Have you heard which Florida Gulf beach has topped TripAdvisor’s best beach list according to its Traveler’s Choice Awards? Clearwater Beach, Florida has been voted the #1 beach in the USA for a second year in a row. (It also claimed the top spot in 2016.) With its soft white sugar sand, sparkling clear Gulf of Mexico waters, and plentiful availability of things to do—it’s been chosen as America’s favorite.
Did you know that Clearwater Beach is a quick 15 minute drive north from your Indian Rocks Beach vacation rental? It is! This gives you close, convenient access to all of the things people love most about Clearwater Beach with the added benefits of staying somewhere a little less busy and away from the traffic and volume of people that you would typically encounter. Visit Clearwater Beach for the day but come back to Indian Rocks Beach and enjoy the quiet, pristine beauty of the area without competing with the crowds.
Here are a few of our favorite things about Clearwater Beach, as well as a little bit more about Indian Rocks Beach as well. We’ll let you be the judge of which one suits your vacation mood best. You can’t go wrong with either one, it just depends on what makes you happiest. This is your vacation after all!
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT CLEARWATER BEACH, FLORIDA
According to reviews, what sets Clearwater Beach apart from the rest—in addition to that perfect Gulf Coast sand and clear, shallow water—is the family-friendliness and availability of cabana and beach chair rentals right on the sand.
As one reviewer said, “The sand is white and soft and so comfortable under your feet. You can walk for miles and always have a breathtaking view.” Another reviewer adds, “The sugar fine white sand is a trademark of this fabulous beach. Perfect for a day in the sun. You might even spot a dolphin or two playing on the horizon.”
Here are a few more things we love about what Clearwater Beach has to offer.
FESTIVALS AT PIER 60
The daily Sunset Festival at Pier 60 offers up live entertainment, vendors along the pier, and a lot of family fun every night of the year. Check it out!
LOTS OF SHOPPING
From surf shops to beach souvenirs, to ice cream and other beach eats, there’s something for everyone along Clearwater Beach.
SUGAR SAND FESTIVAL
April marks the annual Sugar Sand Festival, one of many local favorite events. Watch the sand sculptors work their magic right right here.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT INDIAN ROCKS BEACH & INDIAN SHORES, FLORIDA
Like we mentioned earlier, you can enjoy the benefits of a bigger beach like Clearwater Beach while staying somewhere quieter and equally beautiful on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores have a lot to offer you and your family.
With a quintessential beach vibe where you can find unique beach shops, fabulous dining, watersports rentals, fishing and all of the beach activities you want available to you on a beach vacation, Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores have an edge on the bigger beaches by being able to offer you more beach to yourself and a more serene Gulf of Mexico beach experience.
Here are a few more things we love about the Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores area.
LESS CROWDS
If the hustle and bustle of a busy beach area isn’t your thing, then you’re going to prefer Indian Rocks Beach with less crowds, less traffic, and less competition for all things beach related.
MORE NATURE
If you appreciate the more natural side of a beach vacation destination, then you will find the abundant marine life and natural beachscapes here fit perfectly into your beach vacation experience.
QUIETER BEACHES
If you’re in search of rest and relaxation, peace and quiet, and a more tranquil beach vacation experience where the sun, sand and Gulf of Mexico are the focus, then this is where you should be.
It really depends on your beach style and your vacation expectations when it comes to choosing the best beach destination for you and your family. If you like the energy of a busy beach destination and all that comes with it, then Clearwater Beach will not disappoint. If you prefer a more laidback beach atmosphere and small-town feel, then Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores are a wonderful place to be.
Isn’t it time you planned your next Florida Gulf beach vacation? Yes, yes it is!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE florida beach on the gulf of mexico?
We want to know!
