The sparkling aquamarine surf along with the finest beaches of powder white sand, excellent restaurants, first-class accommodations, numerous shopping venues, charter boat fishing, fun filled attractions and non-stop entertainment makes Clearwater a favorite locale for both residents and tourists. The city is easily accessible by car from Tampa via the Courtney Campbell Causeway which is just minutes from the Tampa International Airport or you can fly directly to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport.
Instructions
1. Visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine animals back into the wild. You can see dolphins, turtles, otters, fish, sharks and stingrays, learn about the sea turtle nesting program, see daily dolphin shows, turtles and otters in a natural habitat environment and you can even touch a real live stingray. Another great way for the whole family to spend the day is at Celebration Station in Clearwater. This entertainment venue offers carnival rides, Go-Karts and games along with plenty of places to eat. If you're ever wanted to board a pirate ship and cruise the waters, make a reservation for a two-hour daytime or two-hour sunset champagne cruise aboard Captain Memo's Pirate Cruise ship located at the Clearwater Marina.
2. Visit the 182-acre Florida Botanical Gardens located in the nearby city of Largo. The Florida Botanical Gardens displays exotic tropical and native Florida plants in natural and formal settings and also provides a natural habitat for wildlife. A nice way to spend the day is to take a stroll through these lush gardens. At the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores near St. Petersburg, the largest and most successful wild bird rehab facility in the U.S., their focus is to rehabilitate injured birds and return them to the wild when possible and to educate the public about wild birds and how we can protect them. There are many species of wild birds who are permanent residents of the sanctuary from song birds to birds of prey making the sanctuary an ideal place for bird watching and photography enthusiasts. The sanctuary is open year-round and admission is free. Further down the coast in St. Pete Beach is the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum located in Pass-a-Grille which is a National Historic District.
3. Swim at Clearwater Beach, which is open daily with beach guards on duty from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. For your convenience, cabana rentals, concession stands, restrooms and beach showers are available. The Pier 60 fishing pier has covered pavilions, playground for the children and is a great place to fish. Rods, bait, tackle and fishing passes are available at the Pier for the day.
4. Caladesi Island State Park, located near Dunedin, has been rated as the number one ranked beach in North America. This beautiful island offers swimming, hiking, nature trails, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing, bird watching, wildlife, picnic pavilion, showers and restaurants. The island is accessible only by ferry so call ahead for departure and return times and ferry fees. Another beautiful location is Sand Key Beach, rated in the top 14 US beaches, which features a 65-acre park that is open daily. Beach showers, restrooms and picnic areas are available. The parking is metered so bring plenty of change.
5. Head south on Gulf Blvd. from Clearwater to several other beach areas along the coast including Belleair Beach, Indian Shores and Redington Beach. Continuing to head south on Gulf Blvd. will take you to Madeira Beach which is home to John's Pass Village & Boardwalk situated on the waterfront. Parking is free but limited, so plan accordingly. The next stop on Gulf Blvd. is Treasure Island and its beautiful white sugar sand beaches, hotels and restaurants and on into the St. Pete Beach area with even more hotel and motel accommodations, food and nightlife.
6. Tempt your taste buds with the many restaurants in Clearwater and the surrounding areas. From fine dining to a more casual atmosphere, there are plenty of restaurants for you to choose from offering everything from the freshest seafood and fire grilled steaks to Mexican enchiladas and Greek Mousaka. Several local favorites include any one of the four Frenchy's restaurants in Clearwater known for their mouth watering grouper sandwich. Frenchy's Original Cafe opened its doors in 1981 and was soon followed by Frenchy's Salt Water Cafe, Frenchy's Rockaway Grill and the newest addition, Frenchy's South Beach Cafe. All of Frenchy's restaurants are supplied by the Seafood Company, started by Frenchy, so that his customers are assured of excellent food prepared with the freshest catch of the day.For exceptional Spanish cuisine, there's the world famous Columbia Restaurant on Sand Key. The original Columbia located in Ybor City in Tampa, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005, has been family owned and operated since its doors first opened in 1905. You can expect superior food, quality service, waterfront views from inside or on the outside deck and a casual dining atmosphere. At the Island Way Grill, experience the subtle elegance of this fine dining restaurant once you step through the door. Beautiful decor, rich colors and warm lighting enhance the welcoming atmosphere. Their menu and wine list is extensive and you can dine inside or on the outside deck.
7. Visit other places of interest that offer fun-filled activities such as the Pinellas Trail, which is the longest biking trail in the US spanning an impressive 34 miles. This beautiful trail takes you through scenic parks and neighborhoods and is perfect for jogging and skating, too! For more sightseeing, another great way to spend the day and see the sights is to take the Suncoast Beach Trolley that runs from Clearwater Beach all the way to Pass-a-Grille in St. Pete. The trolley makes stops all along the way at the various cities and beach areas giving you an opportunity to explore the coast line without having to drive. At the Clearwater Municipal Marina you'll have a variety of boating activities to choose from. If you're interested in chartering a fishing or sailing boat, booking a boat to cruise the waters and do some sightseeing, trying your hand at para-sailing or renting your own watercraft, the marina, located on Clearwater Beach, is the place to go. You can also grab a bite to eat, do a little shopping or pick up some bait for your fishing adventure while you're at the marina. It's an all-in-one stop for a day of fun.
8. Shop at the numerous shopping malls and boutiques, starting with the Westfield Countryside Mall anchored by Dillard's, Sears and JC Penney. The mall features restaurants, a movie theater and an indoor ice-skating rink. The Clearwater Mall has a good selection of retail shops such as a Target superstore plus restaurants. The Shoppes on Sand Key feature upscale shops and waterfront dining while the Clearwater Farmers Market features not only fresh fruit and vegetables but a variety of handcrafted items. At St. John's Pass Village and Boardwalk located in Madeira Beach, a variety of retail shops and waterfront dining is available and in nearby St. Petersburg there's the 100-acre Wagon Wheel Flea Market where you have items ranging from new to antique.
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