Best Beaches

Staycay, or vacay, Pinellas County’s 35 miles of sugar-sand bliss has a best beach for every activity, from sunbathing to paddleboarding. Paradise shines, with three of TripAdvisor’s Top U.S. Beaches right here in the Clearwater/St. Pete area.

St. Pete Beach was named the #1 Beach in the U.S. for 2021 by TripAdvisor and Caladesi Island was named #2 Beach in the U.S. by Dr. Beach in 2022! From north to south, here are some of our faves.

HONEYMOON ISLAND STATE PARK This undeveloped 385-acre barrier island off Dunedin has four miles of sandy beaches, hiking trails and bird-watching opportunities along the Osprey Trail and a nature center; there’s a popular dog beach.

CALADESI ISLAND STATE PARK You can only get here by boat or ferry, even rent a kayak, and tour the mangrove trails. Natural beauty meets modern amenities with an on-site concession, showers and changing rooms.

CLEARWATER BEACH Wide sugar-sand beaches, beach walk shops, dozens of bars and seafood restaurants make this a popular spring break destination. End the day at Palm Pavilion for music and tiki drinks.

SAND KEY PARK Popular with surfers and beach strollers, this 95-acre county park is a great picnic and fishing spot with convenient bath houses and parking. Explore the trails and boardwalk that wind through a salt marsh, then stop for a meal at Columbia Restaurant nearby. INDIAN SHORES/INDIAN ROCKS Get a taste of Old Florida while shelling and soaking up the rays from any of the 27 beach access points, some with little free libraries. For a taste of Florida cuisine, head over to Crabby Bill’s or JD’s.

THE REDINGTONS Brilliant white sand and peaceful sunbathing make Redington Shores, North Redington Beach and Redington Beach a beach lover’s mecca. Hoist a few at The Friendly Tavern, sip wine at Stan’s Tapas or dine at Conch Republic.

MADEIRA BEACH This beautiful two-mile long stretch of Mad Beach was named the #9 Beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2021. Park at Archibald Memorial Beach Park or Historic John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk, with 100 shops and restaurants and a perfect post-beach afternoon.

TREASURE ISLAND Three miles of sparkling beaches with dozens of bars and live music (Ricky T’s, Sloppy Joe’s, Ka’Tiki, Caddys) as well as shops and some of the best Mex food at VIP.

ST. PETE BEACH This is party central, with miles of beaches, surf shops, beach bars and restaurants from RumFish to The Saint Hotel’s 82 Degrees. On Sunday, the Corey Avenue market is the hot ticket, followed by Blood Mary’s at The Toasted Monkey.

PASS-A-GRILLE Find your bliss on these four miles of beach. Boasting old Florida charm, you can browse the Eighth Avenue Historic District, fish off Merry Pier and enjoy breakfast at Paradise Grille or dinner at The Dewey.

FORT DE SOTO PARK This popular 1,136-acre county park stretches over five islands with numerous beaches and fun for all – kayak and bike rentals, picnic areas, a seven-mile paved trail, historic fort, and a fishing pier. Catch the ferry to Egmont Key or paddleboard/kayak to Shell Key.

SIP TIPS In Grand Central, Mixers at Old Key West Bar & Grill is closed and up for sale. Also closing after New Year is Avid Brewery. DTSP’s Five Bucks Drinkery has taken over the Pete & Shorty spot next to Campanella’s on Park Blvd. and 49th. The Moxy Hotel by Marriott will showcase The Sparrow rooftop bar in the Edge District. Want to know where to shop, eat and drink on The Pier? Pick up Platinum Media’s annual St. Pete Pier magazine in Jan. 2023, showcasing happenings and personalities that make the Pier a world-class destination.

WHAT’S SUP Porchettoni food truck in Grand Central District is the hot spot for Italian boneless pork roast. Pete’s General will bring their all-day café with coffee and fresh bagels to a second location in Ybor City this spring. Seed and Feed is opening a new café, Perry’s Porch, at the St. Pete Museum of History in 2023; read Steve Traiman’s article this month to learn more. Five-0 Donut Company opens in Old Northeast; the banana peanut butter or coconut cream filled are mouthwatering. Brunch Sunday at Sauvignon is fabulous, and the Saturday-only lunch 11am-3pm serves up charcuterie, salads and the best of boutique bubbly and wines. Estate Cigars and Social opened in December on Fourth St. and the bar, lounge and shop is sure to be popular among the downtown hoi poloi.

SHOP When exploring The St. Pete Pier, be sure to take the littles to Runrun Kids Store for toys. Urban Kai has opened a new retail and rental shop next to Lassing Park.

The ultimate celebration of everything St. Pete is LOCALTOPIA in Williams Park, celebrating its 10th year and Keep Saint Petersburg Local says it is the biggest ever with 300+ of the city’s favorite independent businesses and community organizations. This family-friendly festival also commemorates KSPL’s 11-year anniversary; the event is free, but please consider throwing something into the tip jars at the “Local Thirst Stations” to support LOCALTOPIA. (LOCALTOPIA asks that you leave your furry friends home due to large crowds.) Here are some of the exciting vendors, entertainment, and services you’ll discover, plus delicious DTSP food and drink purveyors. There’s live local music on the Williams Park Bandstand, street performances and engaging activities for all ages including live screen printing, free demos and crafts.

MAKERS & MERCHANTS

Art & Handcrafted Goods, Artisanal + Plant-Based Food & Beverages, Body/ Self-Care, Books, Clothing & Accessories, Home Decor, Jewelry, Pet, Plants & Plant-Based Products, Vintage, Vinyl & Much More! VILLAGES in Williams Park Arts Village | Family Village | Health & Wellness Village | #AllThingsPlants Village EAT, DRINK & PLAY LOCAL on 4th St. (Food Truck Rally Alley), 2ND Ave. (from 2nd to 4th Streets) (more food trucks and restaurants) and other food, drink vendors. The Local Thirst Stations sell local beer and wine in cans plus there are local breweries serving their beers and draft beer trucks. 3RD STREET (from 1st to 3rd Avenues): Boutiques | Vendors on Wheels | More Artists & Artisans + Collectives | Gourmet Food | Home Decor | DJs | Literary Corner | Street Fun

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