Retirement Spotlight: Clearwater

Located west of Tampa and just north of St. Petersburg, Clearwater makes up the third leg of one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Florida. Known for its white sand beaches and the fabulous Clearwater Marine Aquarium, this is the ultimate destination for baby boomers that want to feel like they are forever on vacation.

Because it is located so close to Tampa, Clearwater residents enjoy close access to a major international airport. They also enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches that you will find anywhere along the Gulf Coast.

Clearwater History

Originally home to the Tocobaga Native Americans, the area that would become Clearwater was first inhabited by settlers when Fort Harrison was built here around 1835. The town remained very small up until Peter Demens provided passenger train access to the area in 1888.

People began migrating to Clearwater in force a few years later, and the city was booming by the time the 1960s rolled around. Continued construction projects kept that growth moving all the way into the 2000s.

Clearwater Lifestyle

Everything about the Clearwater lifestyle revolves around the idea of an endless vacation. They were recently named TripAdvisor’s #1 Beach in America, so there are an endless amount of ways to enjoy the sand and the water here!

In addition to things like relaxing on the beach, boating, fishing, and watching for dolphins, Clearwater also boasts an incredible amount of world-class golf courses, as well as all of the shopping and dining amenities you might expect to find filling your fantastic vacation retirement.

Clearwater Culture

Even the cultural elements come with a vacation-themed twist here in Clearwater. One of the most popular cultural attractions is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which happens to be the home of Winter, who you might remember as the star of Dolphin Tale.

If you are looking to catch a stage performance in a theatre that is chock full of history, then you will be happy to know that the Capitol Theatre offers precisely that experience. And there are always great shows on the calendar here!

Clearwater Shopping

Like most popular tourist towns in Florida, Clearwater has a unique collection of shopping options located in different parts of the city. The best place to start your shopping adventure is Downtown Clearwater’s Cleveland Street District, where you will find eclectic fashion boutiques and fine jewelers.

If you are looking for hip and trendy souvenir-style shops, head over to Mandalay Ave and Gulfview Boulevard. That is where you will find a Ron John Surf Shop, as well as Frenchy’s Off the Hook and the Immortal Hulk Hogan’s Beach Shop.

And for residents who need more of a mall-style shopping experience, Westfield Countryside is the ultimate destination for those classic department and specialty stores.

Clearwater Dining

The best way to approach dining in Clearwater is to plan on grabbing something quick in between beach sessions. Three options that we love for doing just that are Pearly’s Beach Eats for fish tacos, Crispy Cajun for a crawfish boil, and Nauti-Nancy’s for burgers and sandwiches.

When you are ready to class things up a bit around dinner time, SHOR American Seafood Grill offers the ultimate dining experience for seafood lovers. If you prefer Italian, Cesare’s At The Beach and Villi Bellini Restaurant & Lounge are both excellent choices, and Bascom’s Chop House is the place to go for a perfectly seared steak.

Clearwater Area Communities

Located just minutes from Clearwater, Valencia Lakes’ coastal Tampa location makes it easy to enjoy the breathtaking beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Valencia Lakes offers a vacation-inspired lifestyle that caters to residents looking to socialize and stay physically active.

The gorgeous waterfront clubhouse is perfect for active retired adults and offers an array of amenities including a fitness center, grand social hall, relaxing pools, tennis courts and an outdoor bistro.

A full-time lifestyle director is onsite to organize a wide variety of clubs, fun events and opportunities for making new friends all year-round.

Plus, this amazing community features a stunning selection of twin villas and single-family homes that provide the ultimate in carefree living.

You can request more information here.

With everything from beautiful white-sand beaches to delicious dining, everything about Clearwater is designed to make you feel like you are on an endless vacation. The only real difference is that you won’t have to pack your bags and leave from this one!