Tampa Beaches
Tampa area beaches includes more than twenty available choices. I am going to talk about some of my favorites although the choice is difficult. The closest beach to Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club would be Howard Park. Fred Howard Park consists of 155 acres and is located on the Gulf of Mexico. Since the parks dedication on April 16, 1966 the parks popularity has continued to increase. Almost 2 million visitors enjoy the park and its facilities annually. Howard Park's location provides access to the Gulf of Mexico by a 1-mile long causeway. The white sandy beach is a very popular north county swim area and also provides a perfect location for visitors to enjoy many spectacular sunsets. Nesting ospreys and eagles may be viewed by park visitors as they fish for food in the surrounding waters. Dolphins, and occasionally manatees, are seen in the area. The causeway is used for sunbathing, fishing and exercising. The park was named in honor of Fred H. Howard, former Mayor of Tarpon Springs first elected to the office in 1945. Mr. Howard also served as a City Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the Pinellas County Park Board for more than 30 years. Mr. Howard was a successful real estate businessman who was very civic minded and served the area in many political and organizational capacities. To provide a north county facility for the enjoyment of area residents, Mr. Howard worked to secure the property for development as a north county park. A bronze plaque at the base of the park’s flagpole commemorates Mr. Howard’s, “untiring efforts (to make) this park a reality.”
Facilities include picnic shelter, restrooms, paygrounds, payphones, white sand beach, swimming area, windsurfing area, launching area for canoeing and kayaking, fishing areas, a butterfly garden and lifeguards.
Directions to the park: Take highway 52 west to highway 19. Go south on highway 19 to Klosterman Road. Take Klosterman to Carlton Road. Turn right on Carlton Drive and go to the stop sign. Turn left onto Curlew Place. Go to the next stop sign, which is Florida Avenue, and turn right. Go 2 miles to the red flashing light and turn left onto Sunset Drive (which dead-ends into the park.)
Clearwater Beach is the "Best City Beach On The Gulf Of Mexico" according to Dr. Stephen Leatherman ("Dr. Beach"), a Florida International University professor who has been ranking America's beaches for more than 15 years. Leatherman's list is based on personal visits and constant contact with naturalists, park rangers and scientists around the nation. USATODAY.com readers ranked Clearwater Beach in their Top 10 list of best beaches from Maine to Hawaii. Conde Nast Traveler has also recognized Clearwater Beach as the best city beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Clearwater Beach is consistently ranked "best beach" by Tampa Bay Magazine. In their first ever poll, Florida Sports Magazine readers echoed "best beach in Florida." In addition, Clearwater is very proud to be designated a Blue Wave Beach. This designation assists the public in identifying the nation's best beaches. This certification program, overseen by the Clean Beaches Council, promotes beaches which are managed to protect their natural assets, insuring excellence in the areas of water quality, cleanliness, safety, services, habitat conservation, information, education and erosion management. Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Sand Key Park beaches also received the Blue Wave Designation.
If this isn't enough to convince you Clearwater Beach is a very special place, it has also been received the Clean Water, Clean Sand designation from the Healthy Beaches Campaign, a project of the Laboratory for Coastal Research. This designation recognizes beaches that preserve their natural resources, including wildlife, maintain EPA standards and reduce pollution. Caladesi Island State Park and Sand Key Park have also been so recognized. Clearwater Beach is also the only beach in Pinellas County with year-round lifeguards.
A couple of my favorite places to eat are right on the beach north of Pier 60. They are the Palm Pavilion and Frenchies Rockaway Grill. In either one you can eat in your swimwear and look right out on the water. Pier 60 offers great evening fun for kids of all ages and adults too.
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