If you find yourself with just 2 days to enjoy the beauty of Clearwater Beach you’ve come to the perfect source. This 2-day Clearwater itinerary guide gets straight to the point, highlighting the worthwhile things to do on Clearwater Beach!
Clearwater Beach stands out as an extraordinary Florida destination suitable for both family vacations and romantic couple getaways. While there are numerous fantastic ways to spend a weekend in Clearwater, this itinerary offers a well-rounded selection of both laid-back and adventurous activities!
Continue reading to discover how to explore the best of Clearwater, Florida with this 2-day itinerary!
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Table of Contents
Day 1: Shelling Tour, Clearwater Beach, and Scenic Dinner Cruise
Morning
Clearwater Beach
What would a 2-day Clearwater itinerary be without mentioning Clearwater Beach? This is a given but I’m adding it to the first day of the itinerary so that you won’t run out of time to visit!
Because it is such a bustling beach I also have a couple of tips for visiting. First, make sure to arrive early. The earlier you can go the better but as a general rule of thumb, I wouldn’t recommend coming any later than 10 am if you can help it, especially during the weekend.
If you want to avoid trying to find a parking spot a great alternative is the Way2Go ride service. They offer free rides to the beach!
Afternoon
Go Shelling with A Boat Day
Ever heard of shelling? If not, it’s exactly what it sounds like – searching for shells! While you could simply do this from the Clearwater Beach shoreline, it isn’t the best place to do it. The main reason being the large crowds of people. However, an alternative is to visit the uninhabited barrier islands that lie off Clearwater’s coast on a shelling boat tour.
A Boat Day is one of the top charter companies in Clearwater Beach that specifically does shelling charters. They will provide you with mesh shelling bags to carry home your unique finds!
If you have no idea what you’re looking for, you don’t have to worry because your boat caption also doubles as a knowledgeable shelling guide. They will give you tips on where to look for shells and information about some of the gastropods that live inside the various shells.
A shelling tour isn’t just about the shells though! You can also go swimming and enjoy the incredible views of the islands and ocean. Plus, it’s likely that you’ll spot some dolphins along the way!
Booking a private charter with A Boat Day is ideal for families or larger groups of friends as their boats can hold up to 12 people. A typical cruise with them lasts around 4 hours but you can always pay more for a longer experience.
Evening
Scenic dinner cruise
If you’re looking to spice up your first meal in Clearwater look no further than dining on a yacht where you’ll enjoy views from out on the water, a lively atmosphere, and a delicious meal!
This Evening Yacht Dinner Cruise features live music and dancing, and an open-air observation deck. You’ll get to choose from a range of gourmet appetizers, entrees, desserts, and drinks!
To join this cruise you’ll pay a flat rate fee and anything that you purchase for food and drinks is at your own expense.
A dinner cruise is definitely a memorable way to spend part of your 2 days in Clearwater!
Day 2: Marine Aquarium, Lunch, Coachman Park, and Sand Key
Morning
Learn about native sea life at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
To kick off day 2 of your 2-day Clearwater itinerary, you will visit the aquarium. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a renowned marine life rescue and rehabilitation center located in Clearwater. While many aquariums may be unethical and harmful to animals the Clearwater Marine Aquarium prides itself and rehabbing and releasing as many animals as possible.
During your visit, you can expect to see sea turtles, white pelicans, and dolphins up close. They also have interactive experiences here, making it one of the best activities in Clearwater for families.
Kids especially love the stingray feeding experience which can be done every day.
Fun Fact: Winter was a dolphin who lived at the marine aquarium. He was the inspiration for the movie “Dolphin Tale”.
This activity can be done either before or after your boating tour depending on which time of day you prefer to schedule your boat trip.
Afternoon
Have Lunch at Palm Pavilion
After having interacted with the animals at the marine aquarium it’s time to break up the day for some lunch!
Palm Pavilion is an awesome choice for a quick bite and their long outdoor patio gives you a great chance of getting a table with an ocean view. They offer typical bar food like burgers, sandwiches, tacos, seafood, and more.
If your 2 days in Clearwater are during the weekend there is typically live music which is sure to enhance your dining experience.
Afternoon
Take a walk through Coachman Park
Not far from Clearwater Beach is the newly constructed Coachman Park. While the focal point of the project was the amphitheater the 19-acre park has way more to offer!
Go for a walk along the main Bay Promenade Walkway, explore the diverse vegetation in The Green, or relax on one of the benches and enjoy the expansive views of the marina and intercoastal waterway.
There is even a splash pad and a pirate-themed playground for the kids!
Evening
Sunset on Sand Key
Sand Key Park is not your ordinary beach because it has both a beach and a park, catering to your group’s interests. It is in a wonderful location just south of Clearwater Beach, making it a little easier to access than Clearwater Beach, especially if you are planning on parking.
Sand Key tends to be noticeably less busy than Clearwater Beach making it the perfect place to watch the sunset.
Within its grounds, you can also discover an assortment of amenities, such as picnic shelters for eating a casual dinner, a playground for your kids to enjoy, a dedicated dog park, and more.
Sand Key also doubles as an ideal location for bird enthusiasts, providing opportunities for bird-watching and glimpses of rare salt marsh wildlife.
The park also ensures inclusivity with wheelchair access, convenient restroom facilities, and water fountains.
Pro Tip: If you happen to visit between May and October, you may be lucky enough to witness endangered sea turtles laying their eggs along the sandy shores of Sand Key.
Best Time to Spend 2 Days in Clearwater
Before you start planning out your 2-day Clearwater Itinerary you’ll need to pick which time of the year to visit. You may already have a general idea but if you’re unsure of when is the best time to spend 2 days in Clearwater I have a few insider tips that may be helpful.
Of course, summer is the hottest time to visit and it can be miserable if you don’t do well with high temps and humidity. The daily average will be in the high 80s and expect frequent clouds from summer storms. Because school is out during this time of year expect the beaches to be packed until September.
This leads me to my next point which is to try and plan your Clearwater itinerary for shoulder season. This is from the end of September through December. Not only will you not have to face the crowds but you will also have much more manageable temperatures and the price of hotels will be significantly reduced. You can usually swim in the ocean up until December which is when it begins to get chilly.
Early spring is also an excellent time to spend a couple of days in Clearwater before it gets too hot. The only con is that the weather can be more unpredictable with rainstorms as opposed to the fall. Also, if you don’t plan accordingly you might run into the spring break crowds.
In summary, fall is overall the best time to visit Clearwater.
Where to Stay During a Weekend in Clearwater
Clearwater Beach has a lot of great hotels for different types of budgets that are all in the same general area. The best part is that most of the accommodation options are within walking distance of the beach. Typically the more you spend the more centrally located you’ll be.
For those with a tighter budget, I’d suggest Royal North Beach. It is a nice updated condo hotel located a little bit away from the main strip of shops and restaurants. However, getting to the nearest beach access is still only a 10-minute walk. There is a pool, BBQ grill, and free parking on the property.
One of the nicest family-owned hotels is Barefoot Bay Resort & Marina. This is a great choice if you want to be in the middle of everything. The owners/ hosts will go above and beyond to meet your needs. The hotel is right next to a dock on the intercoastal so you can rent jet skis or scooters. There is also a dockside patio and a pool.
For luxury travelers, you have to check out the newly finished JW Marriot right on Clearwater Beach. It has its own private beach access, an outdoor pool, and incredible hospitality. Many of the rooms also have balconies with oceanfront views.
The hotel itself is beautiful, modern, and clean and you can make use of the free bike rentals to explore downtown Clearwater Beach. There are plenty of other amenities to enjoy if you don’t want to leave the property.
Latitude 28 is the on-site restaurant serving delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can get a workout in at the spacious gym or pamper yourself at the spa!
Parting Words: 2-Day Clearwater, Florida Itinerary
If you’re ready for an eventful 2 days in Clearwater I hope you’ve found this itinerary useful! From enjoying the Gulf of Mexico waters at Sand Key to going shelling with A Boat Day, or dining on a boat cruise on Clearwater Beach there is something for everyone in this tropical environment!
Have you been to Clearwater, Florida? What would you add to this 2-day Clearwater itinerary? Let me know about your experience in the comments!
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