Marked by twin towers overlooking a stunning stretch of Clearwater Beach, the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach sits at the corner of natural beauty and luxury hospitality. 

Bright, vibrant, and painted in a sea-inspired palette of white, turquoise, and marigold, the Wyndham Grand is more than a hotel. It’s a yearlong celebration of Florida beachfront living, where local charm blends with worldly influences on a picture-perfect island retreat. From breathtaking views right from your balcony to memorable experiences just a short walk away, the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach provides the perfect setting for capturing special moments.

Rooms that Rise Above the Rest

The rooms at Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach blend the breezy feel of a beachside patio with the comfort of a bedroom, creating a refreshing space for relaxation and good energy. Wake up each morning to sweeping views of the Gulf or the peaceful start of the city as locals and beachgoers begin their day. The bathroom vanity and shower are as bright and white as the sand outside, giving you the boost you need for a stroll along the Beachwalk, exploring the town, or simply relaxing by the pool or ocean.

Then, as the amber glow of sunset paints the sky, retreat to your room to watch the day fade away while listening to crashing waves, the lively people below, and the buzz of traffic, as the glow of Clearwater Beach turns on.

Plunge Into Good Times at the Resort Style Pool

Like an open-air club, the pool scene at Wyndham Grand is always active. From live DJs pumping energy throughout the day to calmer mornings with plenty of chairs and a stunning beachscape backdrop, it can be both a serene escape and a vibrant vacation hangout befitting all guests, from families to lazy loungers. And with Dock’s Pool Bar & Grille serving up regional favorites like Grouper Nuggets, Empanadas, Dock’s Nachos, and a Coconut Shrimp Bowl, the pool is an ongoing hub for food and entertainment.

Seasonal Seascape Experiences

With all the seaside restaurants and bars and main street activity right off Mandalay Ave., there’s a big city vibe tucked away on this small island retreat. As a small island just 20 minutes away from Tampa International Airport, Clearwater Beach is a tight-knit community. The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach maintains this sentiment with a carefully curated portfolio of experiences.

The “Sunshine, Sips & S’mores” package highlights many local brands as part of an in-room welcome gift, which includes specialty s’mores flavored popcorn from Harley’s Gourmet Popcorn and a Golden Isles Pina Colada IPA. Capture camp-inspired moments all season long with a custom Camp Snap and a limited-edition room key, both featuring artwork from the hotel’s RADICAL heART mural by local artist Chad Mize.

Ocean Hai: Upscale Coastal Meets Asian Fusion

Growing up in a landlocked part of Texas, I was delighted to see octopus featured as both an entrée and an appetizer on nearly every menu. Although fresh seafood is plentiful, Ocean Hai, the flagship restaurant at Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, blends locally-sourced ingredients and fresh seafood with an upscale Asian-fusion style, offering a culinary experience that’s truly unmatched on this side of the Beachfront.

Start with the Grouper Ceviche. This tangy burst of flavor blends lime, cilantro, togarashi, jalapeno, and sliced red onions, topped with plantain chips and drizzled with cilantro oil, offering an excellent introduction to the restaurant’s coastal fare and Asian fusion.

Another exquisite dish is the Grilled Gochujang Octopus, highlighting a blend of Asian-inspired flavors with roasted cherry tomatoes, yuzu, and a gochujang glaze, served alongside crispy fingerling coins.

There are more Asian-fusion options to try, such as the Chinese BBQ Pork Chop, Mongolian Strip, and Tandoori Crispy Chicken, along with a wide variety of noodle and sushi dishes. Be sure to consider any nightly specials, as the talented chef and staff at Ocean Hai often update the menu with a limited selection. I was lucky enough to visit on Tomahawk night, when the culinary team served a hearty 32 oz. tomahawk steak with broccolini and smashed fingerling potatoes.

Salty’s: Island Bites and Vibes

The Beachwalk is home to many bars and restaurants, all enticing with their savory aromas and showstopping beach views. You’ll pass a few walking from the Wyndham Grand, each as lively as the next. And honestly, there may not be a wrong choice. But if you find yourself wandering further down the Beachwalk, nearing the edge of the beach’s public access, keep strolling a few more feet and you’ll end up at Salty’s Island Bar & Grille.

This casual yet elevated restaurant welcomes all. Whether you’re in athletic wear from running the Beachwalk, dressed for date night, relaxing with the family, or still sandy in a bikini, there’s something for everyone. Salty’s Chargrilled Oysters are a hearty half-dozen oysters grilled to perfection and seasoned handsomely with Cajun spices. This buttery and herbal punch for your taste buds is best enjoyed with your better half and a silky-smooth Piña Colada made with freshly blended pineapples. And I must note, after visiting a few seaside restaurants along the Beachwalk and afar, the bright acidity and liveliness of freshly blended pineapples in a Piña Colada are all too uncommon. Heed my advice and indulge in this island favorite.

Entrées are sure to delight. The Ahi Tuna Steak with cucumber wasabi and coconut rice is a complex yet beautifully executed, protein-packed meal. The rice provides a fragrant and fluffy base to balance the spicy kick of the wasabi. The Gulf Grouper is a staple here and makes an excellent partner for any salad, sandwich, or entrée.

Other notable mentions, outside of the Beachwalk, include Marina Cantina, where Mexican street food blends seamlessly with island life. One of the standouts of my visit was the Casa Ceviche, which features a mix of snapper, shrimp, scallops, octopus, and chopped mango topped with taro chips, adding an extra layer to the usual citrusy flavor.

Dig Your Toes in at Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach’s powdery sands await right outside the Wyndham’s doors, beaming white with the sun and stretching for miles. Its soft undulations invoke a mattress-like comfort, lifting the spirits of all beachgoers as they rest along the waterfront. Grab yourself a towel from the pool on your way to the beach and enjoy the warm embrace of the ocean, where all worries melt away as your toes sink into the sugar-soft sands. As a Wyndham Grand guest, you can also choose between a pair of shaded chairs or a cozy cabana.  And while you can’t order a piña colada or paloma on this alcohol-free beach, staff members are happy to bring you apps and entrees from Dock’s Pool Bar and Grille, so you don’t have to leave the ocean’s embrace to satisfy your hunger.

Catch a Captivating Sunset

As the white sands shine brightly during the day, they turn into a warm shade of amber at dusk, enticing everyone passing by to pause for a moment of hypnosis as the day takes its final bow. The scene is absolutely stunning. Look around and you’ll see that the beach, streets, restaurant terraces, hotel balconies, and up and down the Beachwalk are peppered with sunset chasers, posing for daylight’s last stand. It’s as if everyone received the same memo to show up for this naturally occurring, consistently recurring, and always alluring phenomenon. The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach offers some of the best exclusive spots to enjoy this daily spectacle, whether from your room’s balcony, the poolside bar, or from an outdoor seat at Ocean Hai’s, enabling this must-see to be easily experienced during your stay.

Hang with Coconut Johnny

Along the Beachwalk down from the Wyndham Grand, you’ll find many surf shops, beach bars, and seaside cafes, all radiating with a relaxed island vibe wrapped up in that classic Floridian energy. It’s easy to want to explore each one, whether you’re looking for some retail therapy or searching for the bottom of a refreshing island drink. But as you step out into the sun, braving the intense coastal humidity, make sure to stop by the Coconut Shack.

Located just outside The Hiatus, the Coconut Shack is home to Coconut Johnny, a charismatic one-man show serving organic coconuts from Costa Rica, chilled to a brisk 32 degrees to cool you off during the hot and often humid days of walking along the gulf. Grab yourself a refreshing coconut or take a shot or two from the full-service bar, which also boasts a collection of local brews proudly made on this side of the Floridian coast.

Be Inspired at The Clearwater Marine Aquarium

A quick Uber or Lyft ride from the Wyndham Grand will take you to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a facility filled with marine life to admire and a renowned rehab center serving our lost and injured friends of the sea. Discover what makes an animal non-releasable through the stories shared by their caretakers.

Here, inspiring stories of perseverance renew hope and faith as you learn about the efforts involved in saving marine wildlife that make their way here, such as Winter, the prosthetic-wearing dolphin who inspired thousands and left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire today. Or watch as river otters Opie, Walle, and Boomer play in the Otter Oasis as you discover how they found their home at the Aquarium.

Roam with the Dolphins

Sometimes you must do as the other tourists do and spend a day out on the water in an offshore excursion. And if you find yourself indecisively stuck between choosing one novelty boat over another, opt for the best ships and crews in the game, The Tropics Boat Tours.

With a double-decker boat offering both an up-close experience and an elevated view with a 360-degree panoramic of the surrounding sea, Tropics Boat Tours has it all: comfy seats, a clean working bathroom, a fully stocked bar, and a seasoned crew familiar with dolphin social patterns, bird signs, and, of course, nearby celebrity mansions. Indulge in an early morning boat tour and enjoy a mimosa or two, as within minutes of embarking on this adventure, playful dolphins surround you. And if you’re lucky and watchful, you’ll spot a fever of rays, a congregation of about a hundred brown silhouettes of rays flying just below the waves and close enough without breaking the surface. Book your worthy touristy thing to do here.

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Cover photo courtesy Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach 

Martin Ramirez is a brisket-eating, Shiner-loving, road-tripping enthusiast of all things Texas. This Dallas-born writer / adventurer is ready to take his ‘78 El Camino to find the best in food, fun, and fitness throughout the Lone Star State.