What is special about Clearwater Beach?

Clearwater Beach's powdery white sand is part of what makes it one of America's Best Beaches. The sand actually comes from the Appalachian Mountains and is made of quartz rather than sea shells. Wonder what it takes to be named the #1 Beach in the U.S.? Let us be the judge!



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Home to Clearwater Beach, TripAdvisor's #1 Beach in the U.S. for 2016, 2018 and 2019, we know all about what separates the best beaches from the rest. Sugar-white sand, warm Gulf waters and fiery sunsets are just a few ingredients that play into earning a shot at that coveted top spot.

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Clearwater has frequently been ranked one of the best beaches in the United States. Its Sandpearl resort was named one of the best beach resorts in the U.S. In January 2013, Clearwater Beach was awarded the designation of Florida's Best Beach Town by a USA Today reader poll ranking 10 Florida beach destinations.

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Yes, you can swim at our beaches, year 'round! Most visitors find our Gulf water temperatures quite pleasant, especially if they are coming from colder climates.

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Yes, you can swim at our beaches, year 'round!

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For many, the best time to visit Clearwater Florida is between the months of October and December. That's because these milder autumn months bring with them less humidity and fewer tourist crowds. What's more, many of the key attractions and leisure activities are still very much open for business!

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Clearwater Beach is a beautiful area and a renowned vacation destination. But let's get one thing straight: The water is not clear. More often blue, green or even tea-colored, the water in the Gulf of Mexico and Clearwater Harbor changes depending on the light and the algae in play.

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Walking along the shoreline of Clearwater Beach is the perfect activity for locals and visitors alike.

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The average daily cost per person in Clearwater is $120 to $240 per day. Clearwater hotels offer rates from $79 to $362 per night depending on the type of hotel, with an average cost for a week-long trip of approximately $1,519 for a single traveler and $5,114 for a family of four.

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Main attractions include lots of free and family-friendly waterfront activities, fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood, great beach bars, an exciting year-round events calendar, a selection of hotels that fit any budget, and of course, miles and miles of drop-dead-gorgeous beaches.

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1. Baía do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: Baía do Sancho may not be easy to reach, but it is the world's best beach, according to a 2023 ranking from Tripadvisor.

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Which Florida beaches have the clearest water?
  • St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach.
  • Bean Point Beach, Anna Maria Island.
  • Inlet Beach, South Walton.
  • Clearwater Beach, Clearwater.
  • Destin Beach, Emerald Coast.
  • Smathers Beach, Key West.
  • Navarre Beach, Florida Gulf Coast.
  • Blue Mountain Beach, Santa Rosa Beach.


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The swim advisory had been issued on Friday after water samples taken at the beaches were above the threshold for enterococci bacteria, according to a press release. Enterococci can cause disease, infections or rashes.

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The Weddell Sea has been claimed by scientists to have the clearest waters of any ocean in the world. Described by a historian as “the most wretched and dismal region on earth”, due to the flash freezes that caught Shackleton's ship, its clarity is only belied by the sheer depth of the ocean below.

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Today's Clearwater Beach sea temperature is 83 °F.

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Arrive very early – 7-8 am or earlier – to get the best public parking. I highly recommend staying at a Clearwater Beach hotel with parking or staying at a nearby town and taking the trolley or Clearwater Beach Ferry for lower parking cost and less hassle.

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No alcohol is permitted on Clearwater's public beaches.

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It is good news that late night walks are permitted on the beach. It preserves the chance to have those special moments. Be very aware that at night during spring and summer the beach is a sea turtle nesting habitat.

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