Tampa Bay offers a buffet of 9 beautiful beaches...

Thanks to their world-famous theme parks, Florida is an extremely popular vacation destination for families, but the year-round sunshine, white sandy beaches and gentle blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico began drawing crowds long before Mickey and Minnie ever arrived in the Sunshine State.

Miami is usually the first city that comes to mind when the words "Florida" and "beach" are uttered in the same sentence, but the beaches along the west coast of Florida are just as striking. Tourists visiting the greater Tampa Bay area will find themselves with several beach options that run from Clearwater in the north to St. Pete Beach in the south.

Clearwater Beach

Part of the larger surrounding city of Clearwater, Clearwater Beach is cherished by both locals and tourists and has always been appreciated for its gorgeous sunsets. Weather permitting, nightly sunset celebrations featuring local artists and entertainers are held at Clearwater Beach's Pier 60. Sunsets at Pier 60 Society, the not-for-profit organization behind these well-loved celebrations, celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in 2010 and is still going strong. The Society claims that the popular sunset festivals are Clearwater Beach's only free source of family entertainment.

Indian Rocks Beach

The City of Indian Rocks Beach is less than three miles along the Gulf of Mexico, but its family-friendly beaches, restaurants, and hotels make up in charm what the city lacks in size. More than twenty beach accesses means Indian Rocks Beach makes it easy for sun worshippers, fishers, and boaters to get whatever pleasure they so desire!

Indian Shores Beach

Indian Shores Beach is home to approximately 1500 full-time residents, but that number soars to over 5000 during the winter months and it's easy to see why. Indian Shores Beach has accommodations which include motels, condos, and timeshares and dozens of shops, restaurants, and parks.

Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that rescues over 8,000 birds per year, is also located in Indian Shores Beach. The Sanctuary is open year-round with free admission.

Redington Shores

The town of Redington Shores Beach is located less than an hour's drive from the Tampa International Airport. Who would have thought you could step off the plane and be fishing or parasailing within such a short time? Jet Ski rentals, aqua bikes, and paddle boats are just a few of the many beach activities available in addition to local town parks and golf courses.

North Redington Beach

North Redington Beach offers a variety of hotels, motels, and rentals for visitors in addition to plenty of restaurant choices. North Redington Beach was once home to the Tides Bath Club, a resort frequented by celebrities-- according to the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe stayed there while they were married! Six beach accesses are located on the Gulf side of North Redington Beach, making it extremely easy to soak up some rays and enjoy the surf and sand.

Redington Beach

Bordered by North Redington Beach to the north and Madeira Beach to the south, the tiny town of Redington Beach is approximately 1 square mile which is primarily comprised of residential homes. There are, however, five public beach accesses and four town parks along with a children's playground. A causeway used for fishing and simply relaxing is also present.

Madeira Beach

Hands down, the main attraction located in the City of Madeira Beach is John's Pass Village and Boardwalk, a historic fishing district that morphed into a major entertainment area over the years. John's Pass is home to over one hundred retail and dining merchants, including the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market, which may be of interest to any Forrest Gump fans out there. A variety of dinner cruises, dolphin sightseeing tours and casino cruises depart from Johns Pass daily, and Jet Ski rentals and parasailing trips also take place. The City of Madeira Beach, whose unofficial slogan is "Two miles long and a SMILE wide!" mainly consists of residential homes, but rental condos and cottages are available near John's Pass.

Treasure Island

As soon as you cross the bridge to Treasure Island, you'll find yourself enveloped in small town ambiance with a tropical twist. Most of the island's hotels and motels are located mid-island, along the widest part of the beach. This commercial area has plenty of restaurants and shops located within walking distance. Treasure Island is also home to Sunshine Beach and Sunset Beach, two smaller beaches which are mainly comprised of residential homes. The 1/5 mile-long Blind Pass Boardwalk, located along the Gulf at the southern tip of the island is popular for fishing and walking. If you find yourself in love with the area after your first visit, rest assured that you're not alone--baseball great Babe Ruth had a winter home on Treasure Island after his retirement.

St. Pete Beach

This coastal city, originally named St. Petersburg Beach, was referred to as St. Pete Beach for so long that locals voted to officially change their town's name in 1994 to distinguish it from the larger neighboring city of St. Petersburg.

St. Pete Beach is home to the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa, nicknamed "Florida's Pink Castle" because of its extravagant cotton-candy colored exterior. The Don, as it's locally known, was built in 1928 and is on the Historic Hotels of America's National Trust for Historical Preservation. If you're a beach lover in need a break from the sand and sun, visit the historic Corey Avenue shopping district located in the downtown area to visit the shops and grab a bite to eat.

Whichever beaches you wind up visiting during your time in the Tampa Bay area, you'll be sure to enjoy yourself. Warm weather, sparkling waters, and picture-perfect sunsets are just a few of the things you'll get to experience every day of your trip, so be sure to enjoy yourself!