Clearwater and its island beaches truly offer something for everybody. Activities on land and in the water.
Located along the Gulf Coast just west of Tampa, Clearwater is one of the best places in all of Florida to hit the beach.
Its beautiful stretches of white sand and crystal clear water make it a beautiful beach destination. There are also many other great attractions, shopping, and dining to keep you busy for an entire day.
It takes less than two hours to get to Clearwater from the Villages of Citrus Hills. While this is one of our longer day trips, Clearwater is definitely worth the travel. With as much as you will find to do in Clearwater, you might even want to consider making a weekend trip out of your visit.
Clearwater Beach
The biggest attraction in Clearwater is the beach. This stretch of sand is everything you imagine when you think of the perfect beach.
In addition to the beautiful white sand and crystal clear water, the beach is perfectly lined with palm trees. The quality of this beach is not lost on true experts either, because Clearwater has won a number of “Best Beach” awards over the years.
Adding to the experience along the southern part of Clearwater is the Clearwater Beach Walk. This winding walkway allows visitors to take a step back and admire the beach from a different perspective. It offers a great place for walking, jogging, biking and roller blading, and is surrounded by dozens of resorts, shops and restaurants.
As if the Beach Walk wasn’t enough reason to visit the beach in Clearwater, there is also the amazing Pier 60. This pier located towards the middle of Clearwater Beach, has plenty of its own attractions, but the action really heats up here right around sunset! There is a sunset festival every evening featuring local artists and performers, as well as one of the most picturesque sunsets you will ever see.
Clearwater Attractions
Another wonderful attraction in Clearwater is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. On top of all of the normal aquarium attractions, the big draw here is a dolphin named Winter. Winter was the star of the movieDolphin Tale. She lost her tail after getting caught in a crab trap and has since been fitted with a prosthetic tail.
Another popular reason to visit Clearwater is the Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training. If you time your visit to coincide with Major League Baseball’s Spring Training, you can catch the Phillies practicing or playing at Bright House Field.
One of the most exciting ways to really explore Clearwater is to tour the area on a Segway. The Segway Adventure is a local tour company that will take you on a 7.5-mile ride visiting all of the most popular local attractions like the Beach Walk, Downtown Marina, and the historic Harbor Oaks area. This is a great way to really get to know Clearwater first hand!
http://www.thesegwayadventure.com
Clearwater Shopping
If you are in to shopping, you will feel right at home in Clearwater. In addition to the two malls in the area, there are also some great spots in Clearwater to explore all kinds of unique shops.
If you are over by the beach, you will definitely want to check out some of the shops along Mandalay Avenue and Gulfview Boulevard. This is where you will find all of the tourist shops containing beach souvenirs.
For a more unique shopping experience, you will want to head downtown to Clearwater’s Cleveland Street District. Here you will find a wide range of shops and boutiques containing everything from high fashion and jewelry to handmade decorations for your home.
Clearwater Dining
While the beaches, attractions and shopping in Clearwater are all fun, we haven’t even gotten to the best part of this area yet…the food! Clearwater is home to dozens and dozens of four and five-star restaurants ranging from casual cafes to elegant dining options.
On the casual side, two of the best gems in Clearwater are Frenchy’s and Nauti-Nancy’s. Don’t let the casual atmosphere at either place fool you though, these are a foodie’s dream!
Frenchy’s, with four Clearwater area locations, is best known for their grouper sandwiches. You must try one of their multiple variations. Nauti-Nancy’s specializes in southern seafood and burgers, and the Shrimp and Grits is one of the most popular items on the menu.
If you are in the mood for a more upscale dining experience, Villa Bellini Restaurant & Lounge is a very nice traditional Italian dining experience. They have a full selection of antipasti options, and every type of pasta, chicken, beef or fresh fish dish you would expect to find on the menu of one of the best Italian restaurants in Florida.
Another restaurant to dine at if you’re looking for upscale and great ambience is the Columbia Restaurant, founded in 1905 by a Cuban immigrant. Whether you choose a table looking out onto the radiant blue waters of the Intracoastal Waterway from the Mediterranean dining room, or experience the casual atmosphere from our outdoor deck, you can enjoy the cuisine that has consistently been voted Tampa Bay area’s favorite.
For the beach lovers, a day in Clearwater is most likely going to include plenty of time along the Beach Walk, lunch or dinner at Frenchy’s or Nauti-Nancy’s, and a stroll down Pier 60 to watch the sunset.
If the beach isn’t your thing, your day might include a trip to the aquarium or a shopping spree in the Cleveland Street District followed by dinner at Villa Bellini.
Either way, you are sure to have a wonderful time visiting Clearwater.