USA – St. Pete/Clearwater is much more than just beach holidays
Whether it’s beach relaxation, urban cultural experiences, action or indulgence, St. Pete/Clearwater is probably the most surprising destination in the Sunshine State. Much more than just beach holidays, hip instead of sleepy, activities in untouched nature, excellent cuisine, urban art: St. Pete/Clearwater has developed into a diverse destination in the last ten years, which no longer needs to hide from classic Florida hotspots. We present five reasons why St. Pete/Clearwater should be on your travel list.
The St. Pete/Clearwater region is located on the Gulf Coast of Florida and is easy to reach. There are multiple flights available via the large U.S.-hubs like New York, Chicago, Boston or Washington. After an uncomplicated flight, you reach Tampa Airport, from where you can be in St. Pete/Clearwater in just 30 minutes, where holidaymakers can experience much more than they might think.
Beaches for every taste with sun guaranteed
There’s no question that anyone who flies to Florida for a holiday wants to relax with sand under their feet and a view of the ocean. St. Pete/Clearwater has several beautiful beaches to offer: St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach have already been voted the most beautiful beach in the USA several times and were in the top 10 worldwide. What is particularly pleasant, however, is that there are beaches for every taste in the region and that visitors and locals are spread over numerous beaches. Clearwater Beach, for example, tends to be a busier beach with many leisure activities, boutiques and restaurants along the beach promenade. Unspoiled nature awaits holidaymakers at Shell Key Preserve, Fort de Soto Beach or Caladesi Island, while St. Pete Beach or Treasure Island are perfect for couples and families, and action fans are in their element at Sand Key Beach. By the way, there is no need to worry about bad weather: For over 50 years, the city of St. Pete has held the world record for the most sunny days without interruption, with 768 days in a row.
Anything but sleepy: trendy St. Pete
St. Pete used to have the reputation of being a rather sleepy place and a pensioner’s paradise. This is definitely not the case: Even at a younger age, it’s not at all boring in St. Pete. In the EDGE District, for example, you will find a large number of trendy restaurants, bars and clubs that offer live performances on various evenings. The LGBTQ+ scene is also strongly represented here. The Warehouse Arts District, on the other hand, is home to numerous local artists who have opened their studios in the former industrial district. From potteries to galleries to glass-blowing shops, art lovers and creatives can find it all here. You should also not miss the colorful street art scene throughout downtown St. Pete. Numerous murals, so-called “urban murals” embellish the streets of the city center and create an impressive artistic diversity. Holidaymakers can either discover them individually using an interactive map or take part in a guided mural tour where they can learn more about the colorful art.
Calm and action-packed activities
The local climate invites you to explore the nature of the region. The possibilities are almost endless: St. Pete/Clearwater, for example, naturally entices with various water sports activities, such as kayaking at Weedon Island Preserve or paddle boarding around Caladesi Island. Those who prefer to travel on land can also discover the region by bike, for example at Fort de Soto or along the Pinellas Trail, a former railway line that is now a bike route and runs through the whole of St. Pete/Clearwater. Action fans, on the other hand, get their money’s worth with zip-lining at Empower Adventures. There are also many nature trails throughout the region, for example on Honeymoon Island, in Brooker Creek or in Weedon Island Preserve.
Fast food? No thanks!
Anyone who thinks that the gastronomic scene in St. Pete/Clearwater is limited to steak and burgers will be pleasantly surprised. The region impresses with a diverse culinary portfolio with a focus on local and individual concepts. The usual chain restaurants are clearly in the minority in St. Pete/Clearwater and are not popular with the locals either. Not to be missed, for example, are the Grouper Sandwich at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill on Clearwater Beach, excellent Mexican cuisine at Red Mesa Cantina in downtown St. Pete, the simple but delicious fish dishes at The Wharf restaurant in Pass-A-Grille Beach or the fine-dining restaurant TEAK on the St. Pete Pier.
A foray into the craft beer scene in St. Pete/Clearwater is also obligatory. There are over 35 microbreweries in the region that impress with innovative beer creations. A visit to the Dunedin Brewery, for example, which is located in the town of the same name north of Clearwater Beach and is the oldest craft beer brewery in the state of Florida, is worthwhile.
Impressive cultural scene
Those interested in culture can also look forward to plenty of variety in St. Pete/Clearwater. The region surprises with various exciting museums and art exhibitions. One of the best-known classics in St. Pete is the Dalí Museum, the largest collection of the famous surrealist outside Europe. The Museum of Fine Arts, on the other hand, offers 20,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years. Works by Claude Monet can be found there as well as Auguste Rodin, to whom a separate exhibition will be dedicated from November: True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism. The James Museum of Western + Wildilfe Art again shows the incomparable history and landscape of the (Wild) West and works of the Native Americans. The latest addition to the cultural portfolio is the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement: whether Tiffany lamp or handmade furniture, ceramics or woodcut prints, visitors can expect everything to do with U.S. arts and crafts there. It is the only museum in the world that deals exclusively with objects of everyday use from the post-industrial phase in the period from 1890 to 1930. However, St. Pete/Clearwater has much more to offer in the way of culture, so that St. Pete has earned its reputation as the secret cultural capital of Florida.
