There's drops you can get that will help clear the water. They bind the particles together and make them larger, and so the filter can trap them more easily.
If you do decide to change the water but leave the gravel alone, when you pour new water into the tank, place a small dish or bowl in the bottom where you are pouring the water. This will help to not disrupt the gravel bed and prevent it from happening all over again. Or, like you said, you can start all over and rinse it much better the next time. The clarification drops harm nothing and should be safe for all types of plants and fish you'll eventually put in.
As Fox stated already, the cloudiness may be from the "new tank syndrome". From the look of your post, though, it sounds like the gravel was the cause and you've yet to put fish in, anyway.
Enjoy the new tank, most certainly she will! It'll open a world of wonder for her!
Let us know how it goes and if you have any more questions we'll be happy to help!

__________________