Last Updated on April 19, 2024

In my opinion, Clearwater Beach is one of the most stunning areas in Florida with its beautiful beaches and family-friendly activities.  So, in this post, we’ll be sharing my favorite things to do here in Clearwater Beach.
 
This includes the Sand Key Park, Pier 60, and restaurants, like Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill.
 
We’ll also touch on a few things to do beyond Clearwater Beach, including fun tours and a couple of stops in Tampa and nearby St. Pete Beach.
 
I love visiting Clearwater Beach and my favorite things to do here are the main Clearwater Beach access and Pier 60 but take a look for yourself and decide!
 
Let’s dive in!
 

 

 

27 Best Things To Do In Clearwater Beach, Florida

hot afternoon at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach in Florida
Sand Key Park is one of the best beaches in the Clearwater Beach area
Honeymoon Island State Park is the perfect place to visit.  It's a quiet, relaxing beach just north of Clearwater Beach
Me at Honeymoon Island State Park

Me at Honeymoon Island State Park near Clearwater Beach- I forgot my sunglasses so I was not prepared for how bright it was!

 

 

Consider heading to Indian Rocks Beach for a tranquil day enjoying sand, surf, and sunshine!

external facade of Frenchy's Cafe in Clearwater Florida
Wayne enjoying the sunset at Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach

Me visiting Pier 60- One of the best things to do in Clearwater!

 

Sunsets In Clearwater Beach

 If you’re looking the best places to catch the sunset in Clearwater Beach, here are a few great options:

Pier 60

Marina Cantina

Jimmy’s On The Edge 

 

 

What Is There To Do In North Clearwater Beach?

 

Downtown Clearwater Beach sunset at the streets

A trip to Clearwater Beach wouldn’t be complete without checking out the north end and Mandalay Avenue shops!

The northern end of Clearwater Beach along Mandalay Avenue is a beautiful area and is only a block or so from the beach.

There are several restaurants and bars on this main drive.

North Clearwater Beach also has Pelican Walk, which is a plaza with 2 floors of shops including a surf shop, pizza place, ice cream shop, arcade, spa, bars, and more.

They have a DJ or live music here on weekends, too.

I’ve always been a big wrestling fan and I grew up idolizing Hulk Hogan so it was nice seeing that they have a Hogan’s Beach shop here at Pelican Walk.

You can buy memorabilia, clothing, and other merchandise.

 

 

a topless statue in a bar in Clearwater Florida
exterior of Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida
 

Fun Things To Do Near Clearwater Beach!

Just a short drive from the beach, here are some of the best things to do near Clearwater.

 

John's Pass is a boardwalk filled with shops, restaurants, and water activities. It's just a short drive from Clearwater Beach
When in Clearwater Beach, be sure to make your way over to downtown St. Petersburg and visit the St. Pete Pier

Photo Credit- Mylo Kaye/Pexels

For a non beach day activity while in Clearwater Beach, visit Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa

Photo Credit- ZooTampa

people feeding a giraffe on a meet and greet at ZooTampa Lowry Park
The Tampa Riverwalk is a scenic walkway runs for 2.6 miles from the Heights Market Armature Works down to Garrison Channel.
beautiful orange butterfly in Florida Botanical Gardens

Photo Credit- MILB/Clearwater

Love baseball? Take yourself out to a ball game while you are in Clearwater!
a boat docked in Sponge Dock Tarpon Springs FL

 

Book This 2 Hour Tandem Kayak Tour From Tarpon Springs

 

 

beautiful crystal clear waters of Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida

 

 

Beach in Dunedin Florida

Indoor Activities Near Clearwater Beach

 

Photo Credit- Escape Room Clearwater Beach

front sign at Escape Room Clearwater Beach

Photo Credit- Surfstyle/Facebook

For an indoor activity the kids will love, try indoor surfing in Clearwater

Photo Credit- Simcenter Tampa Bay

Located in Clearwater, enjoy this awesome virtual reality facility with flight, space, and race car simulators.

Photo Credit – Celebration Station

a woman and kids riding an inflatable kart in a pool

24. Celebration Station- Clearwater

Indoor and outdoor activities in Clearwater, Florida.  Arcade, bumper cars, and mini-golf.

Celebration Station is a great place to spend a day with family and friends.

And when you need a break from all the fun, you can enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant!

Photo Credit- Wikimedia

musicians and Ringo Starr performing on the stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater
kids playing in a trampoline

 

 

Photo Credit- Cruisin Tikis Clearwater

group of girls in a Tiki Boat - Clearwater - The Only Authentic Floating Tiki Bar Tour

 

 

Photo Credit- A Boat Day

a family in a double deck boat cruise in Clearwater Florida with a fun slide for kids

 

 

bottlenose dolphin spotted in Clearwater Florida

√ Book This Little Toot Dolphin Adventure In Clearwater Beach

Rated 5 Stars with over 4,000 reviews

 

 

Photo Credit- Get Up And Go Kayaking – Tampa Bay

a woman's back on a kayak in Tarpon Springs water in Florida

 

 

Beautiful aerial view of the buildings and beach in Clearwater Beach

 

 

Photo Credit- Real Florida Adventures

Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise is a popular and exciting boat tour located in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

 

 For More Information On The Best Sunset Cruises & Boat Tours In Clearwater Beach, Go To This Post!

 

 

Photo Credit- Magic Carpet Glide Segway Tours

tourists on a guided segway tour around clearwater beach Florida

 

 

beautiful morning scenery at Anna Maria Island Florida

 

 

Clearwater Beach

What Is Clearwater Florida Best Known For?

Clearwater Beach is famous for its white sand and clear blue waters on the Gulf Coast.

Both the beaches in Clearwater Beach and the sunset out at the pier make this part of Florida a must-see.

There are numerous beach activities to enjoy on this barrier island, such as swimming, boating, fishing, and kayaking.

Another great thing to do in Clearwater Florida is to explore the area’s many shops and restaurants.

For shops- there is something for everyone, from casual beachwear stores to snacks and ice cream.

You’ll also find a variety of dining options, ranging from seafood shacks to fine dining establishments.

And don’t forget to check out the nightlife scene in Clearwater Beach – there are plenty of bars that keep the energy high into the night.

Which Part Of Clearwater Beach Is Best?

North Clearwater Beach is arguably the best part of the area and is the area most covered in this post.

Start at Pier 60 Fishing Pier near the center of Clearwater Beach, and head north for amazing restaurants, shops, and activities.

If you’re looking for more nightlife options, then South Clearwater Beach is a better option.

Clearwater Beach (Public Beach) Parking

Depending on where you try to park, it may be a little difficult to find a parking spot right at the beach.

Here are some options for parking:

There’s a parking lot next to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill (at the beach) or you can try the parking lot just a short walk from the pier (next to Walgreens).

There’s also a parking ramp just a couple of blocks away (near The Original Frenchy’s Restaurant), and it’s fairly inexpensive to park there.

 

 

Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort

Photo Credit- Expedia

Enjoy some beautiful ocean views during your stay in Clearwater Beach

Sandpearl Resort 

Photo Credit- Expedia

The Sandpearl Resort is one of the best places to stay in Clearwater Beach
 

Pier House 60 Clearwater Beach

Photo Credit- Expedia

Stay in the heart of Clearwater Beach with awesome views of the beach and Pier 60
Clearwater Beach is a really great place to go and take a trip. There are plenty of fun things to do in the area and the Clearwater, Florida beaches are amazing.
Clearwater Beach is a really great place to go and take a trip.  There are plenty of fun things to do in the area and the Clearwater Florida beaches are amazing.

Many of the activities in Clearwater Beach are within walking distance of the beach.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is about a mile and a half away from the downtown activities.

Sand Key Park is about a 2-mile drive.  Also, Clearwater, Florida is just across the causeway and has lots of activities for everyone.

Check out Clearwater Beach.  And for more fun nearby, visit Anna Maria Island, just an hour from Clearwater Beach!

 

 

 

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Wayne Kask

by Wayne Kask

Wayne is a travel blogger who loves to write about the best attractions, restaurants, and tours in Florida.  When he is not writing, he is running outdoors, spending time with family, or planning his next trip.

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9 Comments

  1. Taneka Joyner

    yes I went to Clearwater for the first time earlier this month.Frenchies Reuben grouper was everything! The beaches were PERFECT and clean. We did a sunset tiki boat w Tiki Tyler’s which was one of my fav parts of the trip w beautiful sunset and dolphins swimming by constantly?. FYI Hulk Hogans bar does karaoke every Tuesdays and he actually shows up.We got to see him and Dennis Rodman who happened to be in the area

    Reply
  2. Giangi's Kitchen

    Great post and thank you for sharing. I always stay on the Atlantic side of Florida. You just gave me the incentive to start discovering a side of Florida that never was on my plan to do,

    Reply
  3. Deirdre

    Clearwater seems like a nice place! I’ve never been, but the downtown looks especially pretty 🙂

    Reply
  4. Gia

    We love going to Florida but have never been to Clearwater! Maybe we will add it to the list!

    Reply
  5. madelinekaeblog

    I love Clearwater! I spent a few months living just 10 minutes north in Dunedin – A beautiful area!

    Reply
  6. Jess G

    I’ve loved Clearwater since I went there on a family trip as a kid. I’ll have to check out your suggestions the next time I go!

    Reply
  7. Jana

    This is great! I’m here in Tampa and even though Clearwater is so close we don’t make the trip often enough. I love all of your suggestions and will definitely be trying to grouper sandwich and crab fries! Those sound to die for!

    Reply
  8. Paige J. Watts

    Clearwater Beach looks incredible! The Gulf Coast beaches are really beautiful

    Reply
  9. glotzelaine

    Nice! As a Tampa Bay resident, I agree – Gulf Coast beaches are sooo much better than Atlantic beaches!

    Reply

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