How would you compare the beaches of Clearwater, Florida to Key West, FL?

Question

I'm looking for a beach to get married at, and we're thinking Clearwater (well, technically Sand Key...but we can always swim at Clearwater Beach)....but I'm afraid it's not going to be as clear as what people are making it out to be.

I'm looking for the whitest beach and the bluest water...but I'm afraid I'm going to have to go more south for that, right? Some of the photos I see the water looks blue and some of them it looks dark like the Atlantic.

Has anyone been to these beaches to compare?

Answer 1

Clearwater is nice and has beautiful sunsets, but it can NOT compare to the beauty of Key West. Key West has less crime, equally beautiful sunsets, clearer water, more free growing floras, more underwater life variety (Clearwater has few corals, mostly sponges), way better attractions, is more historical, AND has the sunset celebration every night down at Mallory Square. While I do love Clearwater, Key West is absolute paradise. The only problem I have with Key West is that when I come back home I have a serious case of the "Keys Disease"; that is when you rack your brain for six months trying to figure out how you can afford to live there, and then it dawns on you either you have to win the lotto or find out your REAL family are the Vanderbilts! ;0)

p.s. If you do Key West make sure to bring a few slices of bread to the sunset celebration at Mallory Square, usually the Queen Angel fish will come and eat the cubes. It's cool, they're really beautiful fish. Make sure and google "Key West vacation", you will find out a lot about the area. Also do a search for "Key West weddings", they have everything from  grand scale weddings to notaries who will meet you down at the beach for a small private sunset wedding. Best wishes.

Answer 2

Clearwater is an actual beach.

Key West doesn't have any actual beaches.  There is one hotel (nothing special) that I know of that has a beach, but other than that it doesn't really have any beaches to go out on.  I went to a wedding in Key West- it was on a dock.  Beautiful wedding, but if you're looking to go out on the beach, Key West isn't the place.

Sand Key is great.