Clearwater Beach, FL

[AmericangirlinFrance]

My husband and I are going away for a long weekend at the end of June to Clearwater Beach, FL. I was curious what DISers recommend to do there! Obviously we'll be lounging on the beach quite a bit, but I'm curious about any other interesting attractions, restaurants, things to see, etc. in the Clearwater/Tampa/St. Pete area... thanks!

Also, we're staying at the Hilton on the beach... anyone ever stayed there? Reviews seem okay.

 

[ilovejack02]

Just got back from St. Pete beach for 5 days and then a night at Clearwater. The Clearwater marine hospital is neat, that is where Winter the Dolphin with no tail lives from the movie. You can do an entire day with them, go out on a boat or you can just visit the hospital , you can also go into the town of Clearwater and see all the movie sets and props from the movie Dolphin Tale which they filmed in area.

Can't wait to head back down to St. Petes , we spent hours looking for shells.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

My husband and I are going away for a long weekend at the end of June to Clearwater Beach, FL. I was curious what DISers recommend to do there! Obviously we'll be lounging on the beach quite a bit, but I'm curious about any other interesting attractions, restaurants, things to see, etc. in the Clearwater/Tampa/St. Pete area... thanks!

Also, we're staying at the Hilton on the beach... anyone ever stayed there? Reviews seem okay.

I love Frenchie's Rockaway Grill.(There are about 5 Frenchie's restaurants in Clearwater Beach, but I like this one the best.) I love their Sangria and She Crab soup!

The pier has some entertainment at night, nothing huge, but it's something to do.

There is also Busch Gardens, Tampa. I have been there literally more than a hundred times and I never get tired of it. (I grew up about 1/2 hour away, so this was very often a summer/weekend hangout because of their cheap season passes)

 

[Maleficient]

Salvador Dali museum in St. Pete and the Tampa Bay Rays are home at Tropicana Field (also St. Pete) from June 28-first week of July. Both very close to Clearwater. Frenchy's is kind of a tourist "must-do" - on the beach with great grouper sandwiches. Get there early on weekend or be prepared to wait! Have fun - it's beautiful here!

 

[ford family]

There is a Columbia restaurant at Clearwater Beach (we are dining there tomorrow night as it happens) which is part of a small local chain. The original restaurant (from 1904 I believe) is in Ybor City, an interesting area of downtown Tampa to visit.
If you like zoos, Lowry Park Zoo is excellent, small but highly innovative. There is also a local charity that takes in unwanted lions and tigers etc called Big Cat Rescue and they do a couple of guided tours each day. Not the most swish of places but an incredible story and well worth a visit.
If you are interested in history I would recommend the Florida Holocaust Museum in St Petersburg. In addition to the harrowing story of how Germany embraced the National Socialist party and the subsequent search for a "final solution" there is an impressive presentation about racial bigotry in the US and a detailed analysis of the KKK.

ford family

 

[dchi]

I stayed at the Hilton Clearwater Beach for the week of Thanksgiving 2011. It is right on the beach and an awesome location. If you walk out of the front of the hotel and turn left walk a little bit there is a yummy gelato place. We all loved Clear Sky Beachside cafe which is a short walk past the Gelato shop and right next to the Sand Pearl Hotel. Lots of shopping nearby. We did the banana boat ride which you could get on right in front of the hotel. Also the marina is next to the hotel, we did a dolphin boat tour. Fun! Like someone else said Pier 60 is right there and they have some entertainment.
Have fun and try a frozen maragarita at the Tiki bar on the beach....so yummy!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

If you have the time and don't mind the ride go down to shell key preserve or fort desoto. It's roughly 30 miles or so from your hotel. Shell Preserve is only accessible by boat.

Fort Desoto is just a nice little park, it's an old fort and the beach is nice. I don't know how crowded it is during the summer months, we went in September and it was so quiet. There is a small toll to go to the park, it was .85 last year.

If you like mini golf congo river is nice.

 

[Bilberry]

I always enjoyed visiting dunedin beach as a kid, just up the way from Clearwater. The water was shallow, and one could wade out for a good long distance it seemed.

The greek town of Tarpon Springs might be fun to visit for an afternoon.

http://ctsfl.us/

 

[monkeyboy]

Clearwater: Original hOOters..
just saying