Under two hours from Disney and on the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, Florida’s city of Clearwater has a lot to offer for a fun day out for all of the family!

Soak up the sun on the pristine white sand at Clearwater Beach, which was named America’s Number 1 beach by Trip Advisor in 2018, and is one of Florida’s most popular beaches. Whether you take a dip in the crystal clear waters or head away from the beach to explore the attractions, shops and restaurants that line the beachside promenade, there’s plenty to see and do in Clearwater!

Beach Walk and Pier 60

Stroll along the $30-million Beach Walk redevelopment that was designed with the many visitors to Clearwater at its heart, and allows stunning views of the clear blue sea and palm-studded landscaping. The Beach Walk runs from the south beach parking area, following the path to the Pier 60 car park and visitor centre to the north. Why not grab an ice cream at the Barefoot Beach House to enjoy as you take in the sights, or visit the shops that line this beachfront area?

Make your way to Pier 60 and look out at the Gulf of Mexico’s sea views. If you are in no rush to get back to your villa, it’s worth catching the free year-round celebration of those glorious Florida sunsets – the Sunsets of Pier 60 Daily Festival, which started back in 1995! From two hours before sunset until two hours after, enjoy a, family-friendly event featuring street performers, crafters and artisans, as well as an all-ages film under the stars, which begins at dusk over at the Sunset Cinema on Friday and Saturday nights; make sure that you bring a blanket or seat to sit on! Enjoy the varied performances of the buskers, or pick up some quirky souvenirs from the local crafters who sell a variety of jewellery items, personalised and unique artworks, candles and much more! As these are all outdoor activities, be aware that they are weather dependent.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

If you are interested in nature and conservation, pay a visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which is home to a range of rescued creatures, as well as being a working animal hospital. If you have ever seen the Hollywood film Dolphin Tale, it was largely inspired by the true story of one of the centre’s resident dolphins – Winter, and filmed on location at the aquarium. The sequel, Dolphin Tale 2 also shares the story of a second dolphin resident, Hope. Learn all about both of these dolphins, as well as the two other resident bottlenoses, PJ and Nicholas, and enjoy the daily presentations that include a demonstration of a rescue. As well as dolphins, amongst the animals that the aquarium cares for are pelicans, sea turtles, otters, sharks and rays, not to mention a shoal of colourful fish!

The aquarium is open to visitors year-round, (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day,) between 10am and 6pm, with an 8pm closing time during the extended seasonal extended hours.

Address: 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767

Clearwater boat tours and cruises

To extend your visit, why not book onto the Sea Life Safari Boat Tour, which is one of the aquarium’s most popular activities. Head out in search of dolphins, sea birds and Florida’s native marine creatures on a 90-minute tour, where your guides explain about the surroundings and show how the aquarium collects data to help with their conservation efforts; you can even touch the sea creatures that are pulled from their nets before being safely released back into the water. You don’t need to go to the aquarium to take the tour, though there are discounts available for booking both together – check out all of the different options available to you on the website.

Address: 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

There are plenty of boat tours that you can take from Clearwater with the opportunity to see dolphins playfully leaping though the waves! If you are a bit of a thrill-seeker at heart, then catch a ride on the Sea Screamer – the world’s largest speedboat. At 75ft long, the boat whizzes through the water at speeds of up to 35mph. You’ll be perfectly safe at all times in the comfy bucket seats, where you can take in the views across the beach, the historic waterfront landmarks and the celebrity mansions that are pointed out to you by the boat’s crew. Keep an eye out especially for the dolphins that are attracted to the boat due to the large wake it creates! The cruise usually lasts around one hour, and if you don’t see dolphins you are even guaranteed your next trip for free! It’s recommended that you book in advance to avoid disappointment as there are only three cruises running daily year round – noon, 2pm and 4pm. There are also special seasonal sunset cruises, for more information check their website.

Address: Clearwater Beach Marina, Slip 15, 25 Causeway Boulevard, FL 33767

If you like the idea of heading out onto the water while you are in Clearwater, you aren’t alone! There are plenty of locations to hire jet skis or depart for a boat ride, though if you want to cruise around the coast and enjoy a meal then check out the Calypso Queen Cruises. The Calypso Queen is a colourful 65ft long, triple-decker ship that heads out from Clearwater Harbor for either a lunchtime sightseeing and dolphin watch cruise, or a sunset dinner and tropical party cruise, all with a Caribbean theme!

Address: Clearwater Beach Marina,25 Causeway Blvd., Slip #18, FL 33767

Places to eat in Clearwater

If you fancy eating on shore, then there are plenty of venues around the beachfront or harbour areas. Perfectly placed to look out across both the harbour and the beach is Crabby’s Dockside. If you are a fan of seafood there are plenty of reasonably-prices options available, as well as chicken and steaks for those who prefer meat! There’s also a kid’s menu, so you are bound to find something for everyone!

Address: 37 Causeway Blvd. Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

If you are nearer the beach, why not check out Crabby’s Bar & Grill, a part of the same group! If you are there bright and early, it is an ideal place to stop for a bite of breakfast, from the extensive menu which is served from 8am to 11:30am. Why not try out their pancakes and waffles, or opt for a breakfast burrito featuring bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese and salsa?

Address: 333 S. Gulfview Blvd. Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

Cooters Restaurant & Bar is also a popular destination for visitors to Clearwater looking for good food and friendly service, as well as kid-friendly menu options. Since 1993 Cooters has been serving up great Florida seafood, hand-cut steaks and tropical drinks to both locals and visitors to the area. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, treat yourself to the She Crab Soup, or the All You Can Eat Snow Crab, All You Can Eat Fish and Chips or grouper specials.

Kids will love the children’s menu here, where all of their meals are served in a Frisbee which they can take home or play with on the beach!

Address: 423 Poinsettia Avenue, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

Clearwater is certainly a vibrant beachside town and well worth a visit. You’ll have to make sure that you get there early as you can to pack in all of the things that you want to see and do! This will also help you get a good parking spot – a list of parking locations are listed here. There are various charges, and parking restrictions apply, so it might be worth printing out this handy pdf before heading out.

If you have been to Clearwater do you have any recommendations for places to visit? We’d love to hear from you so get in touch!

Take a look at our previous blog The top 5 beaches near Orlando, if you’re wanting to explore some other coastal areas whilst in Florida.