With three separate entertainment venues, each with their own distinctive personality, Shepard’s Beach Resort in Clearwater is the place to party on Clearwater Beach. During the day, this beachfront hotel offers everything you could want in a resort, including live music from noon on, but at night the place really rocks with live bands, frozen drinks and a clientele that includes every age group.

When I visited recently, I was first blown away by the buffet spread put out in the restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Show up hungry, because this buffet offers everything under sun. At dinner, the buffet included a salad bar, oysters, clams, King crab legs, sushi, prime rib, pork chops, poached salmon, mashed potatoes, etc.

The restaurant is adjacent to the Sunset Lounge, a combination sports bar and dance floor. Da Jam was playing really high energy dance music on the Saturday night I was there and the dance floor was packed. The singer had a killer voice and was backed up by drums, keyboard and guitar. The band switched it up from soul, to disco standards, to a few jazz numbers and kept the crowd dancing. How anyone can pay attention to the sports being played on the TVs is beyond me.

Walking outside, I found Shepard's Backyard Tiki Bar, which was packed with locals and tourists alike. The stage is huge, the sound system killer and the bands that play there are some of the best in the area.

I met a local couple, Ron and Linda, who told me that Shepard's is just as packed any weekend night you visit during the year. The fact that they make one of the best pina coladas I’ve ever tasted might have something to do with it. They also host special events, like bikini contests and beach parties.  The Margarita Grill is always open, so late-night revelers who missed out on the buffet can grab an appetizer or sandwich.

Shepard’s final venue is the newly renovated, two story Wave Nightclub, which looks like a South Beach fantasy. The floors are painted with waves in varying shades of blue and there are chrome accents everywhere, including a towering chrome palm tree. This is as upscale a venue as I’ve seen in so far in Clearwater.

Shepard's is also famous for its beach weddings. One had taken place just before I arrived, so The Wave was closed for another two hours. But according to Eric, the manager on duty, the venue DJs spin techno and hip hop for a typically younger crowd. The second floor is a VIP, bottle-service area and reservations are definitely a must – it’s usually standing room only at The Wave.