For those seeking an active lifestyle, Clearwater is the place to be. With miles of white beaches, world-class museums, waterfront concerts, spectacular sunsets, 26 public and semi-private golf courses and more than two million square feet of combined mall space, the Pinellas Suncoast has something for everyone.
Clearwater is home to a celebration of music with its annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday in October. Pari-mutuel wagering is available with greyhound racing, thoroughbred racing and jai alai in nearby communities. By traveling a mere thirty minutes from Clearwater, a visitor can spend a day at Busch Gardens, Florida Aquarium or the Lowry Park Zoo. Less than a two-hour drive away are numerous large attractions such as Walt Disney World Resort®, EPCOT Center, MGM Studios, Universal Studios, Sea World and Cypress Gardens. Visitors can combine relaxing on Clearwater Beach with day trips to other major attractions. Fine restaurants are plentiful, varying from elegantly simple to simply elegant. Menus include a wide selection from ethnic Italian or gourmet French to "down home" barbecue or fresh fish caught daily. Pinellas County is the seventh largest school district in Florida and ranks 23rd of 16,000 school districts nationally. The district has approximately 104,000 students attending. Pinellas County boasts five exceptional education schools and three exceptional education centers in addition to its regular curriculum. Over 36,000 students attend adult and technical programs at 12 centers in the county. For continuing and advanced education, several colleges, universities and vocational-technical institutions are within short traveling distances. Each offers a wide range of pre-med, computer science, nursing and specific skilled programs developed at employers' requests. Situated in a semi-tropical zone, Clearwater features nearly ideal weather the year around. Clearwater enjoys an annual average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Winds from the Gulf of Mexico help to keep the climate relatively stable. An eight to ten miles per hour northeasterly breeze prevails throughout much of the year. Clearwater's mild winters and warm summers, tempered by the cooling afternoon rains and southerly prevailing winds off the Gulf, attract millions of vacationers and a number of new residents. The area known as the Pinellas Suncoast, of which Clearwater is a part, has sunshine about 95 percent of the year making it an ideal place for enjoying the outdoors. |