Clearwater Beach Named Top Beach In U.S. By TripAdvisor

CLEARWATER, FL – Forget about traveling to Hawaii or California. Tampa Bay residents seeking the top beach in the country need look no further than home. The travel site TripAdvisor has just named Clearwater Beach the best beach in the country for 2018.

TripAdvisor analyzed the quantity and quality of more than 160,000 traveler reviews and ratings gathered during a 12-month period to create its list of best beaches. When all was done, Clearwater went straight to the top of the list of Traveler's Choice Beaches in the U.S.

Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos heard the news Wednesday morning, Feb. 21. While pleased, he said he wasn't the least bit surprised by the announcement.

"In addition to the fact that our sand is like sugar and you get it between your toes and never want to leave, we've got tourist partners who do a great job making tourists feel welcome and at home," Cretekos said.

Add to that the fishing, water sports, hotels, restaurant and shopping venues, "and the overall experience is second to none," he said. "We've got the best grouper sandwiches, the best sunsets and the best places to relax."

He said the government and business community has worked hard to maintain Clearwater Beach's reputation.

Renovations are currently underway on Clearwater's famous Pier 60 where generations of honeymooners have watched the sun set.

Additionally, the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort just completed a $20 million renovation project, the $175 million Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Resort was completed last year, the Opal Sands Resort opened in 2016 and the 287-room Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa just finished up a multi-million-dollar renovation project. Construction of Tampa Bay's first five-star hotel, the $120-million JW Marriott Hotel, is ongoing.

The city isn't just focused on tourists, however, said Cretekos. It's taken steps to ensure the beach is accessible to day-trippers from throughout Florida. Cretekos said the city has added more parking as well as free downtown parking that allows visitors to ride the free Jolley Trolley to the beach or hitch a scenic ride to the beach on the Clearwater Ferry from Drew Street in downtown Clearwater for $4 each way.

Tampa Bay residents continue to flock to events like Cooter' Annual Crabfest, the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship and Seafood Festival and the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival and Sand-Sculpting Competition.

"In the last 75 months, we've topped the number of visitors to Pinellas County every month with the exception of August 2012 when the Republican National Convention came to Tampa," Cretekos said. "We keep setting records every month."

The tally isn't in for 2017, but during the spring and summer of 2016, 2,377,800 tourists visited Pinellas County with Clearwater Beach attracting its fair share, according to Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater.

Clearwater Beach wasn't the only Florida beach to make the top 10 list of Traveler’s Choice Beaches in the U.S.

Clearwater Beach was closely followed by Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, which came in second place. Siesta Key was Tripadvisor’s top beach in 2017. Coming in at No. 7 was St. Pete Beach.

Other Florida beaches that made the list are South Beach in Miami (No. 4), Fort Lauderdale Beach (No. 6) and Hollywood Beach in Hollywood (No. 8).

Also on the top 10 list were Santa Monica Beach in Santa Monica, California (No. 9), Ka'anapali Beach in Lahaina, Hawaii (No. 3) and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in Honolulu, Hawaii (No. 5).

"Why spend all that money to go to Hawaii?" Cretekos asked. "You've got the best beach right here."

Image via City of Clearwater