The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is best known for its spectacular beaches and has been ranked among the best in America by leading travel companies. These beaches rival some of the best in the Caribbean with beautiful soft white sands, the warm blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, palm trees and plenty of restaurants, water sports, activities, shopping and more. Whether you are looking to relax, read a book and work on your tan, take the kids for a day of swimming, sandcastles and picnics or anything in between, St. Petersburg/Clearwater has a beach for you. All the beaches in the area are public, so you can choose to park your chair and umbrella just about anywhere you want. If you are looking for beaches with action Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg Beach and Madeira Beach are your best bet. Great for swimming, boogie boarding or just wading, these beaches also offer things like live entertainment, jet ski rentals, fishing charters, cruises and sightseeing tours, sailing, snorkelling, a plethora of dining options, shopping and more. If you want to find a place that is a little more subdued try Sunset Beach, Redington Shores or Pass-a-grille beach all of which are low key, relaxing and perfect for spending some quality time alone or with a loved one. Two other beaches you won’t want to miss are located in Fort De Soto Park and Caladesi Island State Park.

The St. Petersburg area is full of things to do and places to explore. The St. Petersburg Pier is one of the top attractions. At the Pier you will find an aquarium, over fifteen shops and boutiques, sightseeing boat tours, fishing, sailing, bike rentals, casual and fine dining options and more. The Pier is also home to the HMS Bounty which has been used in a number of movies including the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels. Looking for something to do with the little ones? Great Explorations, the Children’s Museum, is as the kids would say ‘so cool!’ This interactive museum includes a children’s village with a pretend firehouse, vet clinic and stores as well as music, art, science and water exhibits. Another great place to spend the day with the kids is nearby Busch Gardens with its exciting rides and roller coasters and safari style tours for close encounters with exotic wildlife like giraffes and zebras. St. Petersburg is also home to some fabulous galleries and museums like the Museum of Fine Arts which is home to an exquisite collection of works by artists such as Monet, Cezanne, Rodin and Renoir, the Dali Museum which houses the largest collection in the United States by Salvador Dali including the famous painting The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, the Florida Craftsmen Gallery and the Holocaust Museum.

Those who have a passion for golf will not be disappointed with a round in St. Petersburg. With beautiful, sunny weather year round any day is a good day to hit the links and there are a whole lot of them to choose from. Belleview Biltmore Golf and Spa Resort, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club and Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club are all home to brilliant and challenging courses. If you are planning on playing, especially during the fall or winter months, make sure to book your tee time well in advance. For those who love to shop, St. Petersburg has plenty of opportunities for that as well. Downtown, the Baywalk shopping complex has something for everyone with upscale shops and boutiques, Old Hyde Park offers a good mix of local and national brands with big names like Pottery Barn, Talbots, MAC Cosmetics and Aldo. Wagon Wheel Flea Market has over 2,000 vendors selling everything from clothes to candy and Prime Outlets has over 130 of your favourite stores offering unbelievable discounts. Whatever you are looking for in a vacation, St. Petersburg has it all. St. Petersburg enjoys a sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summer days and mild winters. The average high temperatures in St. Petersburg range between 18˚C and 35˚C year round. During the winter months the average high is a balmy 21˚C but the nights can get quite cool so make sure to bring a light coat or sweater. Rain and thunderstorms are frequent during the summer months but much like the Caribbean, the rain usually comes in the afternoon and doesn’t last all that long.