6 Ways to Experience Clearwater Attractions Beyond the Beach

Clearwater, Florida, located less than 45 minutes from Tampa, is home to beautiful beaches and a bay, but there’s also plenty to experience away from the shore. From a minor league ballgame to the famed Dolphin Trail, here are six Clearwater attractions for you and your family to check out during your next visit to this Gulf Coast town.

Bounce around

If you want to enjoy some weather-proof fun, look for indoor Clearwater attractions, starting with the AirHeads Trampoline Arena. This huge arena’s floors and walls are covered in trampolines, so you can jump and bounce all day long. While the kids play a game of trampoline dodgeball or basketball (all supervised!), try one of the fun fitness classes, play some video games in the arcade or grab a bite to eat at the cafe.

Go out to a ballgame

If you want a break from the beach, head to Spectrum Field, home of the Clearwater Threshers, a minor league baseball affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. One of the most popular Clearwater attractions from April to early September, Spectrum Field—which can seat more than 8,000 fans—has a 360-degree main concourse, grass berm seating and a tiki-hut pavilion in left field. It also features group picnic areas, a children's play area and a state-of-the-art video scoreboard.

Catch a show

Grab a seat at the Capitol Theatre and see classic movies like The Sound of Music and The Lion King or stand-up comics such as Louie Anderson and Tracy Morgan.

Head downtown and see a performance at the historic Capitol Theatre, which has hosted vaudeville stars, war bond rallies, the Miss Florida Pageant, the Clearwater Symphony Orchestra, cinema and the Royalty Theater Company since its founding in 1921. Kick back, relax and watch a movie, see a touring Broadway show or enjoy a concert. This cultural landmark, arguably the grandest of all Clearwater attractions, seats 750 and includes private boxes, a VIP lounge (call ahead for packages), an outdoor balcony that overlooks the Clearwater causeway and Frenchy’s rooftop terrace. Also, don’t miss the Panel of Honor in the lobby that includes the names of Clearwater residents who served in World War I.

Zoom around earth and space

Fly a fighter jet, race a Formula 1 racecar or travel to outer space at SimCenter Tampa Bay, an indoor virtual reality entertainment center for the whole family. As one of the newest Clearwater attractions, SimCenter features seven life-size simulators: a Boeing 737 jetliner, an F-16, an F-35 fighter jet and four Formula 1 racecar simulators. To make sure you get time on a specific simulator, make a reservation in advance. There’s also a full-immersion, virtual reality 3D simulator where you can fly into space.

Explore the Dolphin Trail

Snap a photo with "Sunshine" outside the Clear Sky Beachside Cafe—one of the stops along Clearwater's Dolphin Trail. Photo credit: City of Clearwater

While visiting Clearwater attractions, look for the colorful 6-foottall dolphins that mark the famous Dolphin Trail. This unique public art display features more than 120 dolphins, all designed by local artists using glass, ceramic, fiber art and decoupage. You can follow the trail using an interactive map or pick up a Dolphin Trail Guide at one of the visitor centers.

Eat, shop and play

Perched atop a 30-foot bluff that overlooks Clearwater Harbor is the Cleveland Street Retail and Entertainment District. This small section of town combines a gorgeous waterfront with a walkable urban setting. Home to a variety of restaurants, retail shops and entertainment venues and activities, it offers plenty of Clearwater attractions to explore.

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