Clearwater Beach
Two blocks from Sea Shanty Clearwater, Clearwater Beach consistently ranks among the best beaches on the Gulf Coast. The sand is white and fine, the water is calm and warm from spring through fall, and the strip along Mandalay Avenue has enough restaurants and bars to fill a long weekend without repeating yourself.
Pier 60 is the focal point: a fishing pier that stretches 1,080 feet into the Gulf, with a nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival running year-round. Vendors, street performers, and a crowd that shows up just to watch the sky go orange. Worth it at least once.
The beach itself is wide enough that you can always find a quiet stretch. Go early if you want space; by midday in summer it fills up fast. Parking is easier if you walk from the property — the two-block stroll beats circling the lots.
Getting there
Walk south from Sea Shanty Clearwater for about five minutes and you're on the sand. Bikes are a good option too — the Pinellas Trail connects to the beach path.