Clearwater Beach (after the hurricanes)

Below is our 36 hour Clearwater Beach itinerary. To see the full experience following this itinerary watch our Clearwater Beach Youtube episode linked above. 

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North Clearwater Beach

We started off our trip on North Clearwater Beach, which offers a more tranquil experience compared to the beach areas further to the south. Here, you can enjoy unspoiled beauty and serenity, with close access to some eateries within a short walk. 

If you enjoy a beach stroll with a coffee we'd recommend stopping in at Caffeinated Bakery. While this spot is small, it is a great place to stop in for a quick breakfast and coffee. We highly recommend trying a cinnamon roll if you have a sweet tooth.

Now, if you're looking for more of a sit down experience for breakfast, Clear Sky Cafe is a good choice. We would recommend the benedicts and corned beef, but do plan to return to try their French toast and beignets. 

After grabbing coffee and breakfast, Pier 60 is a great place to walk around to get some exercise or lay on the beach and relax. Part of the Pier recently reopened and when the whether is nice you can find inflatable activities for kids, street performers and vendors in the area. 

During our visit we stayed one night at Dolphins Sands. This hotel is one of the older and smaller ones on Clearwater Beach, but we enjoyed how charming it was and loved the location. Even though it is not right next to the Pier 60 area, there are still plenty of businesses within walking distance, and it is only a quick drive over the pass to get to Sand Key, which is much less touristy compared to Clearwater Beach.

For dinner, there are endless options on Clearwater Beach, but during this trip we decided to try Badfins. It has a great view of the beach and often hosts live music on it's patio. We learned that they are known for their frozen drinks on the beach and while we were there, several people ordered frozen drinks that came in pineapples! It was tempting to order one, but we had another spot for drinks identified after dinner. We ended up trying two of their bowls, one with beef and one with pork, and both of them were absolutely delicious.

While Pier 60 does have a daily sunset celebration, we decided we wanted to experience sunset in the sky, and for that we would recommend Jimmy's Crows Nest. This spot has their own sunset celebration as well as fantastic views of the beach and Pier. 

Our last stop of the day had to be Shephard's to check out their new stage for live music. This is a can't miss spot for those looking for some night life. We were visiting during the week and enjoyed a solo musician, but on the weekends they often host energetic bands that pack the dance floor.

The next morning we started our day enjoying sunrise on the beach at our hotel and then  walked a few blocks to Bad Ass Coffee. We love the Hawaiian coffee brewed at this spot and that they use coffee ice cubes in their iced lattes. 

On the way back to our hotel we stopped in at Parlor Donuts, they offer layered doughnuts giving a unique twist between a croissant and traditional donut. We were impressed by the variety of flavors offered, as well as options for those with dietary restrictions.

Once we checked out of our hotel we headed to the marina to embark on an unforgettable adventure with Encounters with Dolphins. This nature tour not only guarantees a dolphin sighting but also stops at a small uninhabited island when the conditions allow it.

After the excursion we had one more beach we wanted to check out and that was at Sand Key County Park. It offers a more secluded and naturalistic beach experience, a contrast to the more touristy Clearwater Beach. 

When we finally decided we'd had enough sun we ventured over to one of the restaurants on Sand Key, right on the water. Columbia Restaurant has been in business for over 120 years and is well known throughout Florida. We loved the decor, cuisine as well as the option of dining in the air conditioning, which still enjoying views of the water.

Closing out Clearwater Beach

We hope this itinerary gives you more than a few ideas of what to do and where to eat & drink during your next trip to Clearwater Beach. To see even more Florida itineraries and travel guides be sure to follow us here on Plannin and Youtube.