Few beach towns have it all, but Clearwater is one of those rare and precious jewels. Nestled on Florida’s west coast near Tampa, the area averages 361 fabulous days of sunshine per year. And it even holds the record for consecutive sunny days at 768—that’s more than two years of straight sun!
It’s no wonder why visitors from around the world—especially snow birds—flock to Clearwater to swim in—you guessed it—crystal clear water. A constant supply of warm weather (temperatures range from low 70s in the winter to low 90s in the summer) and close proximity to two airports (St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and Tampa International Airport) make planning a vacation here a no-brainer.
Main attractions include lots of free and family-friendly waterfront activities, fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood, great beach bars, an exciting year-round events calendar, a selection of hotels that fit any budget, and of course, miles and miles of drop-dead-gorgeous beaches.
Here are the 23 best things to do, places to eat, beaches to visit, and places to stay.
Best Clearwater Beaches To Visit
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater Beach is the white sands beach that’s been repeatedly voted as one of the best in the U.S., if not the world, by various outlets. Just steps from hotels and nightlife spots, you can enjoy the emerald sea and the sugary beaches like a local. Stroll the half-mile Beach Walk (pictured above), where you can spend a day frolicking in the water, checking out the surf shops, hunting for the perfect souvenir at a touristy boutique, or grabbing a bite to eat along the waterfront.
Sand Key Park
While Clearwater Beach is the heart of all the action, nearby Sand Key Park is a hidden slice of paradise. The 95 acres of salt marshes and spacious sandy beaches are begging to be explored. Here you’ll also find plenty of parking at $5 per car.
Honeymoon Island
Just a short jaunt from Clearwater, Honeymoon Island is Florida’s most-visited state park. The roughly 370-acre barrier island is home to four miles of completely undeveloped beaches and while the island draws quite the drove of beach-goers on the weekends, if you go on a weekday, you’ll have the place all to yourself. Admission is $8 per vehicle.
Caladesi Island State Park
From Honeymoon Island, you can hop on a ferry ($16 per person) to Caladesi Island State Park (pictured above), which is only accessible by boat and isn’t quite as crowded as its sister park. The beach here is second to none, so pack a picnic and plan to make a whole day of it.
Top Things To Do
Nick Collura
Celebrate the Beautiful Clearwater Sunsets
Sunsets at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach operates year-round. Starting two hours before sunset and lasting until two hours after, the nightly celebration brings together artisans and street performers in one location to tip off the start to the evening.
sunsetsatpier60.com, 1 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767
Visit a Aquarium for Sick and Injured Marine Life
Score some face time with Clearwater Beach’s most famous local residents. Winter and Hope, stars of Dolphin Tale 1 and Dolphin Tale 2, have shared the big screen with the likes of Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Harry Connick, Jr., just to name a few. Though Winter passed away in 2021, visitors can still come to experience a VR musical honoring her life and legacy. Hope continues to reside at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a hospital for sick and injured marine life. The aquarium is also an educational facility that offers animal encounters, boat tours and daily presentations. General admission starts at $35.95 for adults and $26.95 for kids.
cmaquarium.org, 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767
Head Out on a Pirate Cruise
Ahoy to all pirate-loving briny buccaneers! Board Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise (pictured above), a bright red ship at the Clearwater Beach Marina and embark on a two-hour odyssey that includes a treasure hunt, dolphin-watching, water gun games, face painting and tall tales from the captain’s crew. Tickets start at $40 for adults and $33 for kids.
captainmemo.com, 25 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Explore Town on the Trolley
A great way to get around town, the Jolley Trolley operates daily service on Clearwater Beach. The Coastal Route runs on weekends between Clearwater Beach and downtown Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs—all of which are great spots for a fun day trip to walk around and explore these charming coastal communities. Unlimited daily passes are $5 per person.
clearwaterjolleytrolley.com, 410 N Myrtle Ave, Clearwater, FL 33755
Best Local Restaurants
Courtesy Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
A mainstay of Clearwater Beach and famous for its classic grouper sandwiches, Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill is the largest of the four Frenchy’s establishments in the area. The open-air restaurant offers the perfect mix of Floribbean food, beach views, colorful rum drinks, and live local bands.
frenchysonline.com, 7 Rockaway St, Clearwater, FL 33767
Shephard’s Tiki Beach Bar & Grill
For casual beach fare that includes grass-fed beef burgers and grouper tacos, as well as fresh salads and large helpings, Shephard’s Tiki Beach Bar and Grill is the place to stop. Enjoy live entertainment every afternoon and evening that ranges from reggae to lively local and national acts. Relax with a cool cocktail or get your groove on at the beach-side tiki bar.
shephards.com, 619 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Palm Pavillion Beachside Grill & Bar
Another hotspot located in the heart of all the action on Clearwater Beach, Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar (pictured above) was named the best beach bar of 2021 by Visit St. Pete Clearwater. It’s a place where you can catch spectacular gulf sunsets, sip on tropical cocktails, nosh on coconut shrimp, and listen to nightly live music on the deck.
palmpavillion.com, 10 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater, FL 33767
Clear Sky Beachside Cafe
For the best weekend brunch in town, head to Clear Sky Beachside Café in Clearwater Beach. It’s a local favorite where the Bloody Marys always go down nice and easy.
clearskycafe.com, 490 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater, FL 33767
Starlight Majesty Dining Yacht
Cruising is making a comeback and there’s no better place to enjoy the travel trend than at Clearwater’s Starlight Majesty Dining Yacht’s tours around the beach’s waterways. With a free open bar, you can enjoy a sunset cruise with a drink in hand and a buffet dinner.
starlitecruises.com, 25 Causeway Blvd, Slip #152, Clearwater, FL 33767
Best Beach Bars and Local Brews
Courtesy of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest
Situated atop the 10th floor of Clearwater Beach’s Pier House 60 Hotel, Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest (pictured above) is the perfect place to go for great views and cold brews. At sunset they celebrate by ringing a bell and passing around shots.
jimmyscrowsnest.com, 101 Coronado Dr, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Clearwater Social Brew and Cork
Local brewery Clearwater Social Brew and Cork is a craft beer and wine bar offering ciders, too. There 24 rotating beers on tap from Florida, the Southeast, and more to enjoy while taking in one of those famous gulf coast sunsets.
brewandcork.com, 483 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Where To Stay
Courtesy of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
With plenty of hotel options for nearly every style of traveler, here are a few great places to stay in Clearwater.
Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
Book a room at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa (pictured above), and you’ll be close to the nightly sunset celebrations at Pier 60 as well as the pedestrian-friendly Beach Walk. The hotel sits on a stunning stretch of sand and most rooms have either beach or harbor views.
hilton.com, 400 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater, FL 33767
Sandpearl Resort
At Sandpearl Resort, comfort meets style with sunny Floridian-inspired decor and private balconies with sweeping views of Clearwater, Mandalay Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. The suites feature full kitchens, dining rooms, and furnished balconies. Sandpearl Resort’s laid-back elegance is an ideal home base for a vacation on one of America’s best beaches, including a romantic escape, business trip, or family gathering.
opalcollection.com/sandpearl, 500 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Check in to the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, which offers every outdoorsy activity under the sun, including tennis, beach volleyball, and convenient access to local attractions. The hotel has 13 acres of private beach access and offers the perfect respite for a laid-back vacation.
marriott.com, 1160 Gulf Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Opal Sands Resort
Opal Sands Resort is referred to as Sandpearl Resort’s sassy younger sibling. With a contemporary, beach-chic design approach featuring original pieces by master artist Christopher Still, guests have the perfect setting to unwind with private balconies, luxurious bedding, and upscale amenities.
opalcollection.com/opal-sands, 430 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33767
Camping at Anclote Key Preserve State Park
Pitch your tent at the white sands beach that’s known for its lack of foot traffic at the Anclote Key Preserve State Park. You arrive by ferry as there are no access roads, and it’s only a short 15 minute drive from Clearwater proper to where you board. Make sure you pack in a way that allows you to bring your trash back with you as there are no trash facilities on the island—nice if you think about it.
floridastateparks.org, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Other great hotel options in the area include the boutique-style, award-winning Palm Pavilion Inn, and Gulf-front Hyatt Clearwater Beach.
Local Festivals To Attend
Jeremiah Khokhar
From food and music festivals to nightly sunset celebrations, there’s always something going on in Clearwater. Here are a few of the area’s top annual events.
Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
Happening each year in the springtime, the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival is a two-week celebration that pays homage to the sugary sands of Clearwater Beach. Under massive white tents on the beach, artists craft the most incredible sandcastles and works of art for the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit. There’s also live entertainment, sand sculpting classes and competitions, and plenty of free activities for the kids. Admission to the Sugar Sand Walk exhibit is $12, while children three years old and under are free.
Bright House Clearwater SuperBoat National Championship & Seafood Festival
Thousands of spectators head to the waterfront every fall for a glimpse of powerful boats that can reach speeds of up to 100 mph. The Bright House Clearwater SuperBoat National Championship & Seafood Festival is perfect for adrenaline junkies and seafood lovers alike. Local hotels and restaurants host special events and watch parties for the speedboat competition. Or, board the StarLite Majesty Dining yacht for a six-hour VIP experience and the opportunity to see the boats up close and on the water. The cruise starts at $95 for adults and $60 for kids.
Clearwater Jazz Holiday
The granddaddy of Florida jazz festivals, Clearwater Jazz Holiday (pictured above), draws quite the soulful crowd to Coachman Park each fall. Every year talented international musicians grace the stage and past performances have even included The Empress of Soul herself, Gladys Knight.
Whether you’re a beach bum, tropical cocktail connoisseur or mini pirate in training, Clearwater Beach is the perfect place for those who love long warm days in the sunshine.
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Publish date : 2024-07-24 19:26:15
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