Coop’s 3 Favorite Beaches to Visit in Tampa Bay

If you're new to Tampa Bay, it can be kind of intimidating to find a good beach. Not because there's a few to choose from, but because there are so many good ones, and they all have something different to offer.

When I first moved here to finish my last year of high school, I had no clue what or where any beach was. If you look at a map, you'd never know the difference between one beach from the next.

Over time I've been able to go to a lot of beaches, and I think I've found my favorites.

Clearwater Beach might be the very first beach you think of when you think of the Gulf Coast. That might be because been Trip Advisor's No.1 Beach in the U.S.A. back in 2016, 2018, and 2019.

There are also so many accessible restaurants nearby, which offer a lot of great happy hours.

Just south of Clearwater Beach is St. Pete Beach. St. Pete recently placed #5 on Trip Advisor's list for best beaches in the world. Postcard Inn on the Beach, one of St. Pete's most popular beach bars is a great place to grab a drink and even play some volleyball. More of a Bloody Mary person? You might want to check out Rick's Reef and their Bloody Mary bar.

Indian Rocks Beach gives off much more of a local vibe. The traffic isn't as bad as Clearwater Beach or St. Pete Beach gets, and they even have a Crabby Bill's location.