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Family Travel to Clearwater Beach/Sand Key
Family adventures are right around the corner on
Florida’s gulf-side where one-of-a-kind boutiques, shops,
galleries, restaurants and more line the streets. Beaches,
zoos, aquariums and theme parks are just minutes from the
Clearwater Beach area– making it the perfect starting point
for your next Florida escape. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater
area is famous for its 35 miles of powder-white barrier
island beaches on the Gulf of Mexico known as "Florida's
Beach."
I often visited Clearwater Beach as a child and it is
still one of my favorite beaches for sea-shell collecting!
The extra wide, mile-long, white, soft sand provides plenty
of recreational opportunities for the entire family. There
is plenty of public parking for easy access. Lifeguards are
on duty year-round, and near the pier entrance are
well-maintained picnic shelters, shaded playground
equipment, open-air restrooms and concessions.
Offering a spectacular view of Clearwater Bay along the
pristine Gulf Coast of Florida, the Marriott Suites
Clearwater Beach on Sand Key is the perfect choice for your
next family vacation. The property sits opposite The Sand
Key Park beach - one of America's finest beaches. This
220-suite resort, (Florida's first and only all-suite
Marriott), opened in February 2004 after undergoing a
multi-million renovation. The Marriott Suites features
Lisa's Klubhouse, named after the resort's talkative and
colorful macaw, Lisa, who resides in the lobby. The
Klubhouse provides supervised open play from 9:00 a.m.-3:00
p.m. daily. Activities include games, arts/crafts, movies
and more! Three nights a week the hotel presents a “dive in
movie.” Families can watch their favorite big screen movie
from a lounge chair or a favorite float! The pool is bayside
and features a 35-foot cascading waterfall, volleyball net,
& basketball hoop. The hotel houses a salon and day spa,
fitness center, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, on-site
fine dining and plenty of supervised activities for kids. We
were very impressed with the daily breakfast buffet. Each
morning we took a short walk to Sand Key Park Beach. (The
hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to the beach.)
The hotel also offers a variety of water sports including
kayak rentals, parasailing, wave runners and rides on the
Fun Boat. This is a one-hour cruise around the intercoastals
that includes a stop at Compass Island for a seashell hunt!
Weekly events are scheduled to meet the interests of all
age groups. We particularly enjoyed the poolside pirate
bash. We dined at the all you can eat buffet, enjoyed live
entertainment and participated in a special treasure hunt on
Compass Island. The kids will have a ball wearing their
pirate patches and collecting their own “treasure” on this
private island, a short boat ride from the hotel. Adjacent
to the hotel, there is a boardwalk area that houses a
variety of boutiques and restaurants. The spectacular night
view of Clearwater Bay and downtown Clearwater is unmatched.
Our favorite boardwalk dinner place was a casual, reasonably
priced seafood restaurant. Backwater's can only be described
as a comfortable neighborhood bistro just around the corner,
where exceptional food, friendly service and quaint
waterfront surroundings make every visit unique. I highly
recommend the grilled Mahi Mahi. Several clothing boutiques,
restaurants, convenience store, and even Dunkin Donuts line
the boardwalk.
Convenient to both St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Tampa
International airports the hotel is near Busch Gardens and
moments away from all the Florida Gulf Coast has to offer.
During any stay at Marriott Suites Clearwater Beach on Sand
Key you'll experience an environment completely geared
toward your total enjoyment and relaxation. For more
information, contact the Marriott Suites Clearwater Beach on
Sand Key at (727)596-1100 or visit
www.clearwaterbeachmarriottsuites.com.
Area Attractions:
Clearwater Marine and Aquarium: See and learn how
to protect Dolphins, Otters, and Sea Turtles. The Aquarium
is a non-profit facility dedicated to the rescue,
rehabilitation and release of sick and injured marine
animals.
Unique on the West Coast of Florida and one of only eight
facilities in the United States authorized to rescue and
rehabilitate marine mammals. Great for the Kids. A family
will spend a couple of hours at this worthwhile attraction.
Learn the biology and behavior of bottlenose dolphins,
loggerhead sea turtles, Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, river
otters, sting rays, local fish and coral reefs via daily
presentations, "hands on" opportunities, and daily feedings.
(249 Windward Passage Island Estates Clearwater Beach, FL
33767 (727) 441-1790 & (888) 239-9414)
Pier 60 Park: Pier 60 Park features a unique
covered children's playground housed under two large blue
pavilions. Age appropriate equipment is available for
preschoolers to 12 years olds including swings, slides,
monkey bars, a ship and one of the world's largest sand
boxes. Playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Each
night, from two hours before to two hours after Sunset,
visit the Sunsets at Pier 60 street festival featuring local
artisans and performers. Free. The 1,050 foot fishing pier
provides Gulf fishing opportunities for residents and
visitors. No license required. Equipment rental available.
Fee charged for admission. (Located at Clearwater Beach)
Sand Key Park: 1/2 mile of white powder-sand
beach, Shelters, Picnic tables with grills, & Restrooms and
changing rooms. (A Pinellas County Park -Gulf Blvd. just
South of Clearwater Pass at the North End of Sand Key)
Adventure Island, 4500 Bougainvillea, Tampa (813)
987-5660.
Tampa Bay's only outdoor water theme park.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 3000 East Busch Blvd.,
Tampa (813) 987-5082.
An extraordinary atmosphere filled with naturalistic animal
habitats and shows, hair-raising roller coasters, Rhino
Rally and more, dazzling live entertainment.
Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa
(813) 273-4020.
A world-class educational facility featuring nearly 5,000
aquatic plants and animals which tell the tale of water,
native land and marine animals in Florida.
Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 West Sligh Avenue, Tampa
(813) 932-0245.
One of the top three zoos of its size in North America
featuring more than 1,500 animals representing 350 exotic
species including the manatee.
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