Clearwater

experience for travellers who want to explore beyond Florida’s famed theme parks.

Averaging 361 days of sunshine annually, St. Pete/Clearwater is ideal for a family beach break with its Caribbean-style climate and warm waters for bathing and water sports. Enjoy miles of white sand beaches, boutique shopping, and a contemporary arts and culture scene packed with museums, galleries and off-beat festivals.

Part of Florida’s Pinellas County, St. Pete/Clearwater is part of an array of unique communities and coastal neighbourhoods, each with a distinct character, offering an authentic and beachy lifestyle

Visitors can feast on sustainablycaught grouper sandwiches, join a dolphin-spotting tour, kayak in emerald waters, explore street art in downtown St Pete and enjoy the nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60.

Sustainable Beach Life

Those pristine beaches are a big draw for sun-seekers and families who want a seaside vacation with plenty of activities and opportunities to unwind.

Thanks to responsible beach management and strict visitor rules – including no alcohol and no dogs – Clearwater and St. Pete have some of the best beaches in Florida, where you can relax on sugar-white sand, swim in warm Gulf waters and photograph its famous fiery sunsets.

In addition to the natural and cultural attractions, the cities and surrounding regions are committed to environmental stewardship. Several sustainability initiatives and conservation programmes are now in place to preserve its natural heritage and delicate coastal habitats, including membership of the American Flood Coalition, which works to make the area more resisitant to flooding.

From eco-friendly resorts and renewable energy initiatives to wildlife conservation and community engagement, this sunny destination sets the bar high for sustainable travel experiences and responsible tourism practices. Here, you’ll find a range of beach clean-ups and conservation programmes, as well as marine life rescue, rehabilitation and public education programmes to protect delicate ecosystems and magnificent landscapes.

On a broader scale, St. Pete/ Clearwater is integrating sustainability into its decision-

Making changes in St. Pete and Clearwater

St Pete is introducing more solar energy to the city, promoting electric car and creating more energy efficient programmes.

Clearwater has established emission reduction goals based on the GHG inventory results and aims to Reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 2007 levels by 2035.

making and policies, which address environmental, economic, and social equity challenges that will have a profoundly positive effect on residents and future visitors.

Along with lofty climate goals, the region prioritises protecting and restoring its wildlife-rich coastal habitats. These attract many tourists – eager to spot resident dolphins, armadillos, turtles, white-tail deer and sea birds.

attractions and protected natural spaces, hotels and resorts in the county are making numerous eco improvements.

Florida’s Green Lodging Program lists hotels and resorts that have made a commitment to conserving and protecting the state’s natural resources, so you can see how green your stay truly is.

The Don CeSar Hotel in St. Pete uses special lighting on its exterior, designed to protect sea turtle hatchlings from being misdirected away from the Gulf.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program and its partners have implemented several projects to restore and enhance wetlands, seagrass beds, and oyster reefs, which serve as crucial habitats for various species and contribute to the estuary’s overall health.

Through these vital restoration efforts, St. Pete/Clearwater aims to improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and create resilient ecosystems that should last for generations.

Green Goals

St. Pete/Clearwater is currently home to 13 Green Lodging-rated properties – including The Don CeSar, Hyatt Regency Clearwater and RumFish Beach Resort by TradeWinds & TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort.

These green hotels and resorts incorporate a range of sustainable features from water conservation, recycled building materials and Florida-friendly landscaping to exterior lighting designed to protect sea turtle hatchlings.

In 2020, Clearwater enrolled in Duke Energy’s Clean Energy Connection program, which could result in 40 per cent of the electricity the city government received from the utility sourced from solar systems.

Meanwhile, St. Pete’s Integrated Sustainability Action Plan (ISAP) contains ambitious climate action goals, including a transition to 100% clean energy.

Clearwater is also becoming more proactive on climate goals since the city adopted the Greenprint 2.0 plan, which details environmental initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Marine conservation is crucial to the city’s environmental stewardship, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) plays a significant role in marine protection, rehabilitation, and public education.

Along with eco-focused leisure activities,

Meanwhile, travelling without a car is slowly becoming more accessible in Florida with new train stations and routes that link up major cities like Orlando and Miami. In St. Pete/Clearwater, you’ll find walkable downtown and coastal areas and a lowcost trolley service that connects the area’s attractions, neighbourhoods, and beaches.

With continued eco commitments and environmental initiatives, if you’re looking to travel more responsibly in St. Pete/ Clearwater, there are plenty of ways to have a more sustainable visit.

Discover eco-minded attractions, restaurants serving locally sourced food, bike trails and public transport options, all with the aim of helping you reduce your impact and keep your holiday green.

CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM, RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTRE

Located on Clearwater Beach, this renowned, non-profit marine preservation hub is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured marine animals along the Gulf Coast. Along with engaging exhibits and interactive displays, there is a strong focus on education – inspiring visitors to make sustainable choices and become stewards of the oceans. Here, you can observe the rehabilitation process up close and learn more about the resident dolphins, turtles and playful otters, and the specialised medical care they receive from veterinarians and animal experts. cmaquarium.org