St Petersburg – Florida’s ‘Sunshine City’ 🇺🇸

Part of my Real Florida Guide

Saint Petersburg (St Pete) in the Central West region of Florida, is only a short drive from the popular city of Tampa and around two hours from Orlando.

St Pete is a favourite for me and the other half when we are in Florida. If we find ourselves over in the Tampa area having been to Busch Gardens or watching a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, we put a trip to St Petes on the list too.

Did you know? St Pete is nicknamed the ‘Sunshine City’ due to holding the record for having 768 consecutive days of sunshine! That’s pretty impressive (if only my hometown in England could say the same).

Being on the West Coast and on the Gulf, St Pete gets really hot – and I mean really hot. I’ve visited in May, June and October and it really doesn’t matter what time of year you go – it’s scorching all the time!

The Municipal Marina and St Pete Pier

St Pete has a large marina, home to loads of boating vessels, big and not so big. From here you can take fishing trips, as well as dolphin-spotting tours that guarantee you’ll see these marine mammals, or your next trip is free.

For anyone interested in aviation, the marina also has a full scale replica of the first commercial flight in the world.

There’s really nothing better than sitting at the marina, sipping ice cold beer and eating fresh seafood, whilst watching the world go by. I can highly recommend Frescos Waterfront Bar for the best views of the marina and tastiest food. Try the shrimp tacos with your choice of side – you won’t be disappointed.

St Pete’s Pier was originally founded in the 1970s, but has had a complete modernisation in recent years. For the most impressive, jaw-dropping views of St Pete, take a walk to the bottom of the pier.

Here you will find a huge four-level eating and drinking spot, allowing elevated views out to the ocean and back inland. Pier Teaki (a modern take on a traditional tiki bar) offers a rooftop lounge where you can relax the morning/ afternoon/ day away, glass of wine in hand!

Because the pier is renowned for fishing, you can expect to find a multitude of birds, all competing to pinch something exciting from the fisherman’s bucket of bait! This includes the whopping pelicans who circle the pier and occasionally dive-bomb into the waters below to find a tasty meal…

What is also good about the St Pete pier is that it has ‘Bayfront Health’ suncream pillars, offering complimentary sun protection for anyone who needs it. I think you can definitely call that responsible!

The Dali Museum

How do you like a little bit of mind bending?

St Pete boasts the largest collection of Salvador Dali art outside of Europe, all housed in an interestingly shaped building, complete with a gorgeous glass atrium and views across the bay.

Salvador Dali was born in Spain in 1904 but spent his final years in seclusion in this very museum, until his death (back in Spain) in 1989.

Dali is known for his technical skill as a painter – and one with a very vivid imagination. Take one piece entitled ‘Atmospheric Skull Sodomizing a Grand Piano‘ for example! Perfectly normal.

The Dali museum includes ninety-six oil paintings, as well as original drawings, book works, prints photos, sculptures and manuscripts. It hosts paintings from his early work, Anti-Art, Surrealism, Nuclear Mysticism and his late work.

There is also a fun outdoor space, with sculptures depicting Dali’s infamous moustache, a melting clock bench and a ‘wish tree’ where visitors attach their wristbands for a colourful display.

The Dali museum is open daily and costs $29 per person (2022 price).

St Pete Beach

A short 20 minutes drive outside of downtown St Petes is where you’ll find a huge stretch of white, sandy beach, set on a barrier island to the west.

Here you can top up your tan, take a fishing trip, bird-watch or catch the island shuttle over to Shell Island (where you will literally be surrounded by shells, ocean and not a lot else).

When I say bird-watch, I do mean of the winged variety – because you’ll be amazed by how many there are, especially the threatened black skimmers. There are also some cute tiny birds with the fastest legs, who run out of the waves as quickly as they run in!

There’s plenty of places to park up at the beach, some free (if you get there early enough) and others just a small charge.

Fact: St Pete Beach was recently voted number one in the USA and number five in the world, according to Tripadvisor!

A word of warning, however – the public toilets are the furthest end of luxury you can get. So unless you’re desperate, you may want to give them a miss, like I did!

Food, glorious seafood!

St Pete has some of the best seafood you’ll find in the State – a favourite of mine being Fourth Street Shrimp Store where fresh snow crab doesn’t come much better!

If you’re going to stay, choose a night in downtown as opposed to the beach. Each to their own, of course, but the beach area is far less sophisticated and dare I say – a little tacky.

I can recommend the Hilton Bayfront for a clean, professional experience – or the Hollander boutique hotel, if you’re looking for something a little less ‘corporate’. In my humble opinion, opt for the Hollander as it was more warm and welcoming – and it had a cool residents bar (ideal excuse for cocktail drinking until the early hours).

So why visit St Pete?

Apart from all that sunshine? It’s a cool place that doesn’t take itself seriously and where life is best lived relaxed. Even a little meander through the neighbourhoods will put a smile on your face as you’ll find lots of funky, colourful Caribbean style houses. If they fail to impress, then the pensioners rollerblading down the pier surely will (completely true).

Take a look at my video, if you still need convincing…

Without question, St Pete has character, charm and charisma by the bucket load.

Now isn’t this better than a day at Disney?

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Neighbouring Tampa Bay is around a 30 minute drive from St Pete and it is here where you will find the famous Raymond James Stadium (home to the NFL Team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – and Busch Gardens theme park.

In the opposite direction is the gorgeously tranquil Anna Maria Island – around a 40 minute drive.