Pinellas County in Florida is completely bursting with incredible Award-Winning Beaches, like St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach! But most people don’t know about all of the other spectacular beaches that this wonderful area has to offer and this is what I would love to share with you.
Here in Pinellas County, the sand is powdery-white and so amazingly soft (especially at Clearwater Beach.) The waves are extremely gentle (which is perfect for families), the sunsets are jaw-droppingly gorgeous and the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic!
Yet, this is also where I was blessed to grow up and where I have now lived for almost my entire life.
So here in this post, I would love to share with you my years of knowledge on how to best experience these spectacular beaches, our family’s favorite sites, the best things to do, top places to eat and more to help you in your trip planning to this spectacular area of Florida.
WHERE IS PINELLAS COUNTY IN FLORIDA?
Pinellas County is located on the west side of Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico. It literally is the “Peninsula on the Peninsula.”
The two largest cities in Pinellas County are St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
In Pinellas County, you can find 35 miles of breathtaking white sand beaches, that are located on the 11 barrier islands that line the coast of this small peninsula.
And it is these beautiful beaches and their pristine sand that attracts visitors every year from all around the world!
Trip Planning Challenges
Yet, when planning a visit to one of these popular beach destinations, I feel that it is somewhat challenging to figure out the top things to do along this coast and throughout the county.
This is because in Pinellas County, there are actually 24 separate cities on this little peninsula. And practically every beach town down the coast is in fact its own “city.” (There are 10 separate “cities” just on the barrier islands of Pinellas County.)
Therefore, as a tourist, if you try to search for the “Top Things to Do” at St. Pete Beach, on a site like TripAdvisor for example, you’re search unfortunately won’t pull up any of the top sites on Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Redington Shores, or even St. Petersburg itself, which are all only a few miles down the road.
But don’t let this discourage you. This is where I want to help.
Take a look at the simplified city map above of Pinellas County. Here you can easily see all the different “cities” that you may want to search, when using a travel site or search engine in your planning.
But this post isn’t about how to find things to do on your own along Pinellas County’s beaches.
In this post, I want to share with you our personal experience on how to best visit Pinellas County’s top award-winning beaches, give you tips to make your trip more enjoyable and let you in on our favorite activities (and even a few hidden gems) that our family has discovered over the years.
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach is a spectacular 2.5 mile long gorgeous beach with soft, powdery-white sand, gentle waves and is set next to a great little beach town. Here you can easily find numerous resorts, restaurants, and a ton of fun activities.
Clearwater Beach is one of Pinellas County’s top beaches and it is an absolute fantastic beach vacation destination.
Clearwater Beach was voted #1 beach in the U.S. by Trip Advisor in 2018 and it has been voted the best beach town in Florida!
Fun Things to Do by Clearwater Beach:
- Beach Walk –This is a beautiful stroll along Clearwater Beach on a boardwalk styled sidewalk.
- Pier 60 Park– There is a huge beach playground here (the largest on the Gulf) and nightly entertainment with “Sunsets at Pier 60.”
- Also, the long fishing pier here is fun to walk out on and look for dolphins, or to go fishing. (There is a bait house and rental gear located on the pier.)
Clearwater Beach Fun Out On The Water:
- Captain Nemo’s Pirate Cruise,Little Toot’s Dolphin Adventure or Schooner Clearwater are some fun activities that we love.
Clearwater Beach Restaurants We Love:
- Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill (right on the beach), Salt Cracker Fish Camp, and Crabby’s Beachwalk Bar and Grill
- A Fun Way to Explore the Area:
- Take the Clearwater Jolley Trolly.
Sting Ray Notice:
Be aware that when the water is warm (usually from Memorial Day to Labor Day, sting rays can be found along any of Pinellas County’s beaches. So when you go into the water, just do the “Sting Ray Shuffle” and shuffle your feet as you walk. That way you don’t accidentally step on one. The sting rays will also know you are coming and will have a chance to quickly swim away.
Parking Tips:
Parking is limited around Clearwater Beach and can be a problem if you are not staying in one of the hotels.Here’s a link to Clearwater Beach Parking.
A Great Alternative to avoid the traffic and parking issue is to take the Clearwater Ferry. Here you’ll park for free in downtown Clearwater and it is just a 10 minute ferry ride to the beaches (reservations required, plus small fee.)
Or, try and arrive early at the beach to beat the crowds. This is what our family does. It’s also not so hot, which is an added bonus.
If you do drive, pack a sunshade for your car. You will be so happy you did. Florida can get really hot!
A Great Hotel Near Clearwater Beach:
Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
Enjoy a short 1 minute walk to the beach, full spa, roof top pool, poolside food & beverage service with cabana, Offers family rooms that sleep up to 6
Caladesi Island State Park
Caladesi Island is a gorgeous, uninhabited “island,” with 3 miles of pristine white sandy beaches, located just north of Clearwater Beach.
To get to Caladesi Island you can take the Caladesi Ferry (for a fee) from Honeymoon Island (which you can drive to), arrive by private boat or kayak, or take an approximate 6.5 mile roundtrip walk from Clearwater Beach. Yet by being slightly harder to get to, here at Caladesi, if you go, you’ll get to enjoy this spectacular beach away from the crowds.
Caladesi Island was voted a Top 10 Beach in America by Dr. Beach in 2021!
Fun Things to Do On Caladesi Island
- Enjoy the 3 miles of incredible powder-white sand and ocean views on this tropical island that’s only minutes away from Clearwater.
- Walk the 3 mile nature trail through a natural Florida habitat.
- Paddle the 3 mile kayak trail through mangrove tunnels (rentals are located at the marina on the island.)
- There is also a full concession & restrooms located on Caladesi Island.
Honeymoon Island State Park
Honeymoon Island is a beautiful State Park, located just north of Caladesi Island.Here you will find more than 4 miles beautiful white sand beaches to explore, a picnic area, a Nature Center and a 3 mile trail through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests.
To get to Honeymoon Island you can easily drive over the Dunedin Causeway.
Know that there is a small state park fee to enter.
Honeymoon Island is great for anyone looking for a fun beach experience, with less crowds than Clearwater Beach, but with the added option of being able to walk through natural Florida habitats and see some native Florida animals like the gopher tortoise, osprey and more along the trails.
Sand Key Beach
Sand Key Beach (also called Sand Key Park) is a truly one of Pinellas County’s hidden gems!
This fantastic beach is located directly south of Clearwater Beach, just over the barrier island bridge and on your right.
Here you’ll find a beach, similar to Clearwater Beach, where you can have the same amazing beach views and sunsets but with less crowds.
Sand Key Beach is perfect if you enjoy visiting a more low-key beach and you don’t need all of the amenities, immediately at your fingertips, that Clearwater Beach has.
(Clearwater Beach is only a 5 minute drive north from here.)
Great Hotels on Sand Key:
Sheraton Sand Key Resort (for a great beach front stay) OR
Clearwater Beach Marriot Suites on Sand Key (for a suite that will sleep 6)
A Restaurant We Love on Sand Key:
- The Columbia – It’s practically next door to the Marriot. The Columbia is a traditional Spanish restaurant local chain that dates back to 1905. My favorite dish is their famous 1905 salad. It’s made tableside and it’s amazing!
Indian Rocks Beach & Redington Shores
These are the beaches I always went to while growing up in Pinellas County! They’re low-key, great beaches filled with more locals than tourists. (To be honest, the sand isn’t the same soft, powdery-white like Clearwater Beach but I really like the atmosphere on these beaches.)
And if you’re visiting, don’t miss the nearby Seabird Sanctuary. The parking lot is insanely small but this free site really helps our local birds (from Pelicans to owls to various shore birds.) Here you can make a quick visit, walk around and easily see them.
A Great Place to Stay on North Redington Beach
DoubleTree Beach Resort by Hilton Tampa Bay – North Redington Beach
Located directly on North Redington Beach with semi-private access. On-site restaurant with easy access to recreational activities. (Only offers rooms to sleep up to 4 adults.)
This is an area where there are a lot of nice condos that can be rented along the beach as well.
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Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach is located just south of Redington Shores and here you can find a fun touristy area full of shops and restaurants at the historic fishing village called, John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk.
Fun Things To Do At John’s Pass/ Madeira Beach
- You can book a dolphin cruise, pirate cruise, fishing trip, or snorkeling excursions at Hubbard’s Marina.
- Visit the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center for hands-on encounters.
- Grab a meal along the docks for a chance to see dolphins swimming by while you eat. (We’ve seen dolphins here frequently while dining. I hope you can too!)
A Great Hotel Near John’s Pass
Located on a private beach, with a 5 minute walk to John’s Pass, and offers a 2 bedroom/ 2 bath family suite with ocean views that sleeps 6.
St. Pete Beach/ Pass-A-Grill Beach
In 2021, St. Pete Beach was voted the #1 Beach in the U.S. by Trip Advisor, and the #5 beach in the world!
Over 4 miles of gorgeous white-powder sand and emerald-green water set next to a laid-back beach town make St. Pete Beach and Pass-A-Grill a fantastic beach vacation destination.
While visiting, check out the Treasure Island Slide Florida for a fun adventure, located 5 minutes north of St. Pete Beach.
Restaurants We Love: Crabby Bill’s St. Pete Beach
A Great Hotel Near St. Pete Beach/ Pass-A-Grill Beach:
Beautiful beachfront property with 5 swimming pools, 4 full-service restaurants, a spa, tennis courts, paddleboats, water slide, parasailing, 24 hr babysitting services (for an additional fee), plus has family rooms that sleep up to 6.
Fort De Soto Park
Located at the very southern tip of Pinellas County (south of St. Pete Beach) is the gorgeous Fort De Soto Park. At Fort De Soto you can find award-winning beaches and a ton of activities to do.
Here you can explore seven miles of incredible Florida waterfront, three miles of gorgeous white sand beaches, more than two miles of fun kayaking trails, bike on a seven mile family-friendly bike path, explore a great historic fort, camp by the waterand more!
And if this wasn’t enough, the North Beach at Fort De Soto Park, has been voted America’s Top Beach several times over the years by Dr. Beach, Trip Advisor & USA Today!
Read More: Fort De Soto Park (7 Top Things to Do + Tips for Visiting)
I hope you found this guide of Pinellas County’s beaches helpful in your trip planning. And hopefully you even found a fun activity, hotel or restaurant that you’d like to try. Please let me know below, if you have any comments or questions.
Have a Great Time at the Beach with Your Traveling Feet!
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