Everything Under the Sun
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WELCOME TO & its island beaches OFFICIAL CLEARWATER, FLORIDA VISITOR GUIDE 2011 everything under the sun www.visitclearwaterflorida.com 1 www.visitclearwaterflorida.com CALL TOLL FREE 7 DAYS A WEEK From USA: 1-800-237-5960 Canada: 1-800-523-3091 United Kingdom: 0800-89-1736 With just one call you can choose Germany: 0800-810-6350 from hundreds of beautiful privately- All Others: 727-866-2494 owned condominiums and spacious US/Canada FAX: 1-800-872-0477 homes, carefully assembled to Int'l FAX: 727-864-0477 provide you with the widest variety of locations, styles and pricing on or near the beach in the St. Petersburg/ Clearwater/Tampa area. We proudly offer an impressive selection of resort condos in the area's most popular destinations...including Isla del Sol on Boca Ciega Bay, Land's End on Treasure Island, Sand Castle I & II on Indian Shores, and hundreds more, plus private pool homes! Start dreaming with our free color brochure, then call FLORIDA VACATION CONDOS AND HOMES... and let us help make your vacation dreams come true! /,&(16('5($/ Florida (67$7(%52.(5 Vacation condos & 4700 34th St. So, St. Petersburg, FL 33711 Homes Website: www.capalborental.com E-mail: [email protected] www.visitclearwaterflorida.com 1 www.visitclearwaterflorida.com TABLE OF All information in this book is CONTENTS believed to be correct at the time of publication. The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce cannot and does not guarantee the correct- 4 • From Surf To City 22 • Dining & Nightlife ness of all the information or the complete absence of errors and omissions. 5 • Award-Winning Beaches 24 • A Rich and Varied History For more information, contact: Museums and Historical Parks • Fun Around the Water Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce 6 Marinas, Cruises, Yacht Clubs, • A Cultural Mecca 401 Cleveland Street 26 Piers, Boating,Sailing and Theaters, Concert Halls Clearwater, Florida 33755 Underwater Exploration Art, History, Science and 727.461.0011 Childrens’ Museums www.clearwaterflorida.org 10 • Clearwater “Naturally” [email protected] Preserves, Parks, 34 • Clearwater Area Map Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce Gardens and Sanctuaries 333 C South Gulfview Blvd 38 • Getting Around by Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767 14 • Let The Games Begin! Air & Land 727.447.7600 Golf, Recreation, Sports and Race Tracks 40 • Picking the Perfect www.beachchamber.com Place to Stay [email protected] 18 • Nearby Attractions and Heron Publishing, Inc. Communities 64 • Annual Events 4432 Commercial Way Theme Parks, Aquarium Spring Hill, Florida 34606 Dunedin & Tarpon Springs 67 • Useful Things to Know 800.785.1800 or 352.596.0209 www.heronfla.com 20 • A Shopper’s Paradise Malls, Shopping Areas, Photo Acknowledgements: Flea Markets and Antiques Dennis Eckel, Eckel Advertising; City of Clearwater, Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater Great Explorations Children’s Museum, MOSI Copyright 2011 by Heron Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The publisher and the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and Heron Publishing, Inc. www.visitclearwaterflorida.com 3 WELCOME TO FROM SURF TO CITY Welcome to pearly white sand beaches, shimmering surf and a vacation full of fun choices. Truly, Clearwater offers something to please all tastes and all generations. Boating and fishing, along with other water activities; golfing; tennis; shopping; culture; night-life; ecotourism; historic sites; professional sports teams; as well as a plethora of dining experiences beckon its visitors. It’s guaranteed that by the time you leave, you’ll already be planning your return visit. 4 www.visitclearwaterflorida.com AWARD-WINNING BEACHES Mention almost any accolade in the travel industry and Clearwater Beach, as well as it’s surrounding beaches, has won it. From being named “Best City Beach” by Conde Nast Traveler to being designated a Blue Wave Beach by the Clean Beaches Council, the region has garnered numerous awards. Among these are: USA Today “Top Ten” list of best beaches from Maine to Hawaii Travel Channel “Number One Activity Beach” in the nation “Dr. Beach” America’s Best Beaches List named the 2008 winner Caladesi Island State Park in nearby Dunedin and the 2009 winner Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg FamilyTravelForum.com One of the twelve “Top Baby Beach Getaways” in the country, and the only beach on the list from Florida Clearwater Beach appeals to people of all ages and interests as shown by the fact that Fodor’s Travel Publications named it as one of America’s top family beaches and the Orlando Sentinel lauded it as second only to Miami’s South Beach as the place to go if you’re single. Whether you stay for the day or the season you will not be disappointed in what the Clearwater area (both beachside and mainland) has in store for you. BEACH WALK Beach Walk is a broad, winding promenade surrounded by resorts, beautiful white sand, entertainment and artwork. It offers a unique environment for pedestrians to enjoy a view of the Gulf of Mexico beaches dotted with palm trees, with resting areas and lush landscaping bordering the meandering two-lane drive. SUNSETS AT PIER 60 DAILY FESTIVAL Every evening the place to be is Pier 60, a 1,050- foot fishing pier. For two hours before sunset and two hours after, people of all ages mingle; street performers and musicians entertain; and local artisans sell handmade treasures. Sunset Cinema shows free movies every Saturday and Sunday at dusk. PIER 60 PARK, with a covered children’s playground, has two play areas with age appropriate equipment - one for preschoolers and the other for 8 to 12 year olds. 727.449.1036 www.sunsetsatpier60.com www.visitclearwaterflorida.com 5 FUN AROUND THE WATER As you approach Clearwater Beach from the mainland, one of the first sights you see is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a renowned marine life center that specializes in the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured sea creatures. The aquarium is host to Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays and other marine life. Visitors can touch one of the dolphins, watch an open-air performance, sail on their popular ecoboat tour or work with the trainers in an interactive session. Come meet Winter, who lost her tail in an accident, but is now healthy and swimming freely with her prosthetic tail. She is even learning how to paint, and is currently starring in her own 3D movie, “Dolphin Tale.” Scheduled to open fall 2011. This movie is about the friendship of a boy and dolphin whose tail was lost in a crab trap. It is directed by Charles Martin Smith and other stars include: Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Harry Connick Jr. 6 www.visitclearwaterflorida.com Home to the largest fishing fleet on Florida’s Clearwater is home to two yacht clubs. west coast, the Clearwater Municipal The Clearwater Yacht Club has a full Marina provides 23 slips for transient boaters calendar of events, including parties and as well as many services including: a post office, regattas; a restaurant; and slips to dock your retail, restaurants and bait shop. Berthed in boat. Along with the usual yacht club amenities, the marina are boats that offer a myriad of Carlouel Yacht Club has two swimming pools, activities: from fishing, sightseeing, sailing, lighted tennis courts, a restaurant and a lounge. speed, “hands on” marine life adventures, • Clearwater Yacht Club to dining and dancing and parasailing. For 727.447.6000 • www.clwyc.org boaters who want to visit downtown, there is a new dockage area near Coachman Park • Carlouel Yacht Club that just opened in 2010. 727.446.9162 • www.carlouel.org • Clearwater Marine Enterprises, Inc. More than 300 varieties of fish swim in the 727.446.7666 • www.queenfleet.com Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay including tarpon, • Clearwater Municipal Marina grouper, snapper, trout, snook, red fish, kingfish, 727.462.6954 • www.myclearwater.com shark, sailfish and mackerel. • Hubbard’s Marina Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach offers bait and all 727.393.1947 • www.hubbardsmarina.com the fishing equipment you need to reel in “the big one.” Open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year Sightseeing boats offer unique ways to (closed on Christmas), it offers a full-service experience the area. Sail away under billowing bait house with gear rental and sales, live bait, sails in true luxury on a three-masted schooner; snacks and beverages. thrill to an exhilarating ride on one of the world’s largest speedboats; or cruise on a pirate ship, The old Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa bringing to mind the swashbuckling days from Bay was turned into two fishing piers, billed as the area’s buccaneer history. Observe the “the world’s longest.” Snacks, drinks and fishing magnificence of dolphins frolicking in the waves supplies are available. This popular spot is open or a spectacular sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and the lighting Luncheon and dinner-dance cruises promise at night attracts many species of fish. memorable meals and sightseeing. Become a • Pier 60 marine biologist on a maritime life experience 727.462.6466 • www.myclearwater.com cruise. Kayak through bay islands, bird rookeries and springs and catch a glimpse of great blue • Skyway State Fishing Piers herons and other wildlife. 727.865.0668 • 941.729.0117 www.skywaypiers.com • Calypso Queen 727.461.3113 • www.starlitecruises.com • Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise 727.446.2587 • www.captainmemo.com • Sea Screamer 727.447.7200 • www.seascreamer.com • Starlite Cruises 727.462.2628 • www.starlitecruises.com • Yacht Starship 813.223.7999 • www.yachtstarship.com www.visitclearwaterflorida.com 7 STAY SAFE AND LEGAL Pinellas County Court House, bait and tackle WHILE HAVING FUN shops and sports retailers.