My aunt and uncle have been traveling from Michigan to Clearwater Beach, Florida since the 1970s. In 2013, they started inviting my son and me, and I began photographing this place.

Clearwater Beach is on a barrier island—a mix of residential neighborhoods and tourist attractions. You can take a pirate cruise, rent a jet ski, go parasailing, or hire a fishing boat. At the north end is Caladesi State Park, an undeveloped beach and wildlife habitat. To the south, a land bridge connects to Sand Key, another state park.

It’s a place of swimsuit shops and rare birds, deep-fried alligator and dolphin boat-tours, chain restaurants and wilderness trails. A place both layered and exposed.