Clearwater is a Gulf city well-known for its white sand beaches and clear waters. It forms part of the Tampa Bay Area, along with Tampa to the southeast, and St. Petersburg to the south. Clearwater has a history dating back to 1891, when it was first incorporated, becoming a city in 1915. The PSTA metro bus is the main form of public transport in the city, along with the trolley system that runs along the barrier islands. There is plenty to do here in the city, so we’ve selected some activities and places you can try out. You can read more below so you can plan and enjoy your next vacation with all the best things to do in Clearwater, Florida.
1. Go dolphin watching at Florida’s Clearwater Bay (from USD 37.0)
Clearwater Bay is home to many bottlenose dolphins which can be recognized by their elongated snouts. Once you leave the shore, watch as these creatures swim, roll, and jump over the clear waters of the bay. While the boat is sailing around, savor the view of the city shores and maybe you’ll even spot some celebrities’ mansions by the water. Your captain will tell you all about the Gulf Coast, and there is plenty you can learn about. You’ll appreciatethe beauty of the Gulf a lot more after your trip is over.
Clearwater Bay, Gulf Coast Dolphin Watching Cruise
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
2. Witness the Florida sunset with Clearwater Sunset Celebration Cruise (from USD 28.88)
You’ll sail on the Gulf of Mexico while viewing the Florida sunset aboard this luxury cruiser. Have a champagne toast with other guests, enjoy some good music playing, and dance into the night on the cruiser. There is an optional wristband you can purchase so you can have access to unlimited beer and soft drinks. Your cruise will last about two hours, just enough to catch the beautiful sunset over the clear water. And if you are really lucky, you can catch a green flash right as the sun sets into the water.
Clearwater Sunset Celebration Cruise
Duration: 2.0 hour
3. Sink your feet into the white sand at Sand Key Park
The Sand Key Park is a great green space by the sea.The park has a white sand beach facing the gulf and plenty of nearby shops and resorts you can chill around in. There are trails around the park friendly for you and your dogs and pavilions are available for your events. There is plenty of parking for cars, too. And if you’re lucky, you can watch some sea turtles come to shore to lay eggs from a safe distance, or watch birds feed at a nearby marsh.
Sand Key Park
Address: 1060 Gulf Blvd. Clearwater, FL 33767
Website: Sand Key Park
Opening hours: 7am - dusk (daily)
Price: Free
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4. Appreciate nature at Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Moccasin Lake is a nature preserve that is home to several birds of prey. The 51-acre (20.6-hectare) park is home to mature oaks and other trees that provide canopy. Its ponds and creeks house plenty of wildlife, including gopher turtles, raccoons, and many birds. The park offers environmental awareness classes, programs, and camps. They also provide indoor and outdoor meeting space for your meetings or receptions. You may also volunteer to help with some park activities.
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Address: 2750 Park Trail Ln. Clearwater, FL 33759-2602
Website: Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon, Tue, & holidays)
Price: Free
5. Stroll along the paths of Cliff Stephens Park
Cliff Stephens Park serves both as a flood management system and a recreational park or people. There is plenty of tree cover here so the sun stays away for long and birds can find rest here. The park has two ponds that provide paddling and canoeing opportunities. You get picnic tables, grills, and benches for eating out with companions, along with plenty of open space to play around in. Lastly, the Ream Wilson bike trail cuts through here, giving you opportunities to hike, bike, or even do some inline skating around town.
Cliff Stephens Park
Address: 600 Fairwood Ave. Clearwater, FL 33759
Website: Cliff Stephens Park
Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)
Price: Free
6. Taste wine from the oldest winery in town
Murielle Winery is the oldest winery in town, and is perhaps the best, too. You can visit their gallery and have a free taste of their classics–you can even have custom labels made for your own occasions. They offer sweet red and white wines, traditional wines, and dessert wines. The blush wines made here are bestsellers, as these fruity wines are so easy to pair with any dish and any other drink. Their Merlot is the best in town so be sure to grab one of those if you decide to buy their six- or twelve-bottle packages to bring home.
Murielle Winery
Address: 13131 56th Ct Suite 305 Clearwater, FL 33760
Website: Murielle Winery
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 3pm (closed on Sun)
7. Try a craft beer at Big Storm Brewing Company
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Big Storm Brewing Company is among the fastest-growing breweries in the state, thanks to their creative and innovative craft beers. Using local ingredients like oranges, oats, and honey in distinct manners, they can produce favorites like Bay Beer Light Lager, Key Lime Shady, Hurricane Party Sour Ale, and The Lightning Twenty-Five. You can also go to the Big Storm Coffee Co., where they serve equally innovative craft coffee. Overall, Big Storm has earned many accolades in its rather short existence and is well worth a visit.
Big Storm Brewing Company
Address: 12707 49TH Street Clearwater, FL 33762
Website: Big Storm Brewing Company
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm; Sun: 11am - 9pm
8. Catch a baseball game at Spectrum Field
The Spectrum Field is home to the Clearwater Threshers minor league team. It is an open field design and can seat around 8,500 people, with all seats providing a close view of the field. The field is an affordable place to watch some major league games too, as the Philadelphia Phillies play some games here during spring training, which happens before the baseball season starts. You’ll want to book your tickets early, otherwise you might strike out before the first inning.
Spectrum Field
Address: 601 N. Old Coachman Rd. Clearwater, FL 33765
Website: Spectrum Field
Opening hours: Check website for game schedule
Price: Check website for pricing
9. Race go karts at Tampa Bay Grand Prix
Go for the win at Tampa Bay Grand Prix, an indoor electric kart track laid out with plenty of straights and challenging corners. Reach speeds of up to 50 mph (80 kph) on the longest straightway, in an experience accessible to all kids and adults 4 ft (1.2 m) and taller. There are many other packages available, too, including team-building and party packages if you want the whole place to yourselves. And if you want the ultimate challenge, drop by the Grand Prix every third Thursday at 7:30 and be ready to race against the best in town.
Tampa Bay Grand Prix
Address: 12350 Automobile Blvd Clearwater, FL 33762
Website: Tampa Bay Grand Prix
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 11pm; Fri: 11am - 12am; Sat: 10am - 12am; Sun: 10am - 11pm
Price: 16 USD/ Race; 39 USD/ 3 races
10. Watch a car race at Showtime Speedway
Posted by Showtime Speedway on Thursday, 27 June 2019
The locals love racing and Showtime Speedway is where the action happens. The speedway is divided into two sections: an oval track course and a drag strip. The oval track course is where you can watch different kinds of vehicles race each other bumper-to-bumper, from buggies, to modified cars, to even motorcycles. The drag strip is where you can see cars zoom by racing the ¼-mile (less than 1 km) strip, and you can even see fire-breathing speed monsters go for records here. You’ll definitely enjoy the racing–a millisecond can determine winners and losers.
Showtime Speedway
Address: 4398 126th Avenue Pinellas Park, Florida
Website: Showtime Speedway
Opening hours: Wed: 5pm - 10pm; Sat: 5pm - 11pm (closed from Sun - Tue, Thu - Fri)
11. See amazing live performances at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Ruth Eckerd Hall is where the biggest performances in town happen. The theater building has a design inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s works, and can seat almost 2,200 guests in a continental arrangement. There are events regularly so there is always something you can watch. There is also a catering service you can avail if you rent out the hall for your own events. As of writing, parts of the Hall are being upgraded to improve the experience for all guests when it opens in fall this year.
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Address: 1111 McMullen Booth Road Clearwater, FL 33759
Website: Ruth Eckerd Hall
12. Go on an adventure with Sky Surfing Aviation
Take to the skies in a once-in-a-lifetime experience from Sky Surfing Aviation. Using ultralight aircraft considered as motorcycles of the sky, the experience allows you to be hands-on with the plane. You can choose from 20-, 40-, and 60-minute flight sessions, bringing you over the coast and around the bay. There are even more advanced lessons where you can land in a neighboring airport and take the pilot’s seat on the way back. The views of Clearwater area are breathtaking and this experience will definitely be a memorable one for you.
Sky Surfing Aviation
Address: 1000 N Hercules Ave Clearwater, Florida
Website: Sky Surfing Aviation
Opening hours: By reservation only
13. Visit the historic Capitol Theatre
The Capitol Theater is a historic structure that has been part of the city for almost 100 years, and has been saved on occasion from demolition. It maintains its original exterior and can seat 750 people in a two-level setup. The theater shows films a lot of the time, and also hosts concert performances. Food is also served here, at a premium. If you want to see movie in style, the Capitol Theater is the place to go.
Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
Address: 405 Cleveland Street Clearwater, FL 33755
14. Let the Clearwater Jolley Trolley take you around
Get on the Jolly Trolley and you can enjoy a unique way to travel around Clearwater. Areas covered by Jolly Trolley are North Pinellas, including Downtown Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, and Tarpon Springs. The drivers also perform guide duties so they will point out all the special landmarks you need to know. You can also ride buses using the trolley passes for even more convenience. So on your next stay in Clearwater, you can park your car somewhere and hop on the trolley instead.
Jolly Trolley
Address: 410 N. Myrtle Ave. Clearwater, Fl 33755
Website: Jolly Trolley
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9:45am - 10:18pm; Fri - Sat: 9:45am - 11:48pm
Price: 5 USD for daily pass, Free for children 5 and under
15. Enjoy a game of miniature golf at Congo River Golf
Congo River Golf is an award-winning miniature golf course that provides plenty of fun for you and your friends. Play some challenging miniature golf as you play over giant waterfalls, rocky summits, caves, and even tropical forests, You can also feed live alligators, discover gems in the gem mining challenge, and play some games in the arcade room. The last challenge here is to play the exploration game, where you retrace the steps of explorers and try to find their treasures along the way. Finishing this course gets you a prize and completes your experience here at Congo River Golf.
Congo River Golf
Address: 20060 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater, FL
Website: Congo River Golf
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 12am
Price: Up to 13.99 USD
16. Head to Downtown Clearwater for more activities to try
The downtown area is a hot spot for more and more cultural and social activities. The Marlene Rose Gallery is a great glass-structure building. The Main Library houses many works of literature and art. You can dine at the numerous restaurants, from coffee shops, pizza chains, and even some international cuisine. View the modern sculptures scattered around, chill at Coachman Park, and watch a movie at the retro Capitol Theater. With all of these, it’s little wonder Downtown Clearwater has nearly two million tourists visiting annually.
Downtown Clearwater
Address: 112 South Osceola Ave. Clearwater, FL 33756
Website: Downtown Clearwater
17. Solve the puzzles at Tampa Bay Escape Room
Do you have what it takes to crack the puzzle and escape? Escape Room is a sealed room challenge that tests your wits and smarts by finding clues, solving puzzles, and performing tasks. This will require plenty of teamwork, as the challenges require two to eight people to start. There are three theme rooms: Wizards of the Keep, Kidnapped, and Cabin in the Woods. Once you escape, you can tell your friends that you’ve solved the challenge. Are your ready to escape?
Tampa Bay Escape Room
Address: 625 Cleveland Street Clearwater, FL
Website: Tampa Bay Escape Room
Opening hours: Mon - Tue, Thu: 5pm - 9:30pm; Wed: varies; Fri: 5pm - 11pm; Sat: 1pm - 11pm; Sun: 1pm - 8:30pm
Price: 28 USD
18. Swim at the Olympic-size pool at Long Center
Long Center in Clearwater is a recreational facility that is a great place for all athletes of all levels to train. The center boasts a covered Olympic-size pool and a heated training pool, and hosts the US Water Polo Open Championships, among other big swimming series. The complex houses a fitness center, gymnasium, and multi-purpose rooms. There are also outdoor recreational facilities, including football/soccer fields, some hiking paths, and a playground. The best part is Long Center offers all these good sports facilities at an affordable price.
Long Center
Address: 1501 N Belcher Rd., Clearwater, FL 33765 | (727) 793-2320
Website: Long Center
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 6am - 9pm; Fri: 6am - 7pm ; Sat: 8am - 5pm (aquatic complex closes at 12pm, closed on Sun)
Price: 6 USD
19. Try Wildflower Cafe's homemade baked goods
The Wildflower Cafe is an open-air restaurant that serves great breakfast and brunch made from the freshest produce. Their meals are filled with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, from their breakfast meals to their soups and salads. Some of their must-try dishes include their signature Wildflower Triple, French toast, burrito, and croissants. Don’t forget to try their signature quiche, too. Also in Wildflower is the Market, a one-stop shop where you can buy drinks, snacks, and take-out dishes you can enjoy at home.
Wildflower Cafe
Address: 1465 S. Fort Harrison Ave. Clearwater, Florida 33756
Website: Wildflower Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8am - 2:30pm; Sun: 8:30am - 2pm
20. Dine at Cafe Ponte
Editor’s note: establishment is permanently closed
Cafe Ponte is a New York style kitchen that serves contemporary American fusion cuisine. You can savor entrees like sea bass, beef bolognese, filet mignon, short rib, ricotta, and pad thai. You can also try their four-course Prixe Fixe and six-course Chef’s Tasting Menus, the restaurant’s prime lineups. You can have dessert, too, and choose from a wide selection of wines and liquor to get the full dinner experience here at Cafe Ponte.
Cafe Ponte
Address: 13505 Icot Blvd. Suite 214, Clearwater, FL 33760
Website: Cafe Ponte
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 9pm; Fri: 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 10pm; Sat: 5:30pm - 10pm (closed on Sun)
21. Bike along Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail
The Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail is a 6.5-mile (10.4 km) walking and biking trail that is frequented by many locals. The trail is paved and you get to see and appreciate the houses, trees, flowers, ponds, and even pass through the Cliff Stephens Park (mentioned in an earlier entry). You can also walk your dogs here but they must be kept on a leash at all times. The trail is being expanded to become a corridor between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, passing across Clearwater. So the next time you pass here, the ride will be even better.
Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail
Address: Ream Wilson Trail Clearwater, FL 33759
Website: Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail
22. See marine life at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (from USD 27.0)
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is home to many rescued animals and also serves as a hospital for them. You can view marine creatures like dolphins, sea turtles, otters, stingrays, and sharks. You will be able to go through the working animal hospital and you’ll also be able to watch a documentary and participate in some activities that raise awareness for marine wildlife. The aquarium takes around four hours to tour so you can take your time and enjoy a great experience here.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium General Admission in Florida
Duration: 4 hours
Clearwater awaits you
There are many shops, diners, and other places you can visit here and have a great time. You’ll also appreciate the clean beaches and waters, thanks to the city’s efforts to stay true to its name. With such life and beauty, Clearwater, Florida is a perfect destination for your next vacation.
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