Exciting Things To Do In St. Petersburg, Florida

St Petersburg, Florida

St Petersburg and Clearwater have some of the best beaches in the country. Soft sandy beaches coupled with incredible emerald green coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico have given St Pete beaches international recognition. Incorporating in 1903, St Petersburg is considered one of the older cities in Florida. History has brought many cultural platforms to the city to complement its pristine beaches. This makes visiting St Petersburg a must destination when in Florida.

What To Do In St. Petersburg, Florida

Beaches in St Petersburg

If there is one cannot-miss activity in St Petersburg is visiting as many beaches as possible. Moreover, each beach offers a different atmosphere and vibe making finding a favorite beach a challenge. However, for locals, and semi-locals like us. As a result, Fort Desoto Park has been the top choice for us to go back at any opportunity.  Although this may be a matter of taste we remain biased on our love of Fort Desoto Park! The following is a summary of the beaches in the area

Fort De Soto Park

As the largest park in Pinellas County, Fort Desoto Park is comprised of 1,135 acres. Additionally, Fort De Soto is made up of four small islands, or keys, that are interconnected. The park is known for its white sand and emerald green calm waters. To top it off there is also a wonderful playground with a pirate theme for children.

Amenities in Fort Desoto Park

• 2 fishing piers
• Restrooms and outdoor shower facilities
• Campground
• Boat ramp
• Doggy beach
• Covered picnic areas
• Concessions
• Ferry services to Egmont and Shell Keys

Caladesi Island State Park

Caladesi Island is one of the few barrier islands that have not been disturbed with real estate development. Experience pure Florida at its best in Caladesi Island Park with 3 miles of kayaking and 3 miles of the nature trail. A ferry connecting Caladesi Park to Honeymoon Beach departs and returns numerous times a day. Interestingly there was no detachment between the two places. This is until the hurricane of 1921 separated Caladesi Island from Honeymoon Beach.

Amenities in Caladesi Island State Park 

• Restrooms and shower facilities
• Children playground with covered shelter for parents
• For boaters, there is a marina with 108 slips
• Picnic pavilion
• Giftshop and food concession at Caladesi Cafe
• Ranger station offers free beach wheelchairs

Arts and Museums in St, Petersburg, Florida

St Petersburg is a vibrant city occupied with a culture-rich community that boasts some of the more unique art scenes around the world.  The love of arts and cultural events fills the air in St Petersburg. That includes a collection of performing art centers, museums, art galleries, and artists, and craftsmen at work.

All things considered, visiting St Petersburg offers a most unique exploring the history of the West Coast of Florida. That includes the widely diverse museums, arts, and cultural centers of St. Petersburg, FL. Furthermore, there are also wonderful venues for modern art enthusiasts. The mere variety of the museum listed below is a perfect example of the distinct diversity in St. Petersburg’s art world.

Dali Museum St Petersburg, FL

After living on the east coast of Florida for many years I was surprised to discover the existence of Salvador Dali’s museum in St. Petersburg. that is because I have always thought that the works of masters like Dali and Picasso can only be found in famous museums. Most likely in European museums like the Louver. In fact, the Dali museum is enormously popular and worldly recognized. The museum boasts a permanent display of the largest collection of Dali’s artwork. There are over 2,400 of them.

Museum of Fine Arts St Petersburg, Florida

St Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts is one of the oldest and well-established art centers in Florida. The museum was founded by Margaret Acheson Stuart, an art enthusiast. The museum was officially opened in 1965. However, there has been numerous expansion and renovation throughout the years. Comparatively, the St Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts is considered the most important museum in Westcoast Florida. After all, the museum covers the arts and artifacts of the past 4,000 years. That includes the works of masters like Monet, Renoir, and Paul Cezanne.

The Morean Art Center

The Morean Art Center is an exceptionally beautiful museum dating back to 1917 when it was known as the Art Center of St Petersburg. The art collections embrace contemporary arts by the artist from all over the country and world. Some of the most internationally renowned artists are Duncan McClellan, Babs Reingold, Jasper Jones, and Ken Kaneko. There is also a permanent exhibition displaying the amazing arts of Dale Chihuly. The Chihuly Collection can be visited at the Morean Art Center located at 720 Central Ave in Downtown St Petersburg.  Dale Chihuly has pioneered and revolutionized the art of glass sculpturing around the world. Alongside the Chihuly Collection, the museum offers many other exhibits as well as many interesting art classes all year long.