Colleen & Catie’s Picks for Clearwater, FL
Colleen
Accommodations:
SandPearl – Luxury hotel right on the beach. Enjoy their two restaurants – Caretta’s (high-end) and Tate Island Grill (more casual, but right on the beach). They also have a spa, pool, and hot tubs. They’re also a “Green Hotel” – feature a variety of innovative programs designed to improve energy efficiency. No plastic straws, only paper. If you stay during the off season (week after Labor Day, for example) you can get really good rates!
Restaurants:
Cooters – Catch n Cook restaurant where you can bring your fish and have it cooked up fresh. Casual, fresh food.
Salty’s – Crab legs, seafood, fun atmosphere. Try the plantains and the avocado spring rolls. Plus the Key Lime pie is a must!
Relaxing Activity:
Threshers Game at Spectrum Field – Catch a minor league game with the family! They offer $1 Tuesdays with hot dogs, soda, and beer for only $1. Plus there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained. The team is the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, so be sure to try their famous Philly Cheesesteak.
Adventurous Activity:
Clearwater Marine Aquarium – Aquarium and working Animal Hospital. Home of the famous dolphins from “Dolphin Tale” – Winter & Hope. You can feed the pelicans or the dolphins as part of their additional paid programs. They also have sea turtles, stingrays, and an otter.
Catie:
Accommodations:
OpalSands – “Sister property” to SandPearl, OpalSands is a refreshingly modern Clearwater Beach hotel. Every guest room, suite, restaurant, and even fitness center offers breathtaking, unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. There’s also a zero entry pool, spa, and locally-sourced dining.
Restaurant:
ClearSky on Cleveland – A global bistro located in downtown Clearwater on Cleveland. Good for lunch and dinner, wine and cocktails. They offer live, relaxing music on weekends, and if you go to the Capitol Theater across the street and bring your ticket to ClearSky after the show, you can get a free drink.
Relaxing Activity:
Clearwater Beach – Boogie boarding, cabanas, swimming, shelling. Beautiful white sand and warm water. One of the best beaches in the U.S.!
Adventurous Activity:
C Ponies – A majestic experience riding horses through the water in the bay.
“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”
What’s in Your Suitcase?
HP Sprocket – $99.95 at Best Buy – This portable photo printer is a fun travel gift that lets you print out photos directly from your phone using an app.
What’s on your phone?
Lyfx (pronounced Life-x) – https://lyfx.co/home
This New App Will Connect You With a Local Expert to Take You Camping, Hiking, Surfing, and More. Lyfx is available on the App store and Google Play.
What’s the tip?
Tips for a Florida Vacation
Explore your options – There’s plenty of fun Florida locations. Decide what type of vacation you want. Beach vacation? Clearwater. Amusement? Orlando. Party? Miami or Panama City Beach. Do your research ahead of time for a vacation that best suits you and your partner or family.
Pack accordingly for that Florida weather – They say that if it’s raining in Florida, wait 10 minutes and the weather will change. There tend to be brief rain showers in the afternoon, so be prepared with an umbrella. Be sure to also bring a big hat, lots of sunscreen, and a light jacket.
Look for souvenirs elsewhere – Part of the fun of going on vacation is being able to bring back a souvenir. Be aware that there are a ton of “tourist trap” souvenir shops along the popular roads and beaches. While it may be tempting to buy at one of those locations, but you’d be more likely to save money by getting a souvenir t-shirt at Walmart, CVS or Walgreens in the town you are exploring.
If you’re flying into the Tampa Airport, allow extra time! – There’s a train you have to take to get to the different terminals, so it takes a bit longer to get around than a small airport.
Consider other methods of transportation – As opposed to driving to get around town. In Clearwater:
Jolley Trolley – Free, plus you can download the app to track your trolley and route
Fun Ride Rentals – Rent a surrey bike or segway
