What to do in Clearwater?

[Maddysdaddy]

Hi all. Hope this is the right forum for this question.

Heading down from the Great White North to WDW for about 10 days at the end of March, staying on property.

Big baseball fan, so planning to catch a couple of Jays games in Dunedin.

Last time we drove to Dunedin from WDW, it ended up being about 2 hours each way in traffic, so I've booked a hotel for one night in Clearwater in order to avoid having to do the drive there and back two days in a row.

Plan is to drive down on a Saturday morning, drop our bags at the hotel, catch the game at 1, and then spend the rest of the afternoon/evening and the following morning in the Clearwater area, before catching another game at 1.

Having never explored the area, I'm wondering what some recommendations are for a family of 3 (incl. DD 10).

Thanks.

 

[dholmes1950]

Be sure to check out Clearwater Beach. Absolutely beautiful.

 

[kathy884]

There is a great beach (lots of activity, wide, wonderful sand). There is a pier right there too that you can walk out on (some nominal fee to go out past a certain point). If you are into beaches this is definitely a must. Even if you aren't into the beach, check it out for a least a hour or so. Clearwater Beach is the big draw and really nice.

Other possibilities:

Right across the street from the main beach area there are several different companies who do dolphin/mansion boat tours. These run about $20/ $30 or so per person and take you out to see some of the mansions in the area from the water and the bottlenose dolphins in the area who love to play and chase the boats will be there for your entertainment. I think most of these maybe take you out for 90 minutes for so. There are lots of companies and all have boats going out several times a day, so this is easy to book at the last minute.

There is a restaurant/bar right across the street called Crabby Bills that we liked. We did a family dinner there and they had a guitar player who we really enjoyed doing lots of covers of Caribbean popular music (Jimmy Buffet, popular songs from artists from Jamaica.) Food was very good too.

There is also the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and rescue facility (if you like that kind of thing). It's a little place that started out with the conversion of sewage treatment facilities to pens for animals being rehabilitated / rescued. The claim to fame here is Winter, the dolphin from the movies, Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 who has a prosthetic tale she puts on for exercise and swimming. The movies have really increased the place's popularity and they have expanded the facilities quite a bit due to skyrocketing attendance. Watch the movies for the first time or again before going if you are interested. Actually my son's interest in seeing Winter and this facility is why we did a mini trip here instead of just a beach day trip from Orlando the last time we stayed in Clearwater.

We always like taking a relaxing dip in our hotel pool too and sitting out on a balcony watching the boats, etc. Beautiful / relaxing.

We did a little two night stay in Clearwater June of 2012 and did all of these activities. // Really enjoyed it. // Could have easily filled up another day // Clearwater too is my favorite beach day trip from the Orlando area. It is a good two hour drive each way though, as you alluded too, so I think you'll enjoy the overnight.

 

[Art 1]

I don't care for Clearwater, too much traffic, too build up and the beach is nothing special. I would cancel the hotel, head an easy 1 hr drive south and stay in the Sarasota area, Longboat, Lido or Siesta Keys. It will be like being in another world.

 

[scard192]

Be sure to check out Clearwater Beach. Absolutely beautiful.

Pier 60 at sunset for sure.

http://www.sunsetsatpier60.com/

 

[doclegler]

Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise, Caladesi Island, Frenchy's restaurants, Post Corner Pizza, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, shopping LOTS of fun!!

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Thanks all.

 

[LovesTimone]

There are some good suggestions, but for me a more family beach is Sand Key park, right around the corner from Clearwater, Just follow the hwy, around the beach area, over the bridge at the bottom is entrance into the park, we like it as it has a nice picnic area ( covered tables), bathhouse, and beach area.

You could head down to Johns Pass, there are lots of restaurants, Gators on the Pass is a fun place for a family, they have music, and pool tables, games for some added entertainment, I love there Grouper sandwich.

You could also check out Busch Gardens. MOSI in Tampa

 

[Ametista]

Honeymoon Island State Park is right there and its not touristy, if crowds bother you. Otherwise I would head to Clearwater Beach and maybe even do a dolphin tour. I love Clearwater Beach but there are many gorgeous beaches south of there too.

 

[jwlnroe]

We were just there - went to clearwater beach, the aquarium and went to Dunedin to see the brewery ( great food ) I love clearwater it's a great place to visit