Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Crystal Beach, FL

  • Published 2022/07/24

There’s something about the air in Crystal Beach that makes this small Floridian community feel like an escape from it all.

Crystal Beach is a hidden pearl for all boaters and anglers, close to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Honeymoon Island, and the Dunedin Causeway.

This beautiful unincorporated community in Palm Harbor offers scenic beaches and stunning views.

Its surroundings make Crystal Beach ideal for kayakers and boaters looking for a peaceful afternoon out on the water without any hassle.

Relax and enjoy life by fishing or boating on its pristine waters or savoring unforgettable flavors from local beachside restaurants.

Do you want to know more before planning a trip?

Here are the best things to do in Crystal Beach, Florida:

Enjoy the Water and Wildlife at Crystal Beach Pier

Silhouette of Crystal Beach Pier during sunset

Heather Mahaffey / Shutterstock.com

Crystal Beach Pier is a peaceful seaside park in Crystal Beach, Florida.

Crystal Beach Pier features a picturesque nature scene along the shore with lots of open space.

Here, you’ll see the sunshine and the moon glisten over the water.

This area also has free parking available for free.

Likewise, the pier is a perfect place to unwind from a long day at work or to go on vacation with a kayak ride.

The Crystal Beach Pier is a pet-friendly location; people walking their pets or getting some exercise often frequent the pier.

You will often spot kids playing in the water, catching Frisbees, people fishing, and enjoying picnics.

You’ll also see dolphins swimming around at high tide and various types of birds and sea life ranging from herons to small fish.

Enjoy a Picnic at Live Oak Park

Live Oak Park is a beautiful place, especially during sunset.

The park’s picturesque setting attracts many visitors to admire the sunset over the blue water.

Many people come here to fish off the pier at dusk.

There are plenty of picnic areas for everyone to enjoy a meal outdoors together.

The community has turned the beach into a family area where they can spend quality time with their kids on weekends.

The community owns this beautiful shoreline landscape; citizens also maintain Live Oak Park.

You’re likely to see lots of locals walking or jogging near this seaside paradise.

Ride Your Bike around Palm Harbor

Palm Harbor is a growing community in Pinellas County, Florida.

It features easy access to many different kinds of businesses for folks who love suburban adventures.

If you’re looking for a fun and active way to explore Palm Harbor, hop on a bicycle along its charming curving roads.

You’ll see buildings in Palm Harbor that spark creativity.

When you feel your creative juices flowing, take your ideas even further.

Take inspiration from some successful businesses to pursue your own craft!

Downtown Palm Harbor also offers quaint shops and eateries tucked away from the busy streets.

If you’re looking for a terrific urban experience, check out the diverse array of restaurants and retailers in east Palm Harbor.

Grab a Gyro at Gyro King

Combine a taco and a traditional Greek lamb sandwich and you will get the gyro.

People season this savory mixture with Mediterranean spices, which they serve on pita bread or warm flatbread.

Around the Palm Harbor area, people flock to gyro restaurants; everyone wants a bite of this fantastic dish.

Palm Harbor is home to a fantastic Mediterranean restaurant that serves the best gyros.

Gyro King is one of the city’s true family staples, so don’t miss out on this Crystal Beach landmark.

If you’re in the mood for steak or chicken bombs instead of sandwiches, you can order them, too.

They serve not just gyro sandwiches but also wings, cheesesteaks, and burgers made fresh from their brick-oven pizza ovens.

Enjoy a Simple Picnic at Gulf Shore Park

Gulf Shore Park is like an anchor for Florida’s beautiful Crystal Beach area.

It’s a narrow strip of land that runs from Georgia Avenue to Ohio Avenue, a path lined with conch shells on one side and Gulf Drive on the other.

Gulf Shore Park is like the backyard patio of Crystal Beach.

Anyone can come and enjoy the sunshine or even a simple picnic by the water’s edge while taking in the stunning sunset.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even take a dip on the beach.

Stop by at least once if you plan on visiting this incredible part of Florida.

Have a Ball at Rum Runners Bar

The Rum Runners Bar is a friendly place to hang out with family and friends beyond the usual Sunday dinner.

Featuring themed décor such as pirate paraphernalia scattered around the tavern, this particular space will show you fun and excitement.

The staff here is extremely welcoming.

You can also make new friends if you come here regularly on Sundays.

Play pool or shuffleboard while sharing a drink and singing along to classics from the jukebox.

Plus, Rum Runners is a great place to watch the big game, with smartly placed TVs perfect for watching sports with friends.

Whenever you visit, you can always indulge in bar food such as juicy burgers, crispy fries, and sandwiches.

The Rum Runners Bar is also a friendly place for smokers, non-smokers, and bikers.

Watch the Glorious Sunset at Crystal Beach Park

Crystal Beach Park is a tranquil and inviting environment where nature and the human experience converge.

Along its breathtaking shoreline, travelers can refresh and revitalize themselves through building sandcastles, playing beach volleyball, or flying kites.

There are also picnic areas if you want to enjoy your afternoon break outdoors with a light snack and some lemonade while watching the waves crash against the shoreline.

If this doesn’t sound like your thing, pack a lunch and enjoy an outdoor picnic in the designated areas.

Sometimes, you can also find a community at the water’s edge.

See neighbors and friends wish away another day and watch the sun go down.

Most visitors also bring their pet dogs to Crystal Beach Park.

It’s a great place to walk your furry friends.

Buy a Souvenir from a Yard Sale at Crystal Beach Community Hall

Exterior of Crystal Beach Community Hall

Rouslinbr, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Crystal Beach Community Hall is incredibly spacious, renovated with a modern kitchen and bathroom.

Sometimes, yard sales take place at the community center.

People in the area can buy items or .

You never know what you might end up scoring at a bargain price.

The community center also provides an excellent venue for events like birthday parties or wedding receptions.

Many art classes also take place at Crystal Beach Community Hall.

Stop by if you want to take paint-by-numbers classes, learn how to knit scarfs from scratch, or try jazzercise.

It’s a lovely community space overlooking the beach, with beautiful sunset views.

Grab a Bite at Emily’s Family Restaurant

Check out a fantastic restaurant in Crystal Beach known for its top-notch servers and delicious food.

Emily’s Family Restaurant has a diverse menu with many breakfast and lunch options.

Their menu offers plenty of customization options, too, so you can have a meal prepared how you want.

The place also happens to serve everyone’s favorite gyro.

There’s also plenty of parking available at Emily’s Family Restaurant and a handicap ramp to ensure accessibility for all.

Play Sports at Sunderman Complex

The perfect venue for sporting activities, the Sunderman Complex has available spaces for baseball, soccer, batting cages, and hockey rinks.

Palm Harbor Little League is proud to call it their home field.

The covered skate rink comes in handy when it rains or gets cold.

With volleyball nets in the back, the Sunderman Complex is an excellent place for various sports.

There are shaded bleachers for your viewing convenience, too.

The Palm Harbor Little League also plays games at Sunderman Complex.

Grab Pizza at Fairway Pizza & Sports Page Pub

Fairway Pizza & Sports Page Pub makes delicious pizza and serves the best food and drinks in a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

They have an indoor and outdoor bar with heating.

Likewise, they host fantastic live music every Thursday through Sunday.

Their restaurant is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your pup along with you.

It’s a great place to catch the big games since they have several TVs.

They also provide excellent service so you won’t miss any play.

Their expansive menu features delicious food, full of mouth-watering choices such as wings, fresh salads, pasta, and hot oven grinders.

Shop ‘Til You Drop at Crystal Beach Plaza

Nestled in a quiet, residential area overlooking the beach, Crystal Beach Plaza is an idyllic enclave.

It offers a varied selection of smaller merchants, from fitness facilities to grocery shops like Publix.

You’ll find it hard to resist often visiting throughout the year.

Crystal Beach Plaza is also home to a liquor store, a bank, some restaurants, dry cleaners, and fashion and jewelry boutiques.

This shopping plaza also has a vitamin shop and three Chinese restaurants.

The bakeries at the mall are pretty impressive.

Many people from the community visit the plaza daily to get some baked treats.

Most often, people get things to celebrate their special occasions.

Their associates provide exceptional customer service at the front of the store and throughout the grocery aisles.

Get Delicious Ice Cream at Dairy Rich Creamery

Another excellent food destination you’ll come across in Crystal Beach is the Dairy Rich Creamery.

This shop is a well-kept secret among the locals in Palm Harbor.

You can drive by the place several times and you’d barely even notice it.

The full menu selection here is spectacular and very diverse, offering burgers to souvlaki, sandwiches, and everything else.

The Dairy Rich Creamery serves delicious ice cream and probably the best burgers in the area.

All these great choices feel pretty fitting for an eatery that boasts its dedication to quality ingredients and excellent customer service.

As a bonus, Dairy Rich Creamery also has outdoor seating perfect for enjoying your treat on a nice day.

Snap a Selfie with Primates at Suncoast Primate Sanctuary

The volunteer-run Suncoast Primate Sanctuary Foundation is a 12-acre animal sanctuary that cares for more than 70 primates and other animals.

These animals include alligators, lemurs, tortoises, goats, birds, reptiles, and more.

Volunteers are on hand to give tours around the sanctuary every week.

During the tours, feed the snakes and turtles and walk through the paths while learning about the animals in the sanctuary.

You can even snap a few photos with some of its residents during a Saturday photography session from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary also welcomes dogs on their property as long as their owners keep them leashed during tours.

Stroll along Wall Springs Park

The calm waters of Wall Springs Park

glenrichardphoto / Shutterstock.com

Wall Springs Park is a 210-acre park where you can also catch the sunset and relax by the spring.

This lovely park is the perfect place to spend an afternoon with your friends, family, and furry friend.

The park boasts beautiful wooden trails, which you can explore right on the shoreline.

Daytime view of Wall Springs Park

caleb kurtz / Shutterstock.com

You can also find a historical natural spring, where the Crystal Beach community bathed from the turn of the 20th century until the 1960s.

It’s hard not to fall in love with the natural splendor of this fantastic spring park paradise.

The Wall Springs Park provides hours of fun for nature lovers and tourists.

Trees along Wall Springs Park

caleb kurtz / Shutterstock.com

Final Thoughts

Have you ever dreamed about treating yourself to whatever you wanted?

Did you like imagining yourself eating ice cream, pizza, burgers, and gyros?

How about having your pick of any seat at a restaurant?

Look no further than Crystal Beach for a place that breathes new life into your fantasies!

Crystal Beach is a place you’ve always wanted to be.

You can grab your family, pets, and friends and enjoy yourselves at this fantastic getaway.

Lose yourself in the best things to do in Crystal Beach, Florida!

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