The ever most highly ranked on “America’s most beautiful beaches” is overrated in my opinion. Yes it is beautiful, but definitely overcrowded … probably because everyone wants to see “America’s most beautiful beach”. I’ve been fortunate to live in Hawaii and it’s not close. It’ll take you an hour to travel to one of my favorite Tampa Bay restaurants, Columbia, when it’s only 5 miles up the road. That’s how bad the traffic is. Best thing I had was the lobster pot pie and jalapeno margarita at a small restaurant at the nearby Quality Inn called “Clearwater OysterBar.” Other than that, and the cute “Freaky Tiki Surf Shop”, Clearwater beach is just meh for me. I’ll skip this beach for the rest of the summer and maybe venture back during the off season when things aren’t so busy and packed.
Right up the way, after you drive through the small town of Dunedin (pronounced Done-ee-den), you’ll approach Honeymoon Island. A just as beautiful beach as Clearwater, but less crowded with significantly more available parking at a more reasonable price. The waters are clear, but you’ll have to navigate through some rocky shore line. Be sure to wear water shoes. Also, apparently you gotta be on the look out for reptilian wildlife off the dunes. After a relaxing day at the beach, exiting the long road to get to Honey Moon Island Beach, is the popular “Frenchys”. It’ll be crowded, but you might be able to snag a seat at the bar for a bloody Mary and some peel and eat shrimp or conch fritters.
Five B's on the Fly 