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This Tampa suburb lies on the southwestern coast of Florida. The powdery white sands of Clearwater Beach are bordered by an extensive dock and winding promenade. The beach remains a popular location for water-based activities that including sailing, swimming and surfing. You can rent a variety of land and water-based vehicles as well. The nearby Clearwater Marine Aquarium serves as a living museum and rescue center for native marine life and is the home of Winter, the dolphin made famous by the film "Dolphin Tale."

Key facts

U.S. Route 19 is the main road that runs north and south, and State Road 60 travels east and west. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority provides bus service and beach trolleys that make stops within the community, along the coast or into Tampa.

Hints and tips

The Tocobaga people made the area home prior to the arrival of the United States Army, who constructed Fort Harrison in 1835. In 1842, the government set aside 160 acres for settlers choosing to establish homesteads. The city's strategic coastal location precipitated attacks during the Civil War and WWII. Today, the Gulf provides an abundance of fresh seafood that includes crab, lobster, shrimp or grouper. The community enjoys a humid tropical climate of hot summers and warm winters, with temperatures that rarely dip below 60 degrees.