Aah … summer.

For many people, summertime means the chance to head outdoors and spend lots of quality time with the whole family … and what better place to do so than in Clearwater, home to a wide variety of family-friendly attractions and events.

This issue of Footprints is devoted to family-fun activities and is jam-packed with ideas that everyone can enjoy, from the smallest toddler to grandma and grandpa! So, pack the swimming suits and sunscreen … and head to Clearwater! Summer has arrived and the fun is waiting.

Be sure to visit www.visitclearwaterflorida.com on a regular basis for the latest information regarding Clearwater and links to accommodations, attractions and more.

A visit to Clearwater simply isn’t complete without a visit to at least one of four Frenchy’s restaurants, home of the “World-famous Grouper Sandwich!” Throughout the years, and regardless of the location, Frenchy's restaurants have become known for great seafood, reasonable prices, and casual dining in a friendly atmosphere.

The first Frenchy’s Café – still at its original location on Baymont Street - was founded in 1981 by Mike Preston, better known as "Frenchy" to his friends, having been born and raised in French-speaking Québec, Canada.

Within a very short time Frenchy’s Café was widely successful and hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. To satisfy the demand for fresh seafood, and to ensure top quality, in 1983 Frenchy purchased his first fishing boat. Over the years, the single boat became an entire fleet, which subsequently developed into Frenchy's Seafood Company, a consistent and dependable source of fresh seafood for all of the restaurants.

Three more restaurants followed, including Frenchy's Saltwater Café, Frenchy's Rockaway Grill and Frenchy's South Beach Café. Next door to the Original Frenchy’s Café is the Off the Hook Gift Shop, which sells a variety of clothing, accessories, artwork, glassware and Frenchy’s condiments.
Beyond providing great food and service, Frenchy’s restaurants are also good neighbors and have a long history of supporting various charitable organizations throughout the community. In addition, Frenchy’s own culinary celebration and street party known as the Stone Crab Festival marks its 22nd year this October 20 through 22, 2006! Make plans now to be there!

Mike Preston (“Frenchy”) was bestowed the honor of Tourism Person of the Year in 2005 by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his contributions to Clearwater’s visitor and hospitality industries.

· Frenchy’s Original Café, 41 Baymont Street, Clearwater Beach; 727-446-3607
· Frenchy’s Saltwater Café, 419 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach; 727-461-6295
· Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, 7 Rockaway Street, Clearwater Beach; 727-446-4844
· Frenchy’s South Beach Café, 351 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, 727-441-9991.
· Frenchy’s Seafood Company, 419 E. Shore Drive, Clearwater Beach, 727-442-6411
· Frenchy’s Off the Hook Gift Shop, 49 Baymont Street, Clearwater Beach; 727-446-1522

For more information about Frenchy’s restaurants, Frenchy’s Seafood Company, or the Off the Hook gift shop, visit www.frenchysonline.com or e-mail info@frenchysonline.com.

There’s something to interest everyone in the family at the 220-slip Clearwater Municipal Marina, one of the best-equipped and most versatile marinas in Florida and the single most important component of the area’s recreational industry.

In addition to berthing the largest commercial fishing fleet on Florida’s west coast, the Marina offers access to every conceivable recreational boating activity, including fishing and sailing charters, dive boats, sight-seeing boats and dolphin tours, speed boat, jet ski and parasailing rentals, dinner cruises and fishing party boats. The Marina is also home to restaurants, convenience and gift shops, laundry facilities, a post office and more.

Below are just a few of the attractions of note. The Clearwater Municipal Marina ideally – and centrally - located at 25 Causeway Blvd. on Clearwater Beach, is open seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, call 727-462-6954 or visit the City of Clearwater’s web site, www.myclearwater.com; look for the “Marine and Aviation” section in the City Departments menu.

For visitors looking to get up close and personal with some of the Clearwater area’s nature and marine life, Bay Ride, Inc. provides “one-stop shopping” for the whole family: dolphin encounter cruises, the Caladesi Island Adventure and customized or chartered boat tours.

The Original Dolphin Encounter boat tour offers passengers not only a chance to observe the beautiful marine mammals but also the thrill of feeding the array of wild birds that make the Clearwater area their natural habitat, all while aboard the luxurious double deck, 125-passenger Clearwater Express. Unlimited complimentary wine, beer and soda are provided, and a snack bar is also available. The cruises last approximately 1-½ hours. With multiple departures daily, the Dolphin Encounter cruises also provide breathtaking views of the beaches and shorelines of Clearwater Beach and Caladesi Island.

Bay Ride also makes the Clearwater Express available for private charters, and can accommodate groups celebrating birthdays, family reunions, weddings and more.

Bay Ride offers a chance for further sightseeing with the Caladesi Island Adventure. Departing hourly every day (weather permitting) from Honeymoon Island (just north of Clearwater in Dunedin), passengers are taken on a thirty minute boat ride to Caladesi Island, home to three miles of unspoiled white sand beach, nature trails and shady picnic areas. Caladesi Island is currently ranked the second best beach in the United States.

The Caladesi Island Adventure departs from the west end of the Dunedin Causeway. For pricing and departure times, call 727-442-7433 or log on to www.dolphinencounter.org.

Enjoy two boat rides in one with the Sea Screamer, a unique boating experience sure to please riders of all ages. The first half of the experience is a scenic and serene sightseeing tour of Clearwater Harbor and Pass, Clearwater Beach and Sand Key Park, narrated by a friendly and knowledgeable captain. The second half of the tour is a “sea screaming” speedboat ride in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico guaranteed to thrill and exhilarate. Dolphins often jump in the boat’s wake.

The Sea Screamer offers four departures daily; cruises last approximately one hour. Schedule and departures are variable based upon weather conditions.

For further information, call 727-447-7200 or log onto www.seascreamer.com.

There’s more for thrill-seekers aboard the Sky Screamer. The Sky Screamer takes passengers out into the Gulf of Mexico – and up to 1,000 thrilling feet above Clearwater – for a bird’s eye view of breathtaking scenery, fresh air and sunshine!

Daily departures begin hourly at 10:00 a.m. The experience lasts almost one hour and can accommodate 12 passengers at a time, perfect for families who wish to enjoy this incredible experience together. For further information, call 727-442-7600 or log onto www.skyscreamerparasail.com (Online discounts available).

The Queen Fleet offers half and full day deep sea fishing excursions seven days a week. Passengers venture out into prime fishing spots in the Gulf of Mexico on either a 75’ or a 90’ Catamaran with sundeck and need only bring their sunscreen; fishing poles can be rented, and bait and fishing licenses are provided. Snacks and drinks are also available.

Private charters can be booked for large groups, and reservations in advance are recommended. For further information, call 727-446-7666 or log onto www.queenfleet.com.

In addition to the Queen fleet, nearly two-dozen other fishing boats are available for charters at the Municipal Marina.

Other fun and family-friendly attractions at the Marina worth checking out include Captain Memo’s Pirate’s Ransom, the “original pirate cruise,” and Xtreme Watersports, the “ultimate outfitter for excursions” of all kinds, including eco-tours, dolphin watching, shelling excursions, fishing trips, kayaking adventures, snorkeling and more.

· Captain Memo’s Pirate’s Ransom: 727-446-2587 or www.captainmemo.com.
· Xtreme Watersports: 727-461-9181 or www.xtreme-watersports.com.

For those days when visitors need a break from the Florida sunshine, Beach Gameland offers the perfect respite - and mind stimulating fun at the same time!

Beach Gameland is a state-of-the-art video and game arcade that offers fun for the whole family and gives young and old alike a chance to indulge in a variety of games ranging from the classics such as Pac-Man to the latest high-tech simulators, like electronic dancing and boxing.

And while at Beach Gameland, there’s no need to worry about trying to find, or losing, quarters or tokens! Beach Gameland offers the convenience of digital keys, which can be purchased from attendants at kiosks throughout the facility.

There’s fun for the whole family at Beach Gameland and it’s open seven days a week! It’s also a perfect spot to host children’s birthday parties and offers a variety of party packages.

Beach Gameland is located at 483 Mandalay Ave. on Clearwater Beach. For further information, call 727-444-4494 or log onto www.beachgameland.com.

With a variety of indoor games as well as outdoor miniature golf, Celebration Station is a safe environment for children of all ages and provides parents the opportunity to indulge in carefree fun, as well. Game lovers of all ages can choose from an array of options, ranging from air hockey to the newest high tech video games.

Rated one of Clearwater’s top party spots, Celebration Station is also a great place for fun, family-centered special events, such as birthday parties; and with a variety of packages to choose from, Celebration Station can cater to every group’s specific needs.

Celebration Station - open seven days a week, rain or shine – is located at 24546 US 19 North in Clearwater. For more information, call 727-791-1799 or go to www.celebrationstation.com.

For more family fun, don’t forget to check out Clearwater Beach’s nightly, free Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival (www.sunsetsatpier60.com), the wildlife - and wild rides – at world-famous Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (www.buschgardens.com) and the exotic animals at Tampa’s own Lowry Park Zoo (www.lowryparkzoo.com), recently voted the “#1 Family Friendly Zoo in America” by Child magazine.

For kid-friendly educational attractions, check out the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (www.cmaquarium.org) dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine life; Heritage Village, the 21-acre living history “village” painstakingly recreated at the Pinewood Cultural Park (www.pinewoodculturalpark.org) in nearby Largo; the Planetarium and IMAX® Dome Theater at Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (www.mosi.org) and the variety of special events, classes, workshops and exhibits at the Science Center of Pinellas County (www.sciencecenterofpinellas.com.)

There are endless possibilities for nature-loving families, including several nature trails, for example, Boyd Hill Nature Trail, the Pinellas Trail and the Friendship Trail Bridge. Pinellas County maintains over 4,100 acres of the county's most beautiful and pristine Florida landscapes, including Caladesi Island State Park, Fort DeSoto Park, Honeymoon Island and Moccasin Lake Nature Park. There are also three major nature preserves in Pinellas County: Shell Key, Weedon Island and Brooker Creek which, at 8,500 acres, is the county’s largest remaining wilderness area. For more information about these and many others, call 727-464-3347 or visit www.pinellascounty.org and www.floridastateparks.org.

Two other wildlife sanctuaries in the greater Clearwater area include Big Cat Rescue (www.bigcatrescue.org) in Tampa which houses the largest and most diverse population of exotic cats in the world, and the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary (www.seabirdsanctuary.org), located in nearby Indian Shores, one of the largest wild bird rehabilitation centers in the United States.

Held over by overwhelming popular demand, BODIES - The Exhibition will be on display through Sept. 4 at MOSI. BODIES is a 14,000 square-foot exhibit that provides a closer look at the skeletal, muscular, respiratory and other systems in the human body by featuring 20 whole-body specimens, as well as more than 260 additional organ and partial body specimens. For more information, visit www.mosi.org.

Don’t forget the “boys of summer.” Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays are home at St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field. For the Rays’ schedule and ticket information, visit www.devilrays.com. Minor League Baseball’s Clearwater Threshers (Class A Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies) play at Clearwater’s Bright House Networks Field. Go to www.threshersbaseball.com for schedule and ticket information. Other Florida State (Minor) League teams that play nearby include the Tampa Yankees, Dunedin Blue Jays and Lakeland Tigers. Visit the League’s official web site, www.minorleaguebaseball.com, for all the teams’ schedules and ticket information.

Now in its 27th extraordinary year, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday will present, in concert between October 19 and 22, once again some of the jazz world’s greatest talents. Presented in downtown Clearwater’s 20-acre landscaped Coachman Park overlooking beautiful Clearwater Harbor and the majestic Memorial Causeway Bridge, the Jazz Holiday is four days and four nights of some of the best live jazz performance in the world and is one of the longest-running and best-known free live jazz events in the country.

Make plans now to attend! For more information, call 727-461-5200 or visit www.clearwaterjazz.com.

Clearwater will host more than 1,800 athletes from around the world at the inaugural Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3. This event, scheduled for November 11, 2006 is a collaborative effort between the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the City of Clearwater and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 will start and finish on Clearwater Beach; the Sheraton Sand Key Resort will host several of the pre- and post-race activities. A professional prize purse of $100,000 will be offered and top professional and age group athletes will qualify for the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship that will take place in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on October 13, 2007.

If you would like to obtain media credentials for this event, or if you’d simply like more information, please visit www.ironmanlive.com

A seemingly endless supply of sun, a mild and temperate climate, world-renowned beaches, nature-based attractions and wide-ranging recreational and cultural activities make Clearwater, Florida, one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations. Its proximity to St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota and Orlando make it an ideal “home base” for daily excursions. Come on down and put yourself in our shoes for a while!

Visitors seeking additional assistance with their Clearwater travel plans can contact the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce: 1130 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Florida 33755; info@clearwaterflorida.org; 888-425-3279 (toll free) or 727-461-0011. More information, as well as comprehensive lists and descriptions of accommodations, restaurants, nightlife establishments and shopping options, can be found in the free Official Visitors Guide or at www.visitclearwaterflorida.com.

Footprints is published quarterly by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the City of Clearwater. Upcoming issues include Fall (issued September 2006), Winter (issued December 2006) and Spring (issued month 2007).