The Couples’ Group Getaway Guide to Clearwater Beach
You’ve got the time off, the sitter is booked, and your gang of other friends – also couples – are ready to go. So where to go on a vacation with other couples? Clearwater Beach.
Time away can be hard to come by. So naturally, when planning an adults-only getaway, you might ask yourself: just the two of you or the whole gang? Actually, you don’t have to pick one over the other. Because in Clearwater Beach, it’s easy to go from hanging with your whole crew of couples to just one-on-one.
Where to Stay
When it comes to vacations with other couples, Opal Sands Resort makes for an excellent setting. Opened in 2016 right on the beach with 230 rooms all overlooking the Gulf, the resort is located within easy walking distance from Clearwater Beach’s many shops, restaurants, and attractions. Book the two-bedroom Opal Suite, a great option for multiple couples, complete with a shared living area and large balcony from which you can enjoy champagne in the private Jacuzzi.
Girls & Guys
While the guys depart for a half-day fishing trip, the ladies in the group head to the on-site resort spa for massage, skincare, and other body treatments in the gorgeous modern facility. Might we suggest the special sampler package, an approximately two-hour experience that provides a sampling of all the favorite treatments from the menu in one, including the Express Massage, Express Facial, a warm-oil scalp massage, full-body body scrub, and more. When you’re all done, head to the rooftop relaxation lounge to kick back with a glass of champagne.
Love is Like a Box of Chocolates
You never know what you’re going to get…unless you make them yourself. Clearwater is home to William Dean Chocolates which, in the decade since it opened in 2007, has become a favorite among everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to the Pope. Time your visit right and take part in one of the chocolate-making classes led by owner Bill Brown, considered to be one of the top chocolatiers in the world.
Luminous Art
The dimly lit galleries, mirror-like black floors, and illuminated blown glass art of the Chihuly Collection in St. Petersburg transport guests to a world of whimsy. Wander among halls in pairs or in groups and take in the Technicolor masterpieces like Tumbleweeds and Niijima Floats. If curious to learn more, purchase the special combination Petersburg Art Experience ticket when you arrive. It allows your group to head to the Glass Studio & Hot Shop at the nearby Morean Art Center to go backstage to see how these creations are made or even take your go at blowing some of your own glass.
Champagne by Air
If ready for some one-on-one, book your choice of an aerial sightseeing tour with Tampa Bay Aviation and add the romance package for two, which includes chocolate and champagne as you soar. Taking off from the Clearwater Airpark in a Cessna, certified pilots buzz up and down the coast over such sights as the Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs, Honeymoon Island, and the Skyway Bridge spanning Tampa Bay.
Pedal the Coast
Included with your stay at Opal Sands are two daily bike rentals per room, so the group can take the opportunity to get up close and personal with Clearwater Beach together. Head to the recently redeveloped Beach Walk promenade just steps from the resort, offering coastal views, bars and restaurants, and street entertainment and art.
Dinner on the Water
Docked less than a mile from the resort, the StarLite Majesty is a sleek 115-foot yacht that takes passengers on a three-hour sunset dinner cruise on the Gulf. The three-course meal is prepared to order on board and dished out on white linen. When your group finishes dessert, a deejay-manned dance floor awaits.
