Searching for the best attractions in Clearwater Beach Florida? In this post, a local Floridian shares what are the most fun things to do in Clearwater Beach Florida.
Clearwater Beach is one of America’s top beaches thanks to its beautiful sunsets, stunning clear blue waters of the Gulf, and of course, their well-known, white sand-covered beaches. No matter what time of year you go, these are 10 things you need to have on your Clearwater Beach bucket list.
Where to stay in Clearwater Beach?
There are plenty of great places to stay in Clearwater Beach. I would recommend booking your stay in advance on Booking.com. They have plenty of great deals.
Booking.comIf you are looking to rent an apartment or prefer something a little more budget friendly, try also VRBO or Airbnb.
Best things to do in Clearwater Beach, Florida
1. Boat tour
You have a lot of options with the type of boat tours offered in Clearwater Beach. There are booze cruises, dolphin encounters, family-fun ones, deep sea fishing, and dinner cruises, to name a few.
I guess I should note that any boat tour can technically be a booze cruise if you want it to be. As far as the dolphin encounters go, all of the sightings are of wild, non captive dolphins, in their natural habitat!
One of my all time favorites is the sunset boat tour — this one is especially great if you just want to relax and enjoy the views with a few drinks. You get to sail the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico and witness a magnificent Florida sunset.
Another fan favorite is Encounters with Dolphins — this one is awesome if you want to do a little bit more than chill on a boat. With this tour, you get to stop at Compass Island for 20-30 minutes. Here, you’re able to do some shelling, swimming, or snorkeling with gear provided at no extra cost!
And if you really want to get the party started, Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise may look like a kids’ cruise (and honestly, it is super family friendly!), but this is also super fun with a drink package, and you can enjoy some awesome views from the adult-only third deck!
They offer fun activities like face painting, and you may just be tempted to get your own goatee or mustache after a few glasses of wine.
2. Do some watersports
Another area you are not shy of options with at Clearwater Beach is watersports, including jet skiing, kayaking, or stand up paddle boarding (SUP)— whatever you feel comfortable with!
Kayaking early in the morning at Makin Waves behind Shephard’s is a great way to get up close and personal with some dolphins!
No guarantees, but they are known to frequent that area. They also have jet ski and paddleboard rentals there too if those pique your interest more.
If you want to explore an area that may have a little more wildlife than just dolphins, Paddle Out Adventures will take you out on a pontoon boat to your paddleboard/kayak destination, which can be a secluded beach, island, or lagoon. This is a great way to explore a little beyond Clearwater Beach.
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3. Check out Pier 60
Pier 60 is one of the great tourist attractions of Clearwater Beach. In the evening, be sure to enjoy their sunset celebration! Day or night, you can find performers, musicians, and crafters lining the pier.
If the live entertainment isn’t enough, there are a number of fun Clearwater Beach activities, such as face painting and giant, towering blowup slides, or you can even do a little fishing at the pier! You don’t have to worry about a fishing license, pole, or bait— for $20, the pier will set you up and send you out to cast!
4. Explore St. Petersburg
About 45 minutes from Clearwater, St. Pete gives off more of a locals vibe than the touristy feel one may get from Clearwater Beach (not that it’s bad, of course— Clearwater Beach is touristy for a reason). The downtown area is full of cute boutiques, fun-filled breweries, unique coffee shops, an awesome art scene, and endless options for any food lover’s fantasies.
If you are into art, the streets are covered with murals and interestingly-painted buildings. Along with street art, you have the Dali Museum, Chihuly Collection, and The Museum of Fine Arts (just to name a few of the most popular options). If you must only choose one, the Dali Museum may be the most intriguing. It’s extra special, because aside from Europe, the St. Petersburg, Florida, location houses the largest collection of Salvador Dali’s work. Dali’s art explores Surrealism. His paintings are extremely peculiar and definitely spark conversation.
For foodies, one of the best spots for some good, fresh seafood (and bonus, on the water!) is Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro. If you want a unique, tasty brunch surrounded by a stunning interior, go to The Library. No Vacancy has really good small bites and fun drinks. One can only cover the tip of the iceberg with amazing spots to eat in downtown St. Pete (fondly dubbed DTSP by locals). Luckily, there aren’t too many places you can go wrong.
Pro tip: before deciding which day you want to explore St. Pete, check out if they have any events, festivals, or markets going on during your time here!
5. Take a day trip to Weeki Wachee
Weeki Wachee is a little over an hour drive from Clearwater, but this place is beyond worth the trek. There are two options for your day trip: spend it on the river with a kayak or paddleboard, or spend your day at Weeki Wachee State Park. You will need a reservation if you plan to kayak or paddleboard.
If you choose to spend your day kayaking or paddle boarding on the river, don’t forget to bring a cooler with some snacks and beverages for the ride. You start at the top of the river and make your way down, and then a van will bring you back to the top where your car is parked.
Depending on your pace and how many pit stops you make on your way down the river, it can take you around 3-4 hours to get to the bottom. The water is so clear and beautiful that you can almost always see the bottom.
Depending on the time of year you visit, you may be lucky enough to encounter some manatees! You can see them anytime, but you have the best chance if you visit November-March. These gentle giants aren’t shy to swim right alongside your kayak.
If you choose to stay in the State Park area, you can enjoy Buccaneer Bay. The cool thing about Buccaneer Bay is it’s Florida’s only spring-fed water park.
Three of the four water slides drop you off into the natural spring. There’s a lazy river and kiddie pool to enjoy as well, and you absolutely can’t leave without seeing the world-famous Mermaid Show.
Pro tip: you will need a reservation for kayaks or paddleboards days in advance, sometimes even a week or two in advance if you plan on going on the weekend during the busy season. If you choose to do the state park, arrive early, because the park often fills to capacity and no longer allows additional guests in when it does. If possible, try to go during the week when it’s a little less busy.
6. Drink a pina colada
I mean, is it really a beach vacation if you haven’t enjoyed a pina colada? One of the best places to get one is Salty’s.
They use real pineapple and fresh coconut for the rim! If you want a fun twist on a pina colada, grab a Loopy Lada from Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill.
Pro tip: add mango to either of these to excite your taste buds even more.
7. Watch the sunset and join the celebration at Jimmy’s Crows Nest
Crow’s Nest is a rooftop bar that gives you stunning, unhindered views of the Gulf and Pier 60. If you’re here around sunset, free shots are passed around, and everyone joins in a countdown to the sun sinking below the horizon. At the end of the countdown, everyone does the shot together!
8. Eat some grouper
This delicacy is one of the most popular and well-known fish served in the area! You shouldn’t leave without trying some if you’re a fan of seafood. If you’re unfamiliar, grouper is a lean, white, flakey fish with a mild flavor. One of the best places to have some is Cooters.
Pro tip: they have Super Grouper Thursdays with specials such as crab-stuffed grouper, grouper parmesan, and a buffalo grouper sandwich, just to name a few.
9. Dance or see a show at Shephard’s
Shephard’s is Clearwater Beach’s only night club. During the day and weekend nights, you can find live bands performing on their outdoor stage. The bands usually do top 40 or beach hits. What they’re really known for are their Sunday offerings.
Sundays are for EDM (electronic dance music), and they often have well-known DJs performing. One of the best things about this venue is it’s right on the beach. You can dance and enjoy performers with the view of the Gulf right behind them.
Once you’re done at the outdoor venue (due to noise ordinances, performers have a midnight cutoff), the party doesn’t have to stop. Make your way into Wave Nightclub for a night filled with more dancing, good music, and light shows.
10. Relax
That is what a vacation is all about, after all! While there are endless activities to do in the area, make sure you take some time to just kick back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful blue waters, white sand and spectacular sunsets of Clearwater Beach.
Anything you think should be added to the list? Drop it in the comments! Which activity sounds the most enticing to you?
This is a guest post by Destiny from the blog, Guided by Destiny.
Author’s Bio: Destiny is an Ohio native, who currently resides in the Sunshine State, Florida.
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