What is It - Once regarded as a retirement haven for senior citizens seeking calm waters for shell collecting and early bird dinner specials, the Gulf Coast of Central Florida has emerged in the 21st century as a hot destination for vacationers, businesses, and housing development. The metropolitan areas of the Tampa Bay region and Sarasota-Bradenton have a combined population now of more than 4 million people and are growing rapidly.

One of the major attractions of this region are the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. They offer tranquil warm waters and sparkling sands that rival any Caribbean island. This Gulf Coast waterfront includes approximately 60 miles of luxury and family-oriented hotels, condos and apartments, and public beaches. Five of the many beaches in this stretch are frequently ranked among the top beaches in the United States.

Some of the most acclaimed locations are the barrier islands of Clearwater, Lido Key, Siesta Key and Longboat Key, along with the seaward section of St. Petersburg known as St Pete's Beach. Supporters of other nearby locations such as Treasure Island and Anna Maria Island would likely advocate that their shoreline areas should be included as part of the extraordinary beaches of the Gulf Coast, but the five beaches mentioned seem to have the greatest cache.

Clearwater and St Pete's Beach, the two most commercialized areas, attract large spring break crowds from time to time which can be a mixed blessing to local merchants, municipal authorities, and residents. Lido Key and Longboat Key are less developed and have fewer hotel rooms available for visitors. However, the numerous luxury properties there coupled with special attractions such as St Armand’s Circle and the recently renovated Resort at Longboat Key give those two areas an air of sophistication. Finally, Siesta Key has become a household name because of the publicity surrounding the MTV series which portrays the area as providing a sophisticated nightlife and active lifestyle for glamorous millennials and wealthy residents. While the facilities and public access areas on Longboat Key are limited, the other areas offer large public beaches, parks and picnicing spots, and free parking areas and changing facilities, so everyone living in nearby communities can enjoy access to the water.

Interesting Facts - There is more than a healthy competition underway between the beaches for recognition as the most beautiful or most popular beach in the United States. When the community of Lido Key struggled to contain beach erosion and launched a huge engineering project to renourish its beachfront by dredging sand out of bay known as the Big Pass which separates the two communities, the Siesta Key Association brought a series of unsuccessful lawsuits against Lido Key to stop the project claiming environmental damage and theft of the submerged land.

When to Go - These Gulf Coast beaches can be enjoyed almost year-round. From mid-April until early November, the air temperature is usually between 80 and 90° and the water temperature usually stays above 75°. Brief thunderstorms are common several days a week during the middle of the summer and visitors should keep alert as to the possibility of heavy rain and winds during hurricane season in the fall. During the winter, however, many locals and snowbirds still enjoy visiting the beach for walks, recreation, and an occasional dip.

How to Get Here - The main airport in the region remains the Tampa International Airport which is an outstanding facility with connections to most parts of the country and some overseas locations with all major carriers and economy airlines. The Sarasota-Bradenton Airport is also generating an increasing number of flights and more destinations are being added all the time.

Where to Stay - There are numerous quality hotels available right on the beach throughout the area with direct access to the water. For a luxury stay, the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater, the Don Cesar at St Pete's Beach, the Lido Beach Resort on Lido Key, and the Resort at Longboat Key are all good options. For families, it is tough to match the Trade Winds Island Grand Hotel on St Pete's Beach. In addition, ready access to public beaches make it possible to stay inland at national brand hotels or local motels instead of directly on the water. The Ritz-Carlton located just across the causeway from Lido Key is highly regarded and guests there can take a shuttle to use the hotel’s beach club on Lido Beach.