subject: Clearwater is one of Florida's vacation destinations and lifestyle choices, says Cullan Meathe [print this page] Clearwater is one of Florida's vacation destinations and lifestyle choices, says Cullan Meathe
Are you seeking a place in Florida to escape the winters up north, or thinking about relocating? Look no further than Clearwater, suggests Cullan F. Meathe, an executive with Peninsula Transportation Group, LLC. Clearwater offers a quality lifestyle that is perfect for vacationers and residents alike.
Clearwater is located in Pinellas County, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. It is the smallest of those three cities, which are known as the Tampa Bay Area. It boasts beautiful white, sandy beaches, gulf waters, plenty of sunshine and lots to keep visitors busy and entertained both outdoors and indoors.
Meathe says first-time visitors should make certain they visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium with its famous dolphin, Winter, and its educational programs and marine animal shows. Sports fans should check out the Philadelphia Phillies during their Spring training at Bright House Field, the National Superboat Championships and the Ironman competition. Always a crowd pleaser is the daily Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival which features entertainment, artists and crafters and takes place at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach from about two hours before sundown to two hours after.
A major draw in the area is Clearwater Beach. Unlike the city of Clearwater, which sits on the mainland, the beach is a barrier island off Florida's west coast and surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico. The beach is part of a 35-mile-long stretch of beaches and is accessible from the mainland. A very attractive beach, it is popular with local residents and tourists year-round, particularly on weekends.
Clearwater Beach offers a variety of activities that will please a wide range of interests, including swimming, relaxing in the sun, waterskiing, jet skiing, boating and beach volleyball. For the more adventurous, parasailing is available from the Clearwater Municipal Marina. Boating is a focus of the area with ready access to charters and rentals at the marina for fishing excursions, dolphin-sighting cruises and sunset dinner trips.
Eating in Clearwater can be a delight, according to Meathe, as the area offers many restaurants and dining establishments to suit all tastes, from gourmet to fast food, and from seafood to ethnic. Clearwater also has many local bars, nightclubs, taverns, pubs and dance clubs for those wanting a fun way to enjoy their evenings.
For those interested in cultural activities, the Ruth Eckerd Hall with its world-class concert hall offers about 200 events annually. It is considered one of the foremost concert halls in the nation. The Francis Wilson Playhouse annually produces eight plays including musicals, dramas and comedies and conducts a summer teen arts program.
Music lovers will enjoy the internationally acclaimed, annual Clearwater Jazz Festival a four-night extravaganza of free live jazz performances in October. The Royalty Theatre, which underwent a complete restoration a decade ago, is a performing arts and cultural center.
Coachman Park, with its 20 acres of landscaped park on the waterfront in the downtown area, is one of the city's major outdoor venues. It is the site of the Marine Max Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Clearwater Celebrates America and Christmas Under the Oaks Arts Festival.
Meathe says that visitors who enjoy art should stop by Cleveland Street to view several sculptures, including an 18-foot-tall aluminum sculpture by Clayton Swartz, a Pinellas Park resident. The piece is part of Sculpture360, a Clearwater Public Art and Design Program that is funded through a partnership with the Downtown Development Board and brings high-quality public artwork to residents and visitors.
The City of Clearwater's Parks & Recreation Department has more than 100 parks and many of them are ideal locations for everything from musical festivals to sporting events. Throughout the year, visitors and locals can choose from a wide selection of these, including the Fun N Sun Festival, African American Heritage Day, the Florida Gulf Beaches Marathon and the Grand Prix.
Getting around Clearwater is relatively simple, although the traffic can be heavy during peak tourist seasons. For those who don't have their own cars, there are public buses run by PSTA, the transit authority for the area. There also are historic trolleys, taxis, limousine and sedans, which visitors and locals can hire to travel to and from their destinations. Meathe says that Peninsula Transportation Group is an example of a company that serves Clearwater with taxis, luxury sedans and limousines, as well as on-demand courier and delivery services, and transportation to and from the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
The next time you are considering a vacation in Florida, head to Clearwater. The quality of life is very appealing and there are plenty of things to do.
To hire a taxi or other ground transportation services while in the Clearwater area, visit www.PeninsulaTransportation.com, or call 727-799-2222.
