🧂The Salty Details: Clearwater Beach, Florida — A Last-Minute Memorial Day Getaway Before Go Be Salty™

 Quick Snapshot

📍 Location: Clearwater Beach
🏨 Stayed at: Clearwater Beach Hotel
🍽️ Ate at: Salty's Island Bar & Grille + Crabby's Bar & Grill
💵 Price Range: $$$ (holiday weekend + beach prices 😅)
🌴 Overall Rating: 🌴🌴🌴🌴(4/5 Palms)



🌊 The Experience

This trip happened before Go Be Salty™ ever existed…

What started as a business trip turned into a quick 2-night Memorial Day weekend getaway in Clearwater Beach.

And because this was booked LAST minute on a holiday weekend… let’s just say our hotel options were limited. 🤣

So yes, we stayed at the Clearwater Beach Hotel, which I think is technically about a 2-star hotel.

Was it luxurious?
Nope.

But it was clean, within walking distance to the beach, and available during one of the busiest weekends of the year — which honestly felt like a miracle at that point. 😂

My mom always says, "we’re making memories” during moments like this — the unexpected, unplanned, imperfect parts of a trip. Looking back now, she was absolutely right.

That’s exactly what this trip became.

Not a luxury vacation.
Not a perfectly planned getaway.

Just one of those spontaneous little trips that somehow turns into the stories you laugh about and remember for years afterward.

🍽️ Gimme Some Grub 🦞

Salty's Island Bar & Grille

Beachy. Casual. Easy walk from the hotel.

This place basically became our go-to spot for the entire trip — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 😂

Good food, laid-back vibes, and right in the heart of Clearwater Beach’s beautiful Beach Walk area.

And yes… I bought the t-shirt.

💵 $15–$30 per person
🦞 Breakfast, seafood, burgers + beach favorites
🪑 Indoor/outdoor seating
🔗 Salty's Island Bar & Grille
👉 Apparently I was “Go Be Salty™” before Go Be Salty™ existed 🌊

Crabby's Bar & Grill

Open-air upstairs seating. Ocean views. Giant American flag waving over the beach.

This felt like Memorial Day weekend in Florida summed up in one lunch stop.

Good seafood, salty air, and one of the best views we had the whole trip.

Located right along Clearwater Beach’s famous Beach Walk area.

💵 $20–$35 per person
🦞 Seafood + beach bar favorites
🪑 Indoor/outdoor seating (Open-air upstairs dining with beach views)
🔗 Crabby's Bar & Grill
👉 Lunch with a view and a little patriotic Florida charm 🗽🌴

🌴 The Salty Details

Looking back now, this trip feels like Go Be Salty™ before Go Be Salty™ officially existed.

The beach walks.
The sunsets.
The seafood.
The random last-minute adventure.
The salty little beach restaurant t-shirt I absolutely did not need but definitely bought anyway. 😂

Sometimes the best trips aren’t the perfectly planned ones.

Sometimes they’re the spontaneous little getaways where you just decide to make the most of a couple of days away.

Those are usually the trips you remember forever.

🌴 Was It Worth It?

Absolutely.

Would we stay at a fancy resort next time if given the option? Probably. 😂

But this trip proved you really don’t need a luxury hotel to make incredible memories.

You just need:
🌊 the beach
☀️ a sunset
🦀 good food
and a little willingness to say yes to the trip.

🌴 Final Verdict

🌴🌴🌴🌴

Clearwater Beach was lively, crowded, energetic, beautiful, and exactly what we needed for a quick Memorial Day escape.

And apparently… Go Be Salty™ was quietly starting long before we ever realized it. 🌊

🌊 Beach-Trip Essentials

A few favorites that make spontaneous beach trips a little easier, a little less stressful, and a whole lot more fun. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

🧳 Packing cubes for quick getaways
🌊 Waterproof phone pouch
☀️ Portable beach fan
🥤 YETI tumbler for sunrise coffee walks
⛱️ Sand-resistant beach blanket
🔋 Portable charger
🩴 Comfortable beach sandals
🧴 Travel sunscreen essentials

🌊 Follow Along with Go Be Salty™

📌 Pinterest inspiration
🎥 Sermon-by-the-Minute
🛍️ Coastal favorites
✝️ Daily encouragement

If you enjoy reading The Salty Details, be sure to also check out
 I Want to Walk on the Water  for faith-based reflections, devotionals, and encouragement inspired by everyday moments and the journey with Jesus. And don’t forget to visit our YouTube channel, Go Be Salty™, for Sermon-by-the-Minute™ videos and more coastal encouragement along the way. #gobesalty

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🧂The Salty Details: Saint Simons Island, Georgia

Image
 🏝️🏝️🏝️🏝️🏝️ 📍 Quick Snapshot 📍 Location: Saint Simons Island 🏨 Stayed at: Sea Palms Resort 🍽️ Ate at: Multiple local spots (see below 👇) 💵 Price Range: $$ 🌴 Overall Rating: 🌴🌴🌴🌴 ½ (4.5/5 Palms) 🌊 The Experience Saint Simons Island—often called the “Isle of Whales”—feels like stepping into a place where nature and history quietly coexist. Here, endangered right whales pass offshore, massive live oaks stretch overhead draped in Spanish moss, and hidden tree carvings seem to smile back at you if you slow down long enough to notice. There’s a rhythm to this island. It’s not rushed. It’s not loud. It invites you to wander… to look closer… to breathe deeper. And just when you think the island is all quiet and still… you’ll find pockets of energy—like evenings with live music, good food, and that easy coastal atmosphere that makes you want to stay a little longer. From historic gardens to coastal marsh views, every turn feels like a quiet discovery. Add in ...
Read more

We Started a Blog...Actually Two 🌊

Image
Welcome to our little corner of the internet, where faith meets the soothing sound of sea waves and warms your spirit like a sunny day at the beach! Here, against the backdrop of the beautiful sea, we explore uplifting and personal reflections, and hopefully spark some enlightening discussions. With sandy toes and waves washing over us, let’s embark on a journey that blends the serenity of the beach with the richness of our faith. Faith by the Sea  🏄‍♀️ There’s something undeniably awe-inspiring about the ocean. Its vastness reminds us of the grandeur of creation and our place within it and yet how small in comparison with its Creator. Psalm 95 tell us the "depths of the earth are in His hands" and "the sea is His, for He made it." Just as the tides are ever-changing, our spiritual journeys can also take unexpected turns but we can find safety and stability in our Father through His word. We are excited to share God's word with you through our " I Want to ...
Read more

🧂The Salty Details: Amelia Island, Florida

Image
Quick Snapshot 🌊 📍 Location: Amelia Island 🏨 Stayed at: Multiple stays over the years 🍽️ Favorite Eats: Tasty’s, Slider’s, Beach Diner, Down Under 💵 Price Range: $$–$$$ 🌴 Overall Rating: 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴  (5/5 Palms) Nearly every summer for the last seven or eight years, we’ve found ourselves pulled back to Amelia Island . Some places are fun to visit once… but Amelia Island feels different. It has this peaceful small-town charm that never seems to fade no matter how many times we go. The slower pace, the historic streets, the salty breeze coming off the ocean—it always feels a little like coming home. Whether you’re looking for beach days, good food, quiet walks, or just a place to breathe for a few days, Amelia Island has become one of our favorite “go back again” destinations. 🌊 The Experience Amelia Island somehow manages to feel both relaxed and alive at the same time. The beaches are wide and peaceful, the downtown area has that charming historic feel without feel...
Read more