Fun Things to Do in Clearwater, Florida

It only took my husband and me a few hours to fall in love with Clearwater, Florida.

Our weekend getaway helped us understand why so many choose to go back to Clearwater Beach to vacation year after year.

Table of Contents

Toggle

Thanks again to Visit Clearwater Beach for hosting my visit and KIA for providing our loaner vehicle. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.

Where is Clearwater, Florida?

Clearwater, Florida, is located in Central Florida, west of Tampa on the Gulf Coast.

If you are flying into Clearwater, the two closest airports to Clearwater are:

• St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Clearwater is only about a 35-45 minute drive from Tampa, depending on traffic.

Gorgeous Turquoise Water and White Sandy Beaches in Clearwater

The turquoise “clear water” matches its namesake, and the white sand is soooo soft that it feels like pillows for your feet when you walk down the beach.

During our visit, the water temperatures were warm enough to swim in the ocean comfortably.

If you prefer to spend most of your vacation time at the beach, you’ll find plenty of lounge chair rentals available, along with water sports rentals.

Where to Stay in Clearwater, Florida

During our visit, we stayed at the gorgeous Wyndham Grand Resort located in the heart of Clearwater.

Our balcony gave us views of both the Gulf of Mexico and the bay.

The property location is extremely convenient to everywhere you would want to be.

You can truly park once and not use your vehicle until you leave if you want to.

The only way to park your vehicle at the resort is by using the complimentary valet, which sets the tone for vacation mode.

It was so wonderful to melt into my bed (Simmons Beautyrest Cape Brenton Pillowtop Mattress) after full-throttle days filled with fun.

I even called the resort to find out what type of mattress it was, and they said that it’s a pretty common question and that you can even buy them online.

The bed is that memorable!

The Wyndham is steps away from the beach and a short distance to the pier, downtown shops, and the marina where there are charters and tour options.

Search, Compare & Book The Closest Hotels & Airbnbs in Clearwater

Where to Eat in Clearwater, FL

One of my favorite parts about visiting a destination is trying out the local food.

We had a lot of fantastic options to choose from.

Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill

7 Rockaway St, Clearwater, FL

Located on the beach, Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill is known for their Grouper Sandwiches, Grouper nuggets, and their “She Crab” soup.

So, of course, we opted for all of the above.

The only variation was that we ordered the Reuben version of Frenchy’s World Famous Grouper Sandwich.

There’s dining available inside, you can sit at the outside bar, or enjoy a table with a view of the beach.

Frenchy’s has multiple restaurants in the Clearwater area; each has its own personality.

We opted for the beach location because you can’t beat those gorgeous turquoise views while you are eating.

The Bait House

45 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, FL

Located on the bay, this tiny gem is worth discovering. You can’t go wrong with fish tacos…ever!

We noticed the Bait House during a walk and decided to give it a shot. There’s a small store where you can purchase bait and tackle and a small covered bar area and table seating on the deck.

There’s an additional deck where you can grab a drink while waiting for a table.

Dollar bills from previous guests cover just about everything that you see.

It’s always a good sign when customers want to wallpaper a restaurant with their dollars.

We opted for fish tacos made with their “fresh catch of the day” while enjoying the beautiful bay views and relaxed atmosphere.

When I said fresh, you can’t get any fresher than fishing boats bringing you their catch directly to your dock every day; it’s that fresh.

Clear Sky Cafe

490 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater, FL

Clear Sky Cafe came highly recommended by the man we met at the visitor center.

You know it’s good when a local says that they eat there 3 times a week.

After our meal, we understood why. We ate a late dinner on the side outdoor patio.

The atmosphere was cozy with live music playing in the background.

For appetizers, we ordered the Tuna Guacamole (Ahi tuna, fresh avocado, ponzu sauce served with wontons)….AMAZING!!!

For our entree, we ordered fish tacos. I ordered the blackened shrimp and my husband ordered the Mahi tacos.

The perfect meal for our last dinner in Clearwater.

I don’t think that you can go wrong with any of their menu options.

Enjoy a Sweet Treat in Clearwater

It’s not a vacation without ice cream, right??? There were many ice cream shops in the area, and we ended up at Ice & Cream Creamery.

Their ice cream is fresh and locally sourced.

I originally envisioned eating my ice cream on the beach, but in reality it melts too quickly once you go back outside.

Dolphin Sightings in Clearwater

You have multiple options to see all types of dolphins in Clearwater.

I’ve had a special place in my heart for dolphins ever since I was a little girl, and I was so happy to experience them in a variety of mediums.

Dolphin Art Sculptures Around Clearwater

There are more than 120 dolphin sculptures on the Clearwater Dolphin Trail located throughout Clearwater.

It’s fun to discover the creativity and personality of each dolphin sculpture by local artists.

Watch for Dolphins During a Ride on the Sea Screamer

I still get giddy every time that I’m fortunate enough to see a dolphin in the wild.

The Sea Screamer dolphin boat ride did not disappoint.

We took the 4pm ride on the Sea Screamer. We learned about the area’s history, along with the best part: dolphin sightings on the world’s largest speedboat.

They even played Van Halen’s song “Jump” each time the dolphins jumped our boat’s wake.

The boat ride provides another perspective of the area, and it’s perfect for all ages.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Former Home of Winter the Dolphin that Inspired the Movie “Dolphin Tale”

Take a Sea Safari Tour

During our 90-minute Sea Safari tour, we learned about the local ecosystem, saw several dolphins in the bay, collected seashells on a man-made island, and witnessed data collection where they gather samples from the ocean.

This tour inspired us to treat sea life with a sense of wonder and respect.

The butterfly ray (pictured above) was collected for data and released at the end of the day.

The daily data collected helps monitor the health of the ecosystem.

The tour was a great mix of education and hands-on learning. 

Learn the heart behind Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The movie “Dolphin Tale” is about the dolphin named Winter who lost her tail and put the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on the map.

The aquarium has been advocating for sea life long before the media and movie shared their story.

It is truly such a special place.

The mission of rescue, rehab, release, and passion at the aquarium is evident from every volunteer and staff member you encounter at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

In fact, the walls are filled with success stories of animals that were released.

The permanent residents are the ones that would not have the survival skills to make it on their own.

During your visit, you can enjoy an interactive educational talk, watch a short film, learn more about scenes from the movie filmed on location, watch sea life at the underwater viewing area, and explore exhibits.

This is a working animal hospital that releases marine animals whenever possible, which makes it unlike a typical aquarium experience.

There are also limited behind-the-scenes experiences available, so make sure you book in advance if possible because they fill up quickly.

Explore Pier 60

Walk down the pier for another perspective of the shoreline. If you pay an additional dollar, you can walk to the very edge of the pier for a closer look at the fishermen’s catch of the day.

Kids will also enjoy playing at the nearby covered playground and open green space.

Celebrate Sunset at Pier 60 Clearwater Beach

Sunset is celebrated 364 days a year at Pier 60 two hours before and two hours after – weather permitting.

You can find unique souvenirs from artisans, live entertainment, street performers, and free outdoor movies that begin at dusk on the weekends.

(Check the calendar for the schedule)

Stop at Clearwater Visitor Center

1 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL

Whenever possible, I try to stop at the local Visitor Center when I’m visiting a destination for the first time.

They are a great resource for local events, attractions, and local restaurants.

We asked for restaurant recommendations and the best way to make use of our time during our visit.

We booked a boat tour and dined at two restaurants based on his wonderful recommendations.

The Clearwater Visitor Center is conveniently located within walking distance of Pier 60.

Check out the Shops on the Strip in Clearwater

There are plenty of shops to choose from for the perfect souvenir, or pick up something to use during your visit.

Make sure you cross the road at the official crosswalks. Police enforce ticketing for jaywalking to help keep pedestrians safe.

Transportation Options in Clearwater, Florida

If you don’t want to worry about finding parking during your visit, you have several affordable options.

The Jolley Trolley makes multiple stops along Clearwater Beach for a low fee.

Florida Free Rides runs from 8am to 3am 7 days a week. Drivers are paid by gratuities from passengers.

The Clearwater Ferry Water Taxi is a convenient option for visiting the Aquarium.

Chase the Sunset

Each sunset and sunrise is so unique. I always try my best to adjust my schedule so that I have time to watch them whenever I’m near the ocean.

On our last night, we decided to explore a bit more of the area.

Cleveland Street District has become another popular destination for tourists and locals with restaurants, shops, and events.

A Daytrip to Tarpon Springs, Florida

On our way back to the airport, we stopped at Tarpon Springs.

This recommendation came from a senior citizen at the gym I attend.

The area is known for its natural sponges caught by local divers.

The area has a rich Greek heritage thanks to immigrants, which also means fantastic food.

Unfortunately, we were between meals, but we mustered up enough space in our stomachs to try the Baklava.

We began and ended our visit to Clearwater at the Orlando/Sanford Airport.

Our flight times in Orlando allowed us to enjoy more time in Florida instead of flying in later, closer to the destination.

This also allowed us to test drive the KIA Optima PHEV during the 2.5-hour drive.

This was my first time driving an electric hybrid and packing light for the weekend with only a backpack in tow.

We discovered that the vehicle exceeded our expectations in space and luxury with fantastic gas mileage. (We never had to fill it back up!)

More Related Articles

How to save money on a Clearwater Beach Vacation