Clearwater is a Florida city known for its miles of beaches. Visitors can get close to the dolphins both at the beach and at the aquarium, and it has a busy pier with vendors and other entertainment at night. Other than the beach, Clearwater has several parks and a downtown district with shopping and dining options. Keep reading to find the best things to do in Clearwater.
Clearwater Beach is not only one of the top rated beaches in the state, but it regularly makes the list of the best beaches in the U.S. Other than swimming through the surf, Clearwater visitors can go fishing, kayaking, or jet skiing.
The best things to do near Clearwater include:
Seeing the dolphins and other animals at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Gathering seashells at Sand Key Park
Walking along Pier 60
Shopping in the downtown Cleveland Street District
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a popular tourist attraction in this Florida city. It has animals such as stingrays, river otters and sea turtles among their exhibits. It’s also home to Winter and Hope, two dolphins from the movie “Dolphin Tale.” They recently added a third dolphin to the group named Nicholas, who picked the winners of the 2017 World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup and Super Bowl.
Other popular attractions near Clearwater include:
Taking a tour on the Suncoast Beach Trolley
Traveling through the waters on Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise
Out of all of the fun things to do in Clearwater, Sand Key Park is at the top of the list. This place is a mix of a park and a beach, and it has trails for viewing the local wildlife. The beach is a great place for collecting seashells in Florida. Visitors find conch shells, lightning whelk shells, and zebra shells in the sand.
Clearwater has many fun things to do at night. Start with watching the sunset at Clearwater Beach, then grab dinner at Sea-Guini. Follow that with a show at Capitol Theatre, and end the night with a drink on the roof deck at Marina Cantina.
Nighttime activities near Clearwater include:
Catching dinner and a movie at Sunset Point Cinema
Knocking down the pins at Dunedin Lanes
Enjoying live music and pool at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
Clearwater is a great city for finding things to do with kids. The Cleveland Street District throws a “Blast Friday” festival during the last Friday of the month, which is basically a large, family-friendly festival. Moccasin Lake Park is another great family destination. This park has an education center where visitors can see a butterfly garden and birds of prey among other exhibits.
Family-Friendly things to do near Clearwater include:
It’s easy to find indoor activities in Clearwater. One top choice is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which has dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and otters. There’s also Studio 1212, which is a small gallery that was originally created by the students of William Pachner.
Clearwater things to do indoors include:
Yoga at Pure Yoga and Fitness
Relaxing at Botanica Day Spa
Catching a movie at Cobbs Theatres Countryside 12
Grabbing a bite at Beach Shanty Cafe
Ice skating at Sunblades Center
Sports and outdoor activities in ClearwaterView All
Clearwater has a lot of options when it comes to sightseeing outdoors. The Suncoast Beach Trolley is a way to see the various neighborhoods of the city, and it goes from Clearwater Beach to Pass-A-Grille. Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise is a popular bout tour that includes scavenger hunts for kids and bottomless drinks for adults. And for a heart-pumping adventure, try a flight with Sky Surfing Aviation.
Active things to see in Clearwater include:
Jet skiing around Clearwater Beach
Grilling a meal at Sand Key Park
Biking through the Pinellas Trail
Going on a two-hour guided paddleboard tour at Paddle Clearwater