Clearwater, Florida: Fly MacArthur Airport to Tampa for a short drive to top beaches

Travelers seeking the pristine white sand beaches and turquoise blue waters of Tampa Bay should consider a trip to Clearwater, Florida. The destination is known for its award-winning beaches and as a relaxing getaway.

Direct flights on Frontier will take you from MacArthur Airport to Tampa, which is only about a half hour drive from Clearwater Beach. If you don’t mind a stopover – you don’t need to change planes — Breeze Airways also leaves from Ronkonkoma , stopping at Wilmington, North Carolina, before landing in Tampa. If you’re willing to fly out of Kennedy or LaGuardia, you have dozens of options going into Tampa on American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue and United. Nonstop flights take about two and a half hours from wheels up to wheels down.

Shells, sea and sun

Clearwater Beach is a barrier island resort area that’s part of Clearwater, Florida. Its shoreline consistently garners awards. The 3.1-mile-long area is on the other side of Clearwater by way of Clearwater Memorial Causeway. The sand is white and the water is clear and blue with summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s.

The entire shoreline is open to the public, as well as the space right in front of hotels and condominiums, as long as you stay away from the resort amenities. There's no fee to enter, either. You will have to pay to park. There's an interactive beach map online that you can use to find options. Come early if you can or stay at a hotel that provides parking as an amenity.

Locals suggest leaving your car in a free parking area and taking the Clearwater Jolly Trolley. There are two options – one for North Beach and one for South Beach. Get the $5 day pass and do a little sightseeing before you choose a spot to lay your beach towel. The trolley goes from Clearwater Beach to Tarpon Springs, running every 20 to 30 minutes. Private transportation options include whimsical Party Karts Clearwater Beach, where for $35 or $40, depending on the day, you get a 90-minute guided tour and Adventures Beach Rentals, where you can rent your own golf cart for hourly or by the day.

However you get to the beach, once you’re there you can rent a cabana or beach umbrella from Pier 60 Concessions between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. For $40 you get an umbrella and two chairs, while $80 gets you a luxury bed with a deluxe cabana. There’s no need to tote anything, either. Just grab an open set and an attendant will come and collect the fees via Apple Pay, Google Pay or credit card. Take a swim, peep for dolphins and people watch.

In search of dolphins

Dolphins are native to the area, so the more than two dozen boat tours in the area are popular destinations. Find dinner cruises, catamaran tours and schooner journeys. Families rave about Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, which departs four times a day (10 a.m. and 2, 4:30 and 7 p.m.). Adults get free beer and wine while kids can listen to pirate stories and have dance parties. Cruisin’ Tikis is another popular option. A ride on these floating tiki bars, which go about 5 miles per hour, starts at $49.95 for 90 minutes. You and up to five other passengers get coolers with ice and a Bluetooth radio to hook up to. Bring your own drinks and food. Another tour company, SunKiss Charters, charges $135 an hour with a two-hour minimum. You’ll go out on a pontoon boat, and the fee for a maximum of six people includes fishing licenses, poles, snorkel gear, sand and water toys and even a metal detector. You can bring your own drinks and food, and chips, soda and bottled water is included. Live bait is an additional $35. “If you do three hours we bring you up to Caladesi Island,” said owner Dawn Reese. The barrier island is a state park that’s only accessible via boat, and is perfect for shelling, hiking and swimming.

Get closer to the fish and mammals by booking a one- or two-hour guided Jet Ski tour. Barefoot Bay Resort & Marina offers a one-hour tour for two people over 18 for $110. A two-hour tour is $195. Tours start at 10 a.m. with the last tour leaving at 5:30 p.m. If you prefer a slower pace, Get Up and Go Kayaking might be a better option. The company’s two-hour see-through kayak tour lets you see down to the ocean floor while touring waterfront homes and a boat-only bird preserve island. Along the way expect to see dolphins, rays, and other local wildlife. 

Another sightseeing option, Pier 60 Parasailing, will also let you see the land and water but from a different angle. You’ll be 800 to 1,200 feet up in the air suspended below a parachute while being pulled behind a speedboat. The trip up into the sky and back and down takes about 10 minutes. That said, you’ll spend about an hour to an hour and a half on the boat so put aside at least two hours for the excursion. “Depending on the day you can see dolphins, sharks or turtles,” said owner Vinny Iacono. “Sometimes the captain will get the dolphins jumping behind the boat.”

For an even closer look at the dolphins as well as sea turtles, otters, sharks and seals, stop in to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Unlike other zoos and aquariums, Clearwater’s only houses animals that were injured and cannot be released back into the wild.

Don’t forget to leave time for walking along the beach in between your adventures. Even the locals go shell-seeking regularly. It’s not unusual to find sand dollars, lightning whelks and iridescent pen shells at low tide, which is the best time to find them.

Shopping and dining

The shopping on the island is mostly beach-themed. Poolside, which is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily features trendy dresses, shorts, sunglasses, accessories, shoes and bathing suits. The bulk of the shopping can be found on Mandalay Avenue and near Pier 60. Ron Jon Surf Shop, located right at the beginning of Mandalay has anything you might have forgotten at home including bathing suits, towels and hats. Freaky Tiki Surf Shack is more eclectic, with locally made clothing as well as beach toys like skim boards and balls.

Since it’s a tourist town there are plenty of restaurants and cafes when you get hungry. Fish sandwiches are a popular option and you can find an amazing option at any of the five Frenchy’s locations in and around Clearwater Beach. Frenchy's Original Café — dubbed the OG Frenchy's location — is in the middle of everything and is famous for its smoked fish spread, deep-fried cracked conch and Super Grouper sandwich, as well as its frozen margaritas.

Island Way Grill is another option if you’re looking for fresh fish but in a more upscale setting. The restaurant, which is right near the aquarium, has indoor and outdoor seating so you can watch the sunset while sipping on a tiki drink. If you go Sunday to Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. or on Saturday between noon to 5:30 p.m. you can take advantage of the Supper Club menu, which comes with bread, a salad and a chef’s dessert for $25. Handhelds, which are a la carte include blackened fish tacos ($16) and tuna poke bowls ($19).

After dinner, head over to Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest, a rooftop bar at Pier House 60 Clearwater Beach Marina Hotel. Open during the week until midnight and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For entertainment, Sunsets at Pier 60 offers a nightly festival. Buskers, street performers and tarot card readers line the walkway for the two hours before sunset. You can buy local art and handmade items.

Where to stay

Clearwater Beach lodgings are a mix of big brands, resorts, condos and hotels. If you want big and luxe, stay in one of the more than 340 rooms at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach Resort, which is beachfront. For a more boutique feel, Devon Shores, with its two pools, access to luxury cabanas at its sister hotel, Ivory Sands Beach Suites, and beachy suites, is a good option. Families may enjoy Dolphin Sands Clearwater Beach. Inspired by Winter the dolphin, star of the movie "Dolphin Tale," the hotel partners with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and offers VIP tours.