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Home to the largest recreational fishing fleet on the West Coast
of Florida, the
Clearwater Marina is a
major component of our recreational core. In addition to being
home to the largest recreational fishing fleet on the West Coast
of Florida, many other vessels offer a myriad of activities
beyond fishing.
The wide variety of sightseeing boats offers unique ways to
experience the area. Sail away under billowing sails in true
luxury on three-masted schooners; thrill to an exhilarating ride
on the world's largest speedboat; cruise the gulf on a pirate
ship, bringing to mind the swashbuckling days of pirates and
damsels in distress. Observe the magnificence of dolphins
frolicking in the waves or a spectacular sunset of the Gulf of
Mexico. Dinner-dance cruises promise evenings to remember. A
ferry service provides excursions to natural locales such as
Caladesi Island.
Become a marine biologist on one of several marine life
adventure cruises. More than 300 varieties of fish swim in the
Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, only a few of which are grouper,
snapper, trout, snook, tarpon, red fish, kingfish, shark,
sailfish and mackerel.
Clearwater Beach's
Pier 60, open 24 hours
a day, offers a full service bait house with gear rental and
sales, live bait, snacks and beverages. Fishing season is year
round.
Kayak through bay islands and bird rookeries with the
opportunity to see dolphins, great blue herons and more. Charter
your own private boat with a captain to take you snorkeling,
shelling or to your own private island. Dive on one of more than
ten artificial offshore reefs along the coast of Pinellas
County, home to coral, sponges and a wide variety of undersea
creatures.
Pier 60 Park, with the only covered children's playground
directly on the sand, has two play areas with age appropriate
equipment-one for preschoolers and the other for 8-12 year olds.
Pier 60 Park is also home to
Sunsets at Pier 60,
our nightly "street" festival celebrating the setting of the sun
featuring music, street performers and hand crafted arts and
crafts sold by the artists themselves.
Twenty-six public and semi-private courses provide ample
challenges. Professional and professional-amateur tournaments
are held yearly at several of our fine courses, including Westin
Innisbrook Resort, Saddlebrook Resort and Cheval Polo and Golf
Club.
Florida is not all beaches, palm trees and theme parks, and
Clearwater is no exception. Over a century of history is easily
visible and accessible, much of it free. Consider that the
Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa, built in 1897, is the oldest
occupied wooden building still used for its original purpose;
tour the underground railway; take the tour to see the hidden
passageways and maybe hear a ghost tale or two.
Stroll through historic downtown Clearwater and beautiful
Harbor Oaks with its early 20th century homes. Go back in time
to
Heritage Village, a
turn of the century living historical museum where men and women
dress in period costume and live and work as Florida's pioneers
did. Climb the batteries at
Ft. DeSoto, a Spanish
American War fort. Nearby Hillsborough County's
Ybor City returns you
to the time Tampa was the "Cigar Capital of the World;" turn of
the century Cuban and Spanish culture permeates this historic
landmark district, one of only three in Florida.
Thousands of American Indians once lived among the bodies of
water which are now Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico; several
area feature mounds dated from 500 BC to 1,500 AD. For more
information on the mounds, call 727-384-0027. |
