Clearwater Beach activities?

November 23, 2017 9:19 AM

My esteemed mother-in-law is headed down to Clearwater Beach, Florida from late January to the end of February to avoid the Massachusetts winter and would really like to find some activities to occupy herself while there. Anyone know of any good beginner art classes, nature classes, short-term volunteer opportunities in food banks or the like, anything else that could help her feel like she was using her time well?
posted by merocet to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (5 answers total)

Just to note that whatever activities she pursues she would do well to be on the lookout for ties to scientology, which halfway-runs Clearwater.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:50 AM on November 23, 2017

Honestly, the Scientology isn't that prevalent once you leave the downtown area. You run into it, or followers, now and then, but having lived in the area for years, no, it doesn't turn up on every street corner. Now far right supporters, those advertise themselves more prominently, but even that is pretty muted, considering.

I would suggest, check out art classes in Dunedin or St. Pete. St. Pete especially is very cute and civically minded. Just have patience with navigating the streets down there.
posted by Crystal Fox at 9:35 PM on November 23, 2017 [1 favorite]

Send her these links -

http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/
http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/search/

It's a very nice compendium, updated daily, of the things to do in the area, including Clearwater Beach.
Welcome to my corner of the world!
Hope she has fun!
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 4:40 AM on November 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

The beach things are the chief things to do. Also golf, if they golf, there's lots of golf.

I would definitely take the ferry out to Caladesi Island, something I do from time to time even as a Clearwater native. 9 out of 10 chance some dolphins will follow you there and play around in the boat's wake.

The Weeki Wachee mermaid show is legit fun.

The Oldsmar Flea Market is an endless place to buy all the weird things!

The Dali Museum in St. Pete is worth the trip.

I don't know what the schedules are for these things but Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater is basically the epicenter of spring training baseball games, so if that's going on, you can catch a lot of baseball games.

You aren't really going to notice the Scientologists or get involved with them as a beach-going tourist. I wouldn't worry about it at all. Heck, heading to downtown Clearwater to people-watch the Scientologists is one of the first things I do with out-of-towners when we're on the way to the beach.
posted by dis_integration at 2:17 PM on November 24, 2017

The Clearwater library has some fun programs she can hook into.
posted by mosessis at 1:01 AM on November 27, 2017