What can you do in St. Petersburg, Florida, if not have fun? St. Petersburg, also known as the Sunshine City, has many attractions. It’s just a short drive from Tampa or Clearwater, both on the Tampa Bay side of the Gulf of Mexico. There is an abundance of things to see in St. Petersburg FL. You can start by touring secret gardens, passing by museums and murals, and trying restaurants and breweries in the town.
Below are 10 exciting places that will make your experience in St. Petersburg memorable.
The Salvador Dali Museum
The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, has the world’s most incredible collection of Dali’s work outside of Europe. The Morse family gave the majority of the museum’s collection in 1982 when it first opened its doors. The Dali Museum in St. Pete houses more than 2000 drawings, sculptures, photographs, papers, and oil paintings, all part of Salvador’s work, spanning his entire career.
The collection has eight of Dali’s 18 original masterpieces. An glass dome and a spiral stairway to the museum’s top makes it an architectural marvel. The museum is open from 11 am to 6 pm on Wednesdays through Sundays and costs $25. Tickets for $12.50 are available from 5 pm to 8 pm on Thursdays. Digital tours of the museum are also available. You can experience free fun activities in St. Petersburg by visiting the museum gardens.
Skyway Fishing Pier
A visit to the Skyway Fishing Pier is one of the ways to spend your day in St. Petersburg if you love fishing. You’ll find a fishing pier that extends the whole length of the bridge at this Florida State Park near the entrance of Tampa Bay.
The St. Pete pier is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has a restroom, refreshments, and a bait store. Fishing in the 65 artificial reefs off the bridge is a favorite pastime for snook, grouper, mackerel, snapper, and sea bass fisherman.
The pier’s origins can be traced back to 1980 when a cargo ship crashed into the historic Sunshine Skyway Bridge and destroyed its pilings. When the new bridge was being constructed, the authorities decided to turn the old one into a fishing pier. The four-mile-long pier was built in 1994, making it the world’s most extensive fishing pier! The bridge has two entrances, the North and South Piers, respectively. Bird watchers, kite boarders, kayakers, and windsurfers love it, too.
St. Petersburg Beach
If you love the powdery shorelines and spectacular sunsets of the gulf coast, then you would not like to miss a visit to St. Pete Beach, where you can take a dip in the green shallows or scour the beach for shells.
Kayaking, windsurfing, or parasailing are popular options for adrenaline junkies and the adventurous. The gulf winds that blow into St. Pete Beach all year round keeps the warm water ready for swimming. St. Pete Beach has public restrooms and rent chairs and cabanas. However, you should bring lunch, since there is no food available at the beach.
Sunken Gardens
You can escape the bustle of the city by visiting Sunken Gardens, which is a lovely floral paradise nestled in the middle of the metropolis that is Saint Petersburg. More than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers and some of the oldest tropical plants in the nation can be found in St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum, which opened in 1917.
There are winding trails, flowing waterfalls, and beautiful landscapes to explore and learn about exotic and tropical plants from across the globe, making the gardens a fantastic location for weddings and other special occasions. The Sunken Gardens provide guided garden tours and other horticultural activities for guests’ enjoyment throughout the year.
Mahaffey Theater
At the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, you’ll find the Mahaffey Theater, a 2,000-seat music hall that’s reminiscent of a bygone era but with modern acoustics. Attending a performance at the Mahaffey Theater on a date can be a romantic experience in and of itself. Located in downtown St. Petersburg, the Mahaffey Theater performances include Broadway tours, pop and rock concerts, comedy acts, and classical music.
With views of Tampa Bay, you can take your date for a walk around the waterfront after enjoying some of the fine arts of St Pete.
Fort De Soto
If you are a history buff on a St Petersburg tour, you’ve got to visit Fort de Soto. The fort, named after the Spanish adventurer Hernando de Soto, was built during the American Civil War to keep Tampa Bay closed off from the rest of the world. It was finished in 1900 and abandoned 23 years later but was reopened as a public park in 1962 after serving as a bombing range during the Second World War.
The Quartermaster’s Museum is an excellent place to visit if museums are on your list of free things to do. To get a better perspective of the Gulf of Mexico, you may even go inside one of the battery buildings. Entrance is free, but parking costs $5 per day, seven days a week, beginning at 7 am and ending at 10 pm. The neighboring beaches may be visited after exploring Fort de Soto.
Don CeSar Hotel
The Don CeSar Hotel, built in 1928, is often referred to as the “pink castle.” Include a visit to this opulent hotel on your list of things to do in St. Petersburg, Florida. A day ticket is available for individuals interested in accessing the pool, beach, fitness center, bathrooms, and showers for $40.
The hotel’s 241 rooms start at $279 per night if you’re interested in staying. If you’re seeking ultimate luxury and leisure in St. Pete, Florida, this is the place to stay. During the Jazz Age, the club was a playground for the wealthy elite, with prior visitors including Fitzgerald, Al Capone, and Franklin Roosevelt.
If you’re hungry, stop by Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor or the Sea Porch Café where you can relax and enjoy the views of one of the many St Petersburg Florida beaches. Alternatively, for an upmarket dining experience, visit Maritana and the Row Bar. If you’re looking to unwind poolside, check out the Beachcombers Bar & Grill.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is a great place to go if you love outdoor activities. In St. Pete, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, is a 245-acre protected preserve. There are water fountains, bathrooms, picnic tables, playgrounds, and kayak rentals available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Saturday from 7 am to 6 pm. Adults pay $3, while children pay $1.50. On Saturdays, tram tours are offered at 1 pm and 10 am for $5 adults and $3 children.
There are 3 miles of trails, several of which are ADA-friendly. For permanently injured birds, the nature preserve has a bird of prey aviary that park staff members care for at all times. You may witness a variety of habitats in the nature preserve, including marshes, swamps, pine flat woods, hammocks, and sand scrubs.
Weedon Island Preserve
The Weedon Island Preserve is a vast natural reserve and coastline system extending over 3,000 acres in Pinellas County near Tampa Bay, formed to safeguard and educate the public about the region’s natural and cultural resources. It is home to various aquatic and upland habitats that support various native plant and animal species.
The preserve provides recreational and outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and bird viewing. The Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Ecological Heritage Center educates visitors about preserving natural, cultural, and archeological history via exhibitions created by local artists and photographers. The Weedon Island Preserve is open seven days from sunrise to sunset.
Chihuly Collection Museum
If you are in downtown St. Petersburg searching for entertaining things to do, then Dale Chihuly Museum should be one of your stops. The museum opened in 2010 and is dedicated to the works of Dale Chihuly, a glass artist who pioneered the glass art movement.
Chihuly is well renowned for his large-scale, vibrant glass sculptures, such as the Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier that hangs in the foyer. Chihuly’s art has been shown in museums worldwide, including the Louvre, Chihuly Over Venice, and Chihuly in Jerusalem!
It costs only $20 to access the museum, which is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. Alternatively, you could buy a St. Pete Art Experience ticket that includes the Morean Art Museums entrance.
There are numerous amazing places to visit and enjoy in St. Petersburg!
Whether you are looking for an apartment near the shoreline or just a beautiful apartment with access to convenient amenities, then Common has got your back. When you live at the Wayland by Common, located in downtown St. Petersburg, you’ll have access to the best of St. Pete living.