Three Days of Sun, Sand, and Salt Air: Our Clearwater Beach Getaway

There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over you when your toes hit warm sand and you realize you have absolutely nowhere to be. That was the feeling Catrina, Preston, and I chased down for three days at Clearwater Beach this past July — and I'm happy to report we caught it.

Home Base: The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach

We rolled into the Hyatt Regency on the afternoon of the 23rd, and from the moment the elevator doors opened on our floor, the trip felt right. The hotel sits in that sweet spot where you can wander down to the sand in flip-flops or stroll across the street into town for a bite. The rooms are crisp, the staff was warm, and that view of the Gulf — even glimpsed through the window on the way to the bathroom — never quite lost its magic over three days.

Cabana Life

Most of our daylight hours were spent in what I can only describe as a state of semi-conscious bliss under a beach cabana. We'd grab one in the morning, stake our claim, and just… stay.

There's something almost rebellious about doing nothing on purpose. The Gulf breeze does most of the work for you. Every so often, one of us would wander down to the water, float around for a bit, and come back salty and grinning. By the second day, we were on a first-name basis with our cabana attendant, which I think is the unofficial sign that you've vacationed correctly.

The Pool with a View

When we needed a break from the sand (or wanted to rinse the sunscreen-and-saltwater situation off ourselves), we headed up to the Hyatt's pool. Let me tell you — pools are nice, but pools that overlook the Gulf of Mexico are a completely different animal.

Dinner at PJ's Oyster Bar

On our second evening, we drove down to Indian Shores for dinner at PJ's Oyster Bar — and oh man, this place is the real deal. No frills, no pretense, just excellent Gulf seafood served by people who clearly love what they do. The kind of spot where the regulars at the bar wave at the kitchen staff and everyone seems to know which beer you want before you ask.

We ordered too much, ate all of it, and rolled ourselves back to the car happy. If you're in the area and you're tempted by some shiny tourist trap, drive past it and go to PJ's instead. Future you will say thank you.

Heading Home

We checked out on the 25th sun-kissed, slightly sandy (despite our best efforts), and already plotting our return. Three days isn't quite enough at Clearwater — but it was enough to remind us why we keep coming back to the Gulf.

Until next time, Clearwater. Save us a cabana.