Anybody Been To Clearwater?
My brother and I are heading down to catch the Phillies in Spring Training for a week beginning this Saturday. First time for both of us.
Does anybody have any dining/drinking/touristy recommendations for us for those rare times when we’re not at the games?
I also know that Clearwater is close to some other Florida towns. In fact, we’re going to Dunedin for one game. So, anything in that area that you like, we’d probably like. BTW, I don’t golf.
Thanks in advance!
Rooster Fish Grill in Largo on Missouri Ave . Near the Hampton Inn
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Probably worth a couple of extra days there.
If you’re casing the place to blow it up, sure.
Hmmm, wonder if that’s where Steve Carlton got brainwashed…
I regretfully removed spring Clearwater from my bucket list once Florida went full fascist. Tourist dollars are what allows Florida to gloat over not having an income tax and become a mecca for the right wing. I’m not going to subsidize that. Cooperstown is still on my list for now.
Cooperstown by all means. Been there. Would go back. Out in the middle of nowhere. Except, it’s Cooperstown.
I live in Dunedin, Spring training home of the Toronto Bluejays. Main Street is only about 4 blocks from the stadium and after the game, downtown restaurants will be packed but The Living Room, Lucky Lobster, Dunedin Brewery and Casa Tina are your best bets there. Avoid Sea Sea Riders….nice atmosphere or good for drinks, but the food is a swing and a miss. There are 7 breweries and a distillery all within a couple hundred feet of each other in Dunedin. There are a lot more mom and pop restaurants and shops, no chains allowed downtown. Very walkable town.
On the other hand, Clearwater is a sprawling mess. You can stuff your head full of food at breakfast right next door to Bay Care Stadium at Lenny’s. It will be packed, but the outdoor waiting seats are actual bleachers from Veteran’s Stadium…..lots of other Philly memorabilia. Clear Sky on Cleavland or any of the restaurants down that way are fine.
Safety Harbor is another cute, walkable town just 5 minutes from the Phillies park. Lots of patio dining and there’s a juried Art show festival there next weekend in a park overlooking Tampa Bay. Smallish, maybe 50 or so vendors, but food trucks and craft beer aplenty.
If you’re really looking for fine dining then Tampa is where you want to be. There are several restaurants over there that have had Michelin nods. Ponte Modern American, Olivia, Columbia, Mise en Place, and Rocca are all great places. Downtown St pete also has a fantastic unpretentious dining scene…Brick and Mortar, Bella Brava, Birch and Vine plus many more.
You should definitely drive over the bridges and check out the beaches….very different than the MidAtlantic. Plenty of decent dining over there as well. I’d recommend Columbia on Sand Key, Sea Guini, Carretta or Rusty’s. Plenty of more casual places even Hulk Hogan has a sandwich place over there.
Keep in mind this is high season over here and traffic will be a bitch not to mention this little county has almost the same population as Delaware.