Home to the largest recreational fishing fleet on the West Coast of Florida, the Clearwater Marina is a major component of our recreational core. In addition to being home to the largest recreational fishing fleet on the West Coast of Florida, many other vessels offer a myriad of activities beyond fishing.

The wide variety of sightseeing boats offers unique ways to experience the area. Sail away under billowing sails in true luxury on three-masted schooners; thrill to an exhilarating ride on the world's largest speedboat; cruise the gulf on a pirate ship, bringing to mind the swashbuckling days of pirates and damsels in distress. Observe the magnificence of dolphins frolicking in the waves or a spectacular sunset of the Gulf of Mexico. Dinner-dance cruises promise evenings to remember. A ferry service provides excursions to natural locales such as Caladesi Island. Become a marine biologist on one of several marine life adventure cruises. More than 300 varieties of fish swim in the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, only a few of which are grouper, snapper, trout, snook, tarpon, red fish, kingfish, shark, sailfish and mackerel.

Clearwater Beach's Pier 60, open 24 hours a day, offers a full service bait house with gear rental and sales, live bait, snacks and beverages. Fishing season is year round.

Kayak through bay islands and bird rookeries with the opportunity to see dolphins, great blue herons and more. Charter your own private boat with a captain to take you snorkeling, shelling or to your own private island. Dive on one of more than ten artificial offshore reefs along the coast of Pinellas County, home to coral, sponges and a wide variety of undersea creatures.

Pier 60 Park, with the only covered children's playground directly on the sand, has two play areas with age appropriate equipment-one for preschoolers and the other for 8-12 year olds. Pier 60 Park is also home to Sunsets at Pier 60, our nightly "street" festival celebrating the setting of the sun featuring music, street performers and hand crafted arts and crafts sold by the artists themselves.

Twenty-six public and semi-private courses provide ample challenges. Professional and professional-amateur tournaments are held yearly at several of our fine courses, including Westin Innisbrook Resort, Saddlebrook Resort and Cheval Polo and Golf Club. Advanced Tee Times USA Reservation Service will book tee times in advance at no charge.

Florida is not all beaches, palm trees and theme parks, and Clearwater is no exception. Over a century of history is easily visible and accessible, much of it free. Consider that the Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa, built in 1897, is the oldest occupied wooden building still used for its original purpose; tour the underground railway; take the tour to see the hidden passageways and maybe hear a ghost tale or two.

Stroll through historic downtown Clearwater and beautiful Harbor Oaks with its early 20th century homes. Go back in time to Heritage Village, a turn of the century living historical museum where men and women dress in period costume and live and work as Florida's pioneers did. Climb the batteries at Ft. DeSoto, a Spanish American War fort. Nearby Hillsborough County's Ybor City returns you to the time Tampa was the "Cigar Capital of the World;" turn of the century Cuban and Spanish culture permeates this historic landmark district, one of only three in Florida.

Thousands of American Indians once lived among the bodies of water which are now Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico; several area feature mounds dated from 500 BC to 1,500 AD. For more information on the mounds, call 727-384-0027.