USA – Lots of fun for little money
Vacation in the U.S. is expensive? And in the Sunshine State Florida even more so? That does not have to be the case. In St. Pete/Clearwater there are many activities that are fun and mostly even free of charge. Here are our six recommendations for a affordable and at the same time exciting visit to St. Pete/Clearwater.
Picnic: Romance during sunset
How about a romantic picnic? This is much cheaper than a meal in one of the wonderful restaurants and cannot fail in sunny St. Pete/Clearwater. So, pack your picnic basket and head outdoors! A place for the cheaper alternative to the restaurant is always found quickly. Whether on one of the powder-sugar-white beaches or in wonderfully green parks – there’s no shortage of options in St. Pete/Clearwater. Outdoor diners by no means have to do without delicious specialties. The most delicious Italian food is available at Mazzaros, for example. Those who prefer Greek food should stop by Spiros, and the best smoked fish is offered at Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish. Picnic lovers who want to take home fully prepared food will find it at Rollin’ Oats Market & Cafe. So, let’s go: Pack a picnic basket and head to St. Pete Pier, North Shore Park, St. Pete Beach or Philippe Park, Pass-a-Grille Beach or Fort De Soto Park and spread out your blanket, feast and relax.
Art: Complimentary and outside
Fancy a bit of art and culture? In St. Pete/Clearwater you can do that for free and outside. Throughout the city, you can see art on walls and buildings in the form of murals. The city is one big open-air museum of contemporary art, if you will. So put on comfortable shoes and walk along the city’s art mile. The so-called murals – from the Latin word for wall – can be found everywhere in St. Pete/Clearwater. On the St. Pete/Clearwater website there is a map showing all the murals, so you can put together your own tour. If you prefer air-conditioned, you can also create a free tour of the local galleries. They can all be visited without a ticket – and that includes Morean Arts Center, Morean Arts Center for Clay, Florida CraftArt and Duncan McClellan Gallery. On Thursdays starting at five in the afternoon, several museums also give discounts – such as the Dali Museum and also the Museum of Fine Arts.
Markets: Lots of flair, not just for foodies
It’s best to come hungry to St. Pete’s Sunday Farmers Market. There is hardly any other place where so many farmers from the region come together to offer their products. These goods are by no means to be had only in their raw form. Whether sweet pies, fresh coffee, crispy barbecue or Asian Thai noodles – at the market, which has long since become a cult meeting place on weekends since it opened in 2022, not only do locals stock up on fresh food, but they also use it for an extended breakfast to kick off the weekend. It’s always accompanied by live music from a variety of artists. On Sunday, the Corey Avenue Sunday Market beckons. There, too, is live music, arts and crafts in addition to regional products.
Parks: For plant friends and nature lovers
Want a shady spot to chill out? One where beautiful plants and soothing greenery surround you? Nothing’s easier than that! St. Pete/Clearwater parks not only provide cooling shade on hot days but there’s also plenty to see. If you stroll along the great tropical plants at the Florida Botanical Gardens, you can also visit Heritage Village along the way. There you can walk through a village “of yore,” with the historical museum being the centrepiece of the Heritage Village. There is no entrance fee to visit, though small donations are welcome. Beautiful footpaths and boardwalks through nature are offered by the Weedon Island Preserve. Again and again, there are beautiful views and platforms from which to overlook the park and its lush nature from above. Delicate dragonflies, colorful butterflies and a rich, tropical nature with lots of water surface – these are the sunken gardens of St. Pete/Clearwater. Walk, look, marvel – in the Sunken Gardens, nature, shaped by water, captivates.
Taste wine and co (almost) free of charge
The distillery is still run by the Kozuba family: Kozuba & Sons was founded in Poland in 2005 and still advertises with the slogan “Polish Spirit. American Craft.” Visitors can find out how this came about and what kind of liquor the family has enjoyed success with in America on one of the guided tours, which also include a tasting. Cost: $10. Totally free is a tasting at the Tarpon Springs Distillery from Wednesdays to Sundays. Also free is a wine tasting at Mazzaro’s every Friday and Saturday.
Sports: with cheerleaders and supporting program
Cheerleaders cheer up the audience before the start of the game, the athletes are celebrated like superstars and, of course, snacks are not to be missed: If you want to experience real American flair, you cannot miss a sports event. Tickets for one of the soccer or baseball games are cheaper to get in advance, for example, via Groupon. In addition, there are always tickets for ten dollars for students and seniors. During the summer months, it is cheap to catch a game of the Clearwater Threshers at Baycare BallPark or the Dunedin Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Tickets are $8. The social program is included, of course. If you want to do some sports in general, you can of course do so free of charge in St. Pete/Clearwater: There are numerous picturesque running tracks and at various places you can play beach volleyball for free.
Everything is cheaper with the City Pass Tampa Bay
If you want to experience a lot, but don’t want to spend a fortune, you should get a City Pass Tampa Bay. If you have this pass, you get a discount on admission to many attractions, such as the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Busch Gardens and Zoo Tampa. Also useful is a trolley pass, with which you can use various bus lines.
