Expand<\/a>
\nBeyond the diamond<\/p>\nWhile baseball may be the bait, the beach is what gets you hooked. Clearwater is world-famous for its brilliant white powdery sand that stays cool to the touch even under the scorching Florida sun. During spring training, the Gulf waters hover between 65 and 70 degrees, offering a refreshing (if brisk) treat for sunbathers.<\/p>\n
The centerpiece of the modern beachfront is the Clearwater Beachwalk. Completed in 2008, this winding, beautifully landscaped pedestrian promenade stretches nearly a mile from the Clearwater Municipal Marina down toward Sand Key. It\u2019s the perfect corridor for a scenic stroll past world-class hotels like the Wyndham Grand and Opal Sands.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re traveling with family, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium \u2014 famed for its rescue work and the Dolphin Tale films\u2014 is a must. For a quieter pace, head to the salt marshes of Sand Key Park for birdwatching and a glimpse of Florida\u2019s native avian species.<\/p>\n
A toast to the sunset<\/p>\n
No place celebrates the end of a day quite like Clearwater Beach. Two hours before the sun dips below the horizon, Pier 60 comes alive with artisans, musicians, and street performers.<\/p>\n
The local \u201csunset ritual\u201d has even extended to the area\u2019s rooftop bars. At Jimmy\u2019s Crows Nest (atop the Pier 60 Hotel), the crowd toasts the setting sun with complimentary \u201cTequila Sunset\u201d shots. Nearby, the recently opened Hiatus hotel offers a celebratory flute of champagne, while Jimmy\u2019s Edge waits until 9 p.m. to serve free Fireball \u2014 a fiery nod to the pit tables overlooking the Gulf.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re here for the crack of the bat or the calm of the tide, Clearwater remains the perfect place to welcome back spring. Pack your sunblock, your Phillies cap, and your sense of adventure. Clearwater is calling.<\/p>\n
Larry Holeva, executive editor of MediaNews Group\u2019s northeast PA publications, first visited Clearwater as a first-year baseball writer back in 1989. He\u2019s been hooked on the experience ever since.<\/p>\n
Inside Tip: Catch the stars for free<\/p>\n
The best time to go: On days when the big-league Phillies are scheduled for an away game, many star players remain behind in Clearwater to get their work in.<\/p>\n
Where to watch: Head to the Carpenter Complex, the four-field training facility located directly adjacent to BayCare Ballpark on Old Coachman Road.<\/p>\n
Admission: Entry to watch these sessions is free, making it one of the best ways to take in baseball without a ticket.<\/p>\n
Up close and personal: Because the fields are more intimate than the main stadium, you can often snap photos of the players from just a few feet away.<\/p>\n
Autographs:\u00a0While never guaranteed, star players frequently stop to sign for fans after finishing their work.\u00a0Pro Tip:\u00a0Always ask politely and be ready with a pen and a ball!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CLEARWATER BEACH, Florida \u2014 Rickety drawbridges and modest mom-and-pop motels greeted visitors to Clearwater Beach when I made…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":526270,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[64,63,591,2365,85,12943,3792],"class_list":["post-526269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mlb","tag-philadelphia-phillies","tag-sports","tag-things-to-do","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/526269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=526269"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/526269\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/526270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=526269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=526269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=526269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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