastructure.

5. Sand Key Park

Sand Key Park, located just south of Clearwater Beach, provides a contrast to the bustling tourist area. This peaceful park is divided between a beach area and a parkland area that features picnic shelters, a playground, and fishing opportunities. The beach serves as a nesting site for endangered sea turtles, and efforts to protect these nesting grounds include dune restoration and limiting artificial lighting during nesting season. Visitors can also observe various bird species, including herons and gulls, making the park a favorite spot for bird watchers. The adjacent Clearwater Pass is a popular fishing location, where anglers can catch species like snook, redfish, and trout.

6. Moccasin Lake Nature Park

For those looking to explore inland nature, Moccasin Lake Nature Park offers a 51-acre natural preserve right in the heart of Clearwater. This hidden gem provides a sanctuary for wildlife, including reptiles, birds of prey, and other native species. The park’s boardwalks take visitors through dense forests and around a small lake, offering a peaceful retreat from the beach crowds. The nature center regularly hosts educational programs about Florida’s ecosystems, conservation efforts, and the role that native plants and animals play in maintaining a healthy environment.

7. Coastal Waters and Marine Biology

The waters surrounding Clearwater Beach offer more than recreational opportunities; they are also important areas for marine biology research. Scientists from nearby universities and research institutions frequently study the coastal ecosystems of the Gulf, focusing on topics like water quality, seagrass health, and the impact of human activities on marine habitats. The Gulf of Mexico is home to various important species, including dolphins, manatees, and numerous fish species. Research into the health of coral reefs, which play a crucial role in maintaining marine biodiversity, is ongoing, with initiatives to restore damaged reefs and protect them from further degradation.

8. Safety Harbor: History and Healing Waters

A short drive east of Clearwater, Safety Harbor offers a blend of historical significance and natural beauty. The town is famous for the Espiritu Santo Springs, discovered by Spanish explorers in the 16th century and long revered for their purported healing properties. Today, the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa utilizes these natural springs, offering visitors a chance to experience their mineral-rich waters. The area around Safety Harbor is also steeped in history, with archaeological sites that provide insight into the region’s early Native American inhabitants, such as the Tocobaga people. Additionally, Philippe Park, a historical site named after Count Odet Philippe, offers stunning views of Tampa Bay and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Clearwater Beach may be the star attraction, but the surrounding areas offer a wealth of activities and points of interest that cater to diverse interests, from nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to history buffs and marine biology aficionados. The combination of beautiful landscapes, rich ecosystems, and cutting-edge scientific research makes Clearwater and its surroundings a multifaceted destination that continues to captivate visitors and residents alike.

Getting Here

Florida’s West Coast harbors the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area (also known as Pinellas County), a peninsula bordered by Tampa Bay to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west.

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is served by two north-south interstate highways -- I-75 and I-95 -- and one that crosses the state, I-4.

Boating is a significant pastime in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, and a great way to get to the destination as well. With 350 miles of shoreline, the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway, as well as Lake Seminole and 2,500-acre Lake Tarpon, there’s a lot to explore. Nearly 50 marinas line the peninsula, offering a mix of bait and tackle, gas, overnight accommodations and dining.

Neighborhoods

What are you in the mood for today? Among your choices: Moussaka in Tarpon Springs, a Renoir at St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts, open mic night in Gulfport Art Village.

Want more? Learn what gives each community its small-town charm or big-city glitter, and follow the red-dotted path on each map for fab walking tours.

St. Petersburg - Downtown St. Pete has gone chic. Start your tour on and around Beach Drive. Stay at the Renaissance Vinoy, an early 20th-century grand hotel. Meander through Straub Park, soaking up water views, then buzz into the Museum of Fine Arts. Browsers will enjoy the five-story Pier shopping center. Dislike malls? Spend your time in the myriad antiques stores and galleries lining Beach Drive.

St. Pete Beach - Your tour of St. Pete Beach starts with the Loews Don CeSar. Its pink-painted Moorish/Mediterranean architecture has, for the last seven decades or so, drawn a host of notables. Those to whom the sea calls enjoy the beach’s bounty of fishing and snorkeling charters. You’ll also find scads of gift and clothing shops.

The Hurricane Restaurant in Pass-a-Grille is especially popular for watching sunsets.

Pass-a-Grille - Pass-a-Grille sits on the southernmost tip of St. Pete Beach and offers four miles of beach. Charters are available for snorkeling trips to Shell Key barrier island. Landlubbers enjoy strolling Eighth Avenue and visiting galleries, boutiques and restaurants. The Hurricane, on Gulf Way, is the region’s premier quaffing spot. Admire Gulf views, and nosh on entrées ranging from fried grouper to New York strip steak.

Tarpon Springs - Greek, Greek, Greek. That’s this town’s history and overall vibe. When natural sponge beds were discovered offshore, Greek sponge divers flocked to the area at the turn of the last century.

Tarpon Springs - Start your visit near the waterfront. On Dodecanese Avenue, you’ll find the Tarpon Springs Aquarium (pet the baby sharks and stingrays), the Sponge-O-Rama (a kitsch theater and museum dedicated to the region’s sponging industry) and the Sponge Factory, among the largest of the roughly 12 gazillion souvenir shops selling natural sponges. (The olive oil soap the Greek ladies use, which is also sold at most gift shops, is terrific.) You’ll find a plethora of Greek restaurants on this strip. The fried calamari at Hella’s is a personal fave. Downtown, on Tarpon Avenue, check out the antiques stores. At the Court of Two Sisters, more than 30 dealers sell antiques and collectibles.

Small-town gems:

• Belleair Beach is a residential hamlet consisting of roughly 55 homes and no businesses. Beachgoers will find four public beach-access points.
• Indian Shores is home to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, one of the largest not-for-profit bird hospitals in the United States. (Its goal is to re-introduce injured birds into the wild.) Tours are available.
• At only one square mile, Kenneth City is the smallest incorporated community in Pinellas County, hence the hometown feel.
• In Largo, you’ll find Pinewood Cultural Park, home to Heritage Village, the Florida Botanical Gardens and the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. Heritage Village is a perennial favorite. The 182-acre Florida Botanical Gardens, meanwhile, serves up wetlands, rose beds and a tropical walk.
• You can’t visit Madeira Beach without a stop at the nautically themed John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk. An outdoor shopping and dining venue, it boasts more than 100 stores and restaurants, many sporting tin roofs and featuring water views. Spot dolphins and other Florida fauna on a water sightseeing tour.
• North Redington Beach is a barrier island, primarily residential, but popular with visitors for its mile-long stretch of white sand and the Doubletree Beach Resort Tampa Bay.
• Oldsmar is named for Ranson Eli Oldsmar, inventor of the Oldsmobile and REO cars.