Clearwater Resort Close to Beach and Major Attractions

Though Florida has many beautiful beaches, Fodor’s named the ones in Clearwater on its list of the The 7 Best Family Beaches in the East, citing their “gorgeous white sand” and “shallow waters that are clear and warm.” Camelot Resort is just a short walk from the beach, as well as from Sunsets at Pier 60, a daily festival filled with local crafters, street performers, and live music held atop a pier that juts out over the sparkling water.

Inside the hotel, each of the rooms has a different theme: the Beachy rooms have beds with palm-tree-print comforters; Victorian furnishings abound in the Elegant rooms; and in the Intimate room, your high-school diary pages paper the walls. The rooms are complete with full kitchens with granite countertops and cookware. Outside, there’s a small, heated pool surrounded by deck chairs. For more privacy, you can head to the crow’s nest or the rooftop sun deck.

Clearwater, Florida: Home of Florida’s Best Family Beach

Clearwater lies just north of St. Petersburg, on the sugary sands along the Gulf of Mexico; it’s a popular spot for boating and swimming. A 30-minute drive away is Caladesi Island State Park, where you can fish or kayak near 3-mile trails that wind through mangroves and bays. Just more than a mile from the resort sits the Clearwater Aquarium, home to one of Clearwater’s biggest celebrities—Winter the dolphin, who starred in A Dolphin’s Tale alongside Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd.

Downtown St. Petersburg has upscale dining and shopping right along the seashore. If you can’t decide between beach and retail, head to Pass-A-Grille where the two worlds collide: there’s an outdoor art market, boutiques, and an ice-cream shop right on the seashore.

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