Why sun-soaked St. Pete-Clearwater should be on everyone’s travel list
Florida’s sunniest locale is packed with outdoor attractions, including some of the country’s best beaches, over 40 golf courses and even alfresco art experiences.
Vacationing in St. Pete-Clearwater is always a bright idea. Quite literally. The destination, a peninsula that includes more than 20 communities on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is the world record holder for the most sunny days in a row—768 to be exact.
Holding the title of the Sunshine State’s sunniest spot means St. Pete-Clearwater is a paradise for anyone looking to spend time outdoors, any time of year. From freshly caught seafood feasts enjoyed at waterfront cafes to mangrove tunnels ready for exploration, from legendary golf courses to streets lined with unique boutiques, St. Pete-Clearwater has it all. Just don’t forget to pack your shades.
Here’s how to soak up all that St. Pete-Clearwater has to offer.
Clearwater Beach
Beaches and water fun
Take advantage of the area’s 35 miles of beautiful beaches with a dip in winter, spring, summer or fall. For superlative stretches of sand, check out Clearwater Beach, which has been named one of the best white sand beaches in the world, or St. Pete Beach, which has held the title of top beach in the United States.1
For an aquatic adventure, embark on a paddling excursion or a boat tour. At Shell Key Preserve, explore the crystal-clear waters on a clear-bottom kayak tour with Get Up & Go Kayaking and keep your peepers peeled for dolphins, manatees and wading birds. If you prefer to take it easy, hop aboard a floating tiki hut or set sail on a family-friendly pirate ship for an epic water gun battle and treasure hunt.
Your ocean exposure doesn’t have to stop at bedtime. Located in St. Pete Beach on a narrow strip of land between gulf and bay, the Hotel Zamora has scenic views in both directions, giving guest the freedom to explore the water their own way. At the Sandpearl, guests can dip their toes in the water at the resort’s 700-foot beach or rent a wave runner to speed across the surf. And at the soon to open Opal Sol, which welcomes its first guests this February, each suite offers unobstructed views of the gulf.
Clearwater Beach
Pier Teaki at the St. Pete Pier
Outdoor dining
The area’s culinary scene complements its enviable climate. At Wild Child in St. Petersburg, the patio is almost as big as the flavor on the brunch menu, which includes potato latkes, chorizo-stuffed breakfast tacos and a Korean fried chicken sandwich slathered in kimchi mayo. Closer to the bay, Mediterranean-influenced Cassis also offers outdoor seating and an extensive brunch menu, plus an opportunity to order fresh oysters. Nearby Pier Teaki, which sits perched over the bay at the end of the beautiful St. Pete Pier, provides tropical drinks with a unique view of the bayfront and St. Pete’s skyline.
In charming Dunedin, you’ll find Olde Bay Café serving up the day’s fresh catches—like grouper, snapper and blue crab—along with waterfront views.
St. Petersburg
Alfresco art & entertainment
St. Pete-Clearwater could be considered one massive outdoor art gallery, as its buildings serve as canvases for more than 600 public murals. The city even hosts an annual mural festival, inviting local and international artists alike to take part. To see what they’ve created over the years, book a walking mural tour to take in over 30 murals within four blocks of the Central Arts District.
Known for its water views, popular waterfront restaurants, concerts and events, the St. Pete Pier also offers stunning public art, as well as live music and buskers.
In Clearwater Beach, don’t miss the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 celebration, with entertainers such as fire jugglers and magicians.
St. Petersburg
Boca Ciega Millennium Park
Pleasant parks
Picture it: 100 acres of roses, tropical fruit trees, teddy bear-shaped topiaries and a musical forest—and it’s all free to experience. Find it at the Florida Botanical Gardens, a horticultural wonderland in Largo that’ll get folks of any age pumped about perennials. Other awe-inspiring parks include Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Pete and Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole—both of which have elevated boardwalks that meander through mangrove forests and peak birdwatching habitats. You may even find yourself climbing an observation tower to take in all the beauty of St. Pete-Clearwater from a few dozen feet in the air.
Innisbrook
Year-round golf
Perpetual sunshine means it’s always the perfect time to hit the greens. To invoke the skill of the game’s current stars, head to Innisbrook Resort, home to four courses, including the Copperhead course, host to the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship each March. Or make like legends of the past and play at Dunedin Golf Club, home to professional golf in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. True golf traditionalists will also want to check out Tarpon Springs Golf Course. Built in 1907, the par-72 course is part of Florida’s Historic Golf Trail.
Innisbrook Resort
Saturday Morning Market
Open-air shopping
Even retail therapy is an outdoor pursuit in St. Petersburg, where inviting weather makes popping in and out of the boutiques that line Central Avenue a breeze. Snag a whole new beach look at Ashe Couture or a gripping new beach read at Tombolo Books. And if it happens to be Saturday, make your way toward the waterfront for the Saturday Morning Market. Here, you can bounce between produce stands selling locally grown oranges and mangos, grab a delicious empanada or smoothie at a food truck, then shop tropical sea sponges and handcrafted candles—all while bopping along to a live band.
Plan your trip to St. Pete-Clearwater.
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