Sun Coast
A popular tourist destination known for its warm, sunny winters, Florida’s Sun Coast has more than 150 miles of powdery, white sand—St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach are consistently chosen as the “best beaches in America” by TripAdvisor and other pollsters. The area is also marked by many major bodies of water, such as Sarasota Bay, portions of Tampa Bay, the Manatee River, Charlotte Harbor, Anna Maria Sound and the nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Nature areas are also plentiful, with the Weedon Island Preserve, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and the Brooker Creek Preserve known for their unique ecosystems.
The Tampa Riverwalk Canopy is lit up during sunset. The University of Tampa is in the background. ©Visit Tampa Bay
Orlando magazine’s dedicated editorial team is taking the guesswork out of your next coastal trip! Check out these important facts:
☀ BOUNDED BY: Tarpon Springs and Bradenton on the Gulf of Mexico.
⚑ COUNTIES: Manatee, Pinellas.
⚐ MAJOR CITIES/AREAS: Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, Tampa.
♜ HIGHLIGHTS: Sunbathing, wildlife viewing, museums, sports.
☸ HIDDEN GEMS: Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center (open November 1-April 15), Community drum circle at Treasure Island Beach (Sundays before sunset and ending at 10 pm), Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks.
☺ OVERALL VIBE: Sandy beaches and seemingly endless coastline.
Clearwater Beach ©Visit Florida
St. Pete/ Clearwater
Originally inhabited by the Tocobaga tribe, this area was later settled by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Clearwater and St. Pete Beach began to grow as small fishing villages, with the development of railroads and bridges helping to attract visitors. The opening of the Gandy Bridge in 1924 further connected the region to Tampa, spurring tourism and real estate growth. became known for its stunning white sand beaches and warm Gulf waters, while St. Pete Beach, officially incorporated in 1957, developed as a laid-back vacation destination.
Whimzeyland in Safety Harbor. ©Brendan O’connor
During a recent stay, I was treated to the opulence that is the Sandpearl Resort. The resort features some of the best views of the beach and is close enough to the excitement of downtown with its pirate party ships and thumpa-thumpa music but still far enough away from the hullabaloo that you can sometimes find yourself completely alone with your toes in the surf after the sun has set.
Clearwater itself is the flashier sibling of the two, with St. Pete Beach broadcasting a more family-friendly, generational vacation spot vibe. On the mainland, St. Pete proper boasts some of the best local shops and restaurants in the state, like the always eccentric ARTPool Gallery on Central Avenue. That same sense of whimsy and grassroots expressionism is something that really found a home in the area, with ornately decorated residences like Whimzeyland in nearby Safety Harbor.
Dunedin deserves a special shoutout as well for anyone staying in the area and felt a little like Brooklyn. The bike trails are full of experts and first-timers alike, fronted by smart businesses catering to visitors.
Make your way to Phillippe Park to visit an ancient indigenous burial ground that is said to have protected Tampa from oncoming hurricanes for generations. The last time I was there I climbed to the top and was greeted by a beautiful Great Horned Owl, watching over the bay.
Back to our guide to Florida from Coast to Coast 
