If you’re looking for some relaxation in Central Florida, you should consider adding Clearwater Beach to the list of places to explore.

I will admit I can be a sucker for purchasing the activities directly from a cruise operator rather than my own activities. The major reason is because cruise ships generally guarantee you will be able to get back on the ship rather than taking off without you. I have been on a tour that hit traffic in the city and arrived late back to the cruise ship and the ship did wait for us to return. Thus I generally hesitate purchasing my own travel unless I can easily guarantee my self-independence. Enter Tampa…

The Jolley Trolley

Link to official site: https://www.clearwaterjolleytrolley.com/
Good for ages: All ages
Stroller-friendly: Yes

If you’re wandering around the area, you’re sure to see these trolleys patrolling the area. Unlike the streetcars in Tampa or Miami that are free, the Jolley Trolley will cost $2.25 per ride but kids 8 and under are free. That said, there are guests of some hotels who get free rides:

• Sandpearl
• Opal Sands
• Sheraton Sandkey
• Marriott Sandkey
• Tradewinds (on St. Pete Beach)

On top of that, there can be some events where you’ll get free rides (like New Years Eve).

There are two routes (North Beach and South Beach). The North Beach route runs every 45 minutes while the South Beach route appears every 30 minutes.

It’s a festive way to get around town, but the cost might add up if you get out frequently (there is no all-day ride option currently).

Pier 60

Link to official site: https://www.myclearwater.com/Neighborhood-Map-Locations/Parks-Trails-and-Recreation-Centers/Pier-60-Park
Good for ages: All ages
Stroller-friendly: Yes, on everything but the sandy beach

The resorts on the south end of Clearwater Beach all hover around Pier 60, which is pretty close to the main entrance to the area (via Clearwater Bridge). Odds are if you come to the beach at all, you’ll pass by here. We’ll group this whole area of the beach together and call it Pier 60 just to keep things easy. There’s not much at the end of the pier itself, but it’s a nice walk if nothing else. You might also see others do a little fishing.

As for the beach around here, it’s excellent. You’ll be facing out to the west and you’re sure to get a phenomenal view of the sunset along with the “green flash” that happens right as the sun dips into the Gulf of Mexico.

You’ll find plenty of stations to wash the sand off your feet. They’re recognizable from the friendly turtles on top of the pillars with water sprayers.

Want something fun for the kids to do? Check out the “Fun Zone” right by Pier 60. This attraction is open daily from either 10AM or 11AM to sunset (depending on the season). It might also close due to inclement weather. When I stopped by, it was before they opened up for the day, but looked like a nice place for the kids to have fun. Pricing starts at $12 for 4 rides.

There were also a couple of bigger waterslides in the back. On a hot summer day, I can see this being quite popular but not so much in the winter.

Of course, if you’re looking for something cheaper for your children to do, look no further than the massive playground here. Under each open-air building is a separate play structure for the kids. One is intended for smaller children and one for bigger kids. This place was always packed with kids, which also meant I couldn’t get better photos. It’s too popular!

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Link to official site: https://www.cmaquarium.org/
Good for ages: 0 to 11
Stroller-friendly: Yes

I didn’t get a chance to stop by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium since it’s not walkable from the beach. But what goes well with a marine-themed environment like the beach? If you said an aquarium, you’d be correct.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium costs $41.95/adult and $32.95/child aged 3-11. Typically, the aquarium is open from 10AM to 5PM. You’ll start off on the third floor of the aquarium and then have the ability to check out the other floors as you desire. There are a number of animal care experiences for you to view as well. A little odd, but not all animals here actually inhabit the ocean, such as an exhibit for… the opossum. Keep in mind that some of these experiences have age requirements.

In our experience, aquariums are the most entertaining for younger children. It makes for fun viewing for kids up to age 8 or 9, but the encounters can extend the age to those entertained here up to about age 11.

Hulk Hogan’s Wrestling Shop

Link to official site: https://hulkhoganswrestlingshop.com/
Good for ages: Over 30?
Stroller-friendly: Yes

OK, first off: is it really just for people over age 30? No, kids can come here too. But I don’t think many under age 30 would recognize who Hulk Hogan was. I remember walking around anywhere and seeing those classic Hulkamania shirts with some frequency. And, here, you could purchase one for yourself.

When I stopped by, there was a short line of people wanting to take their picture with the Hulk Hogan statue out front. Though, I have to say that it looks more like he’s skateboarding than wrestling.

What’s special about the store at Clearwater Beach? Hulk Hogan (or rather Terry Bollea) lived in the area up until his death in July 2025. Shortly after his death, the governor created a special 2-mile walking path along State Road 60 that includes special exercise equipment. While you’re here, you could also check out Hogan’s Hangout, his popular restaurant and bar, and see where he lived (1040 Eldorado Ave).

It’s pretty neat that there is so much memorabilia to celebrate the icon of the 1980s and 1990s. If you remember the era, it’s worth a stop just for some nostalgia.

Where to eat in Clearwater Beach

Mandalay Prime

Link to official site: https://mandalayprime.com/
Good for kids?: There is no kids menu but kids are still welcome
Reservation required?: No, but still recommended
Cuisine: Steaks

Practically right across the street from Hulk Hogan’s Wrestling Shop is Mandalay Prime, one of the better steakhouses in the immediate area. Service is friendly and professional.

I started the evening with the Mandalay smoked old-fashioned, which had plenty of smoky goodness locked in until it arrives at your table. Fans of old fashioned drinks or bourbon will appreciate this one.

As for the food itself, it’s excellent. The steak has an excellent crust, lots of flavor, and a soft interior. Between this steak and the one I had at Bern’s Steakhouse over in Tampa, I think this is better. It comes with less pageantry and no free sides, but sometimes you just want a better steak.

The Salty Crab

Link to official site: https://saltycrabnorthbeach.com/
Good for kids?: There is no kids menu but kids are still welcome
Reservation required?: No, but still recommended
Cuisine: Seafood

About a block south of Mandalay Prime is another good restaurant called The Salty Crab. Don’t confuse this with Crabby’s, another popular seafood restaurant in spittin’ distance of this one. Between what I’ve had at both, I prefer the food here. Don’t be embarrassed to use the gloves and bib they provide you.

I came out here with a group of friends (don’t worry, I didn’t eat everything here on my own so you don’t need to worry about my health just yet). Some of the highlights of the evening include these Oysters Crabafella. They’re topped with a couple of creamy sauces to add quite a bit of flavor. While I typically like my oysters without any toppings, these are pretty easy to get down too.

The fried seafood was also cooked well. These are actually the alligator bites, which are pretty tasty. Eating alligators is almost a rite of passage when you’re in Florida, and what they serve here is pretty tender and not greasy. If you’ve never alligator before, we’ll say it tastes like dark meat chicken. I haven’t eaten alligator and chicken before in the same meal to know how different they are.

And their boils are a masterpiece. This shrimp/crab boil can be a bit expensive ($81 on the day we were there) but the flavors mesh together divinely. One of these is probably sufficient for feeding 2-4 people depending on how hungry they are. Yes, you’ll want to save room in your stomach and your budget to try this. Of all we ate that night, this was the best thing.

3 Daughters Brewing

Link to official site: https://3dbrewing.com/food-clearwater/
Good for kids?: They have a kids menu
Reservation required?: No
Cuisine: It’s a brewery

Pretty close to Pier 60 and on the third floor of the complex is 3 Daughters Brewing. They do have some food here, but I’ll be honest–I can’t comment on the food. But if you’re looking for a small brewery that offers a nice place to hang out, this isn’t a bad spot to be. Plus, they typically have live music on weekends. It’s chill, so just sit back and relax here.

One nice thing for being on the third floor is you’ll get a nice view of the sun setting in the distance.

Arkane Aleworks

Link to official site: https://www.arkanebeer.com/
Good for kids?: No
Reservation required?: No
Cuisine: It’s a brewery

If you’re more into sour beers, you’ll find something more interesting here at Arkane Aleworks. There’s more than just sour beers here, and I did enjoy the variety more here than at 3 Daughters. But this most definitely isn’t walkable from the Clearwater Beach area. This is in Clearwater, a good 15 to 20 minutes by car from the rest of the things on this list.

With that warning out of the way, the only other caveat we’ll mention is that you’re not going to find any food here. This is strictly a place to come hang out, try a flight of beers, and relax with friends.

Where to stay when in Clearwater Beach?

While we’d love to offer up a wide variety of hotels, we’re only going to be able to provide full commentary on places we’ve actually stayed in.

Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach

Link to official site: https://www.wyndhamgrandclearwater.com/
Good for kids?: Yes
Rough cost: ~$300/night or 30,000 Wyndham points
Best features: Location and great sleep

If you’re looking for a nice place to sleep for the night, look no further than the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. While all the major hotel chains have a presence out on Clearwater Beach, we liked our stay at the Wyndham. The resort is well-maintained and it’s right there next to Pier 60, making it just about as close as you’d want to the action. Ultimately, what matters most is how good the sleep is, right? The good news is the comfortable bed allows just that.

The pool is also a popular place to hang out well into the night. It’s heated and open until 3AM–just in case you get that urge for a post-midnight swim.

Tampa Marriott Water Street

Link to official site: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/tpamc-tampa-marriott-water-street/overview/
Good for kids?: Yes
Rough cost: $200-$250/night or 35,000-55,000 Marriott points
Best features: Location in Tampa

If you don’t mind the half an hour drive over to Clearwater Beach, you could just as easily stay in Tampa. This perhaps works best if you’re only going visit Clearwater Beach in a single day rather than spending several days here. That said, you’re also more likely to find cheaper hotel rates if you’re in Tampa. One place for you to consider would be the Tampa Marriott Water Street. When we stayed there, we found the hotel generally fine (aside from the presence of cigarette smoke). If you can get past that in the shared spaces (or if we were just unlucky), we’d say you’ll be fine there.

The sleep itself is fine enough here and the club lounge on property adds a nice benefit for those who have at least Platinum status with Marriott Bonvoy. What the hotel perhaps has going for it the most is its location in Tampa. It’s easy to get around town on the free trolley they’ve got that will take you all around town, including to the next town over. Tampa is a fun Floridian city (and arguably my personal favorite of the cities I’ve been to so far).

Can you use Clearwater Beach as a base while exploring other cities?

We’d only recommend using Clearwater Beach as a base if you’re exploring both Tampa and St. Petersburg and prefer the beach at Clearwater. Exploring Florida outside of these three cities isn’t the convenient from Clearwater Beach. If that’s your goal, especially if you want to visit Orlando after, you’re better off using Tampa as a base.

From Clearwater Beach, you’re looking at a 2.5 hour drive to get to Orlando–not close enough that we would want to do it roundtrip.

What would you want to do while in Clearwater Beach, Florida?

Suggested reading:

• What Makes Tampa an Excellent Port
• Case in Point: The Way I Value a Marriott Point
• Case in Point: The Way I Value Wyndham Rewards Points