Every now and then, you need a quick girls getaway—the kind that doesn’t require over-planning, car rentals, or anything too complicated. Just sunshine, good drinks, good food, and your favorite people. For us, Clearwater Beach, Florida was exactly that. Here’s how we spent four sun-soaked, laugh-filled days that were the perfect balance of chill and celebration.

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Day 1: Arrival + Beachfront Vibes

We landed in Clearwater on a Thursday evening. From the airport, it was a quick and easy ride to Shephard’s Beach Resort, which became our little slice of paradise for the weekend. Nestled in a quieter stretch of the beach, this resort had everything—its own private beach, water rentals (jet skis, paddle boards, kayaks—you name it), and plenty of chill spots to lounge. Even at night, it gave off a laid-back, vacation-is-here kind of energy.

We checked in, tossed our bags down, and stepped outside just to listen to the waves. No itinerary tonight—just soaking in that salty air and getting excited for the fun ahead.

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Day 2: Birthday Brunching, Beaching & Rooftop Sipping

We kicked off the day with breakfast at Speggtacular, which fully lived up to its name. Think: thick-cut French toast, creamy avocado toast, fresh fruit, and mimosas that hit just right. It was the perfect start to our friend’s birthday, and we were all feeling the good vibes.

Next, we stopped at a nearby Island Market to grab beach snacks and stock up on drinks for the room (and beach). Clearwater is so walkable that we never once wished we had a car. Everything we needed was just a short stroll away—which made it that much easier to go full vacation mode.

We spent most of the day poolside at Shephard’s, alternating between laying in the sun and floating in the pool with drinks in hand. Even when the pool area got busier later in the day, it never felt crowded. Total win.

Lunch was casual and just steps from the pool at Tiki Beach Bar, where we went all in on the fried grouper tacos and nachos. Their happy hour drink specials were calling our name—mojitos and rum buckets.

For dinner, we headed to SeaGuini at the stunning Opal Sands Resort. Let me tell you: this meal was chef’s kiss. We’re still talking about the crispy stuffed artichoke with lemon ricotta and truffle honey. And the citrus-glazed gulf grouper over lemon risotto? Life-changing. Add in a raspberry thyme cocktail and a surprise birthday dessert (snickerdoodle cheesecake!), and it was easily one of the best dinners we’ve had in a long time.

Just when we thought the night couldn’t get better, we made our way to Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest for sunset. Pro tip: get there at least an hour early to snag a table. The view was unreal, and yes—they really do hand out free sunset shots when the sun dips below the horizon.

We wrapped up the night at Coco’s Crush Bar, where the “Endless Summer Crushes” lived up to the name. Dangerously good drinks, a fun live band, and a lively crowd made it the perfect place to celebrate.

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Day 3: Tiki Boat Cruisin’ & Clearwater Magic

Saturday started slow and sweet, with iced lattes and egg bites from Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii. We eased into the day with a morning beach walk and some serious lounging—no agenda, no rush, just us and the waves.

By lunch, we were ready for more local flavor and headed to Salty’s Island Bar & Grille. We split raw oysters, more grouper tacos (because when in Clearwater…), and a refreshing island bowl that hit the spot. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and made us feel like we were on island time.

The real highlight of the day? Our afternoon Cruisin’ Tiki Bar Tour. We had the tiki boat all to ourselves and brought our own drinks and snacks. Our captain, Matt, was a total legend—he made sure we had music, good vibes, and even found us a sandbar where we collected sand dollars and spotted a manatee cruising by. Cooler and ice were included, and the whole thing was just the right mix of relaxing and fun.

Later, we grabbed bites at Crabby’s Dockside—gator bites and hush puppies FTW—then wandered along the Pier 60 Boardwalk as the sun started to dip. To no one’s surprise, we broke up the walk back with another quick stop at Coco’s for one more crush (because why not?).

That evening, we chilled at the pool and later made our way back to Tiki Beach Bar at the resort for live music and drinks under the stars.

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Day 4: One Last Sunrise & a Farewell Feast

Sunday morning came too fast, but we made the most of it with one last beach stroll and a lazy moment on the sand before packing up. We checked out by 11 AM and made one final food stop at Frenchy’s, a Clearwater staple. It was the perfect, casual way to end the trip before heading back to the airport for our flight home.

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Final Thoughts: Clearwater = Girls Trip Gold

This trip was exactly what we needed. No stress, no car rentals, no overplanning—just gorgeous views, incredible food, beach days, and nonstop laughs. Clearwater Beach is the kind of place where you can be spontaneous, sip something fruity before noon, and dance barefoot in the sand before midnight.

So if you’re thinking about planning a girls getaway—do it. Book the flight, grab your girls, and head to Clearwater. You won’t regret it.

(And definitely order the grouper tacos. Trust us.)