How To Take The Ultimate Vacation In Clearwater Beach, Florida

Choose A Split is your best guidebook to the excellent outings to recharge, rediscover oneself and your relationships, and reengage with the earth. We’ll cover searching stops, fantastic bars, places to eat value your money, picture prospects, memorable drives and experiences, and other vital particulars you have to have ahead of you reserve.

Below, we chat with Lindsay Holmes, senior wellness and travel editor at HuffPost, about why you will want to place Clearwater Beach front, Florida, on your bucket checklist.

I grew up close by, so I invested a ton of time at Clearwater Seaside. In large faculty, our courses would stop all around 1 p.m. and we’d all beeline straight for the seaside. It felt like a getaway in my personal yard. The sand is powdery gentle, the Gulf of Mexico is a sight to behold, and there are tons of terrific eating places and things to do close by ― any time we’d go for an afternoon or on the weekends, I hardly ever needed to leave.

April and May perhaps together with September or even early Oct are perfect. The heat and humidity is brutal in the summer months, in particular in July and August, so I’d advocate avoiding that time of 12 months. You also operate the risk of encountering afternoon thunderstorms ― primarily at the beach front ― all through the summer months.

If you are from a point out that essentially has seasons, I extremely propose heading when you are in excess of the cold or not fairly all set to endure chillier temperatures. The winter season months can be heat, but you also operate the possibility of it receiving into the 50s. (I know, tragic.) If you are genuinely searching for beach front weather, late spring or early fall are often your very best bets.

Clearwater/St. Petersburg has a little airport, but Tampa Worldwide Airport will probably have the most alternatives if you are traveling. From there, you are only about a 40-minute travel away from the key beach front region. You can e-book a transportation like Super Shuttle or can easily just take Ubers or Lyfts. Acquiring all of your transportation established up beforehand will make everything as seamless as probable.

If you’re driving, be organized to offer with bridges and targeted traffic ― particularly in the much more well-liked vacation months. There’s primarily one street that goes into the beach and it’ll get packed rapidly. There’s also a massive roundabout that many drivers get flustered by, in particular when there are a good deal of autos. Persistence is important when navigating Clearwater Beach front in a motor vehicle.

There are so quite a few resorts appropriate together the beach front that are truly worth examining out, specially if you want direct obtain to the h2o or a pool. Some of the most well-known types include things like the Sandpearl Resort, the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Seashore and the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Seaside.

Moreover, there are cute boutique motels, like Lodge Cabana. Airbnbs are also an solution, and you can generally obtain some wonderful kinds in just a small wander or Uber or Lyft ride.

Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill is a have to-visit if you are at any time in Clearwater Beach front. It’s a rite of passage I really do not make the guidelines. It’s positioned right on the water, with a massive patio that empties out on to the sand. It is the excellent spot after a lengthy working day in the sunshine. Order the grouper sandwich and the crab fries and I assure you will never ever be the exact. My mom also loves their she-crab soup.

If you are searching for a thing a minor extra “upscale” just one evening, the Beachcomber and the Island Way Grill are sound solutions that have been all-around for many years. There’s also the Palm Pavilion or Crabby’s Bar and Grill if you are looking for one thing small-important with a beach front bar environment. And for all you hen wing lovers, the town of Clearwater is also property to the original Hooters. (There is also a locale on Clearwater Seaside.)

I also have to plug a quit at the grocery retailer Publix. There’s absolutely nothing like taking in a Pub Sub on the beach front. It is a person of life’s finest pleasures.

Frenchy’s and the Palm Pavilion are very good places if you want to grab a consume on the seaside. They have excellent, economical frozen cocktails (if you are from a big town, your mouth will fall at the costs). My beloved are the piña coladas, which I know is incredibly essential. But soon after a sizzling day of swimming and sunbathing, it actually hits the location. They also have rum runners, critical lime coladas (yet another most loved), coconut margaritas and more.

Several places to eat, together with Frenchy’s and Palm Pavilion, typically have stay audio. I advocate heading during sunset if you can get a desk. Entertainment, a refreshing consume and pristine surroundings. What far more could you ask for?

There are tons of nearby souvenir outlets along the seashore, which are terrific for window browsing or locating a trinket to commemorate your vacation.

The total seaside is ripe for photos! If you wander north alongside the beach front ― further than all of the motels ― you’ll absolutely get great pictures without a bunch of people today in the qualifications or pushing together with you. Pier 60 is also a terrific area for pictures if you want sweeping sights of the Gulf (you may possibly also get a glimpse of some dolphins if you’re blessed).

I’d individually say skip the pirate-themed boats that go out in the drinking water and opt for a dolphin sightseeing boat, or even go parasailing. Some men and women enjoy the pirate cruises, but most locals say they’re not definitely worth the rate. If you’re a water sport fan, a lot of persons really rave about the jet ski rentals as properly.

I really feel so at ease when I’m on a walk or sitting on the north part of the seashore. We’d usually park there for the working day when we were being in high school. I have fond recollections of lounging in the solar with my pals, gossiping about what happened in course or who was courting who at the time.

Every time I go again, I make confident to stroll up that way, which finishes up being about a mile or so away from Pier 60. It instantly helps make me experience like a teen once again. It is also great because it is even more away from the touristy regions, so you get a degree of peaceful that you are not genuinely afforded in the much more crowded components.

For some good people today looking at, I definitely recommend strolling along the pier or in some of the a lot more populated spots. There are also other attractive beach locations close by if you want to change it up for the working day. Try checking out Sand Key Seaside or Caladesi Island State Park, which offer a different tiny slice of heaven of the Gulf.

There are a few: Initially, be expecting to be uncovered to UV rays and program appropriately. The sunshine will get you if you’re not watchful. Use sunscreen ― even if it would seem cloudy all through the summer.

You need to also anticipate afternoon thunderstorms if you’re likely in the warmer months. (I personally appreciate them, but they can be aggravating on a vacation.) Storms usually roll in about 3 p.m. and can past anyplace from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on the forecast. It is useful to program any beach days or excursions around it ― you’ll likely get far better climate the before you go out.

Ultimately, familiarize on your own with the stingray shuffle. If you take a look at whenever between April and October, which is ordinarily stingray year. Shuffle your ft in the drinking water so they know you are coming. (For what it is really worth, I have never ever had a issue with them in my life time of likely to Clearwater Beach. Just be aware, do not strain!)

To condition the noticeable, a bathing accommodate and sunscreen. Some people today want bringing water shoes for stingray period and beach front shirts for the reason that, as stated, the sun can be really potent.

Do. Not. Feed. The. Seagulls. They are almost everywhere, and they want your food stuff. Feeding them just can make them more needy (and it could be risky for them) ― not to point out you will annoy all the other beachgoers all around you. Continue to keep your snacks, subs and everything else to yourself. Believe in me.