Definitely the place to be in Clearwater is on the beach.
Pier 60
is the center of that activity. There are regularly scheduled activities all the time by a group called Sunsets at the Pier. They have a kiosk with information phamphlets at the beach. Their web site stays under construction and offers little to no information but does usually provide a contact method to get the information without having to wait until you actually get to the beach. The Pier itself is free about half way out and then it is gated and you must pay a small fee to go further (currently fifty cents a person). There is a small concession and bait store there that takes your money and passes you through. The fishermen are generally friendly and will show you their catch if you ask. Most fish with live or formerly live bait which attracts brown pelicans and gulls.
Clearwater Municipal Marina
Across the street from the beach is the Clearwater Municipal Marina. Here you will find every type of water sport or tour for rental and great shopping in the marina building. This is an easy walk from most of the Clearwater Beach hotels. These boats are moored along the dock by the marina shops and range from very affordable to pretty pricy depending on what you want to do. The ones closest to the street all have signs on them telling you which boat is which and there is a rental booth right there to sign up and pay. Reservations are not usually required. Some of the more unique rental opportunities include the Sea Screamer (the world's largest speedboat), Little Toot (a commercial dolphin tour), the Pirate Cruise with Captain Memo, and Starlite Dinner Cruises. Something you might miss (you can't see them from the street) are the peculiar "paddle boats" moored after all the charter boats and before the dinner cruises. They look like paddle boats but they have an engine!
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is just a short way up the road, a very healthy walk or an insanely short drive. It is a nonprofit "working" marine aquarium. This means that they rescue marine life for rehabilitation or long term care if necessary. They have dolphins, loggerhead turtles and river otters as well as an assortment of fish and a manta tank. People looking for a big traditional aquarium will be disappointed. This aquarium is great for those that want to see dolphins being fed, doing tricks and just being a natural dolphin all in an intimate setting. This is also a terrific place for parents with children. CMA is very education oriented and also offers competitive boat tours for seeing dolphin in the wild as well as a shelling tour.