Tampa Bay Beach Guide

The Gulf of Mexico beaches in Pinellas County really offer some of the best Florida restaurants, Florida shopping and Florida nightlife around. And let's not forget Florida charter boat fishing. So fire up some cool beach tunes and scroll down to start planning your beach vacation in Tampa Bay.

North Beaches

• Honeymoon Island State Park: A love affair with nature
• CFor Caladesi: A remote, unspoiled beauty
• Clearwater Beach: Party hearty.
• Belleair Beach: Residents only.
• Indian Rocks Beach: Food, festivals.
• Indian Shores: Funky bars, birds.
• Redington Shores: Pier anglers welcome.
• North Redington Beach: Luxo, but loose.
• Redington Beach: Don't even try.
• Madeira Beach: Sand + shopping.
• Restaurants, bars and events on North Pinellas beaches

South Beaches

• Treasure Island: Margaritaville North.
• St. Pete Beach: Cool, but crowded.
• Pass-a-Grille: Mellow sunsets.
• Tierra Verde: Maybe once.
• Gulfport Beach: Quirky, kitschy.
• Fort De Soto: Simply the best.
• Egmont Key: Natural beauty.
• Shell Key: Boisterous boaters.
• Anna Maria Island: Worth a drive.
• Restaurants, bars and events on South Pinellas beaches
• Restaurants bars and events on Manatee beaches

• Our most famous beach resident
  Winter the dolphin, who lives at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, starred in 2011's Dolphin Tale. Read about her amazing rescue and her rise to stardom.
• Take a cruise along Gulf
  The boulevard that travels 22 miles among beach towns features some surprisingly long-lived, fun and beloved destinations.
• Learn about sea turtles
  Each year, thousands of sea turtles flock to Florida's beaches to nest. We explain this amazing phenomenon.

• A visit to Fort DeSoto
  In 2005, the park's North Beach was at the top of the annual list of America's best beaches. In this older report, we document what you'll find there during a visit.
• What's with the pink palace?
  Ever wonder how the St. Pete Beach's iconic hotel, the Don CeSar, got its name? Behold our three-part story of love, music and mystery.
• A day at the beach
  Our writers and photographer offer snapshots of the people who live, work and visit the shorelines by chronicling "A Day in the Life" of the beaches.