Recently named the #1 Beach in the United States by the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, Clearwater Beach also landed on Trip Advisor’s Top 25 beaches in the world list at #20.
As we only live a short drive from Clearwater Beach, Ajax and Buttercup have dug their tiny toes into the sand there several times. The soft, powdery sand, calm waters, and entertainment at the Pier 60 make it one of their favorite beach destinations. The last time we were there, their grandparents were having a staycation at the Hilton Clearwater Beach. We joined them for an evening, and after watching the sun set deep into the water, the grandparents took them over to the pier while we had dinner at Crabby Bills. During their visit, they were lucky to spy Captain Jack. A frequent visitor to the Pier area, Captain Jack wove tales to our kids about his life as a pirate, and even let Ajax sharpen his sword.
During our last vacation to Indian Rocks Beach, we spent a significant amount of time in Clearwater. It’s only a few short miles North of Indian Rocks Beach, and an easy drive if you have a car. If you prefer to skip the traffic during the busy times, or don’t have a car, the Suncoast Beach Trolley is a fun and affordable way to traverse between beaches.
On our first night there, we headed to Frenchy’s South Beach Cafe on South Gulfview Blvd. for a traditional beach dinner. We found parking at the parking garage of the beach shop SurfStyle on 315 South Gulfview Blvd, which is just a short scenic walk away. The elevator in the multi-level parking garage delivers you into the middle of Surf Style, a large beach store / food market / and indoor surfing experience. The parking garage charges a nominal fee, which is paid at a kiosk in the Surf Style store before you return to your car. For convenience, the kiosk accepts debit cards.
After a short sunset stroll down the beach, we arrived outside of Frenchy’s South Beach Cafe. One of several Frenchy’s locations, it’s a well known spot among the locals and the tourists, and we were eager to finally give it a try.
As we walked up to the restaurant, there were a few corn hole boards placed outside, but to Ajax’s dismay, they were all in use upon our arrival. Guests have the option to sit at tables outside on the sidewalk, the patio or inside the restaurant. We opted for a table on the patio and melted into our chairs after the long day. The beach was directly across from our table, and we were immediately hit with the blinding rays of the pre-sunset. We were able to unroll the screens strategically placed around the patio to block out the sun, and then were able to settle in and enjoy the view.
We were greeted by a friendly server and ordered drinks for the table. An appetizer on the menu caught our eye, and we were quick to decide to try it – Garlic Crab Fries. The dish was delivered quickly, and it was nothing short of amazing. An eclectic combination that we never would have imagined paired well, but there it was – a huge pile of fresh crab atop a mountain of fries, mixed with some type of garlic aioli and other mystery ingredients. The blend of flavors was so amazing that upon returning home, we decided to try whipping up our own batch. If you’re feeling adventurous in the kitchen, you can check out our version of the recipe here.
The table was quick to dive into a grouper sandwich, jerk chicken sandwich, corn dogs and fruit. While it filled our stomachs, nothing else on the menu could compare to the view and the Garlic Crab Fries.
After dinner, we walked across the street to watch the sun set.
As we visited at the end of the summer, the beach wasn’t that crowded and we easily found a spot along the edge of the beach to take in end of the day. As the sun slipped into the water, the little ones frolicked in the sand until it disappeared.
The next day we opted to visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to visit Winter the Dolphin and her pals. While getting ready, we pulled up Netflix and watched the movie Dolphin Tale. Ajax had seen parts of the movie before, and couldn’t wait to visit his new friend. Buttercup, an avid lover of all animals but still too little to understand about rescuing, was happy to just run around exclaiming “dolphin!” over and over again. Check out all of our adventures at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium here.
After the aquarium, we returned to our condo to for nap time. As the afternoon turned to evening, Florida’s notorious thunderstorms rolled in. We watched the angry sky and pouring rain from our balcony as we waiting for the storm to pass. When the rain slowed, we jumped in the car to catch dinner on the beach again. After searching around online we opted to check out Salty’s Island Bar and Grill, which delivered an incredible dinner even with the rain. We started with a round of Fried Green Tomatoes, which had just the right amount of crispy breading. The Tomatoes were followed by entrees, which included Shrimp and Jicama Tacos with Grits, Avocado Egg Rolls and Plantains, and Chicken fingers and fries for Ajax and Buttercup. The tacos were well seasoned and not too spicy, and the shrimp tasted fresh. The jicama added a nice layer of texture and crunch to the soft taco. Substituting for a light dinner, the Avocado Egg Rolls were stuffed with a blend of avocados, red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, cream cheese, chipotle peppers and spices, and served with a side of sweet chili sauce. Fried for just the right amount of time and not the least bit greasy, the egg roll can easily be enjoyed with – or without – the sweet chili sauce. Ajax and Buttercup approved of the chicken fingers which tasted fresh and not frozen, and polished off their dinner with a side of french friends. Dive into the menu and ambiance of Salty’s Island Bar & Grill here.
We wrapped up our Clearwater Beach culinary experience at Extreme Pizza Clearwater Beach. A casual, family-friendly restaurant, Extreme Pizza is located in the heart of downtown Clearwater Beach. Friendly staff greeted us upon arrival, and we opted to select at a high top table. With careful supervision, even Buttercup was able to enjoy the tall table. The server presented our menus and asked if we were alright with the kids could have Play-Doh! We’ve dined in many places, but this was the first time we had been offered this. It came in especially handy as Ajax was having problems with the noise and crowds and his usual backpack of toys was not helping that night.
After ordering, our we received our dinner extremely fast, even though there was a large party and full restaurant. The breadsticks were hot and fresh, and could easily be eaten withou the flavorable marinara they served with it.
The kids dined on a small pizza, with just the right ratio of pepperonni to melted cheese, while the adults had a unique specialty pizza that was abundant with size and flavor.
Clearwater Beach is known as one of the world’s most famous beaches because of its soft sugary sand, warm water, entertainment, plentiful dining, and picture-perfect sunsets. For families looking for memories that will last a lifetime, they can find it at Clearwater Beach.