Visit Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Petersburg
Clearwater
Powder-soft, sugar-white sand, warm Gulf waters and fiery sunsets are only a few reasons millions of travelers named Clearwater Beach their favorite beach in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards in 2016, 2018, and 2019. Laid-back Clearwater Beach is known for its namesake stretch of soft, white sand, which draws visitors year-round for jet-skiing, parasailing, and stand-up paddleboarding in its calm waters. Cyclists and rollerbladers glide along a winding beachfront promenade lined with casual seafood restaurants and cafes. Come sunset, Pier 60 hosts a nightly festival with street performers and craft vendors.
Get inspired at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Not only home to local starlettes, Winter and Hope, of the popular Dolphin Tale movies, but it also takes you into the world of marine life rescue. Dive right in and learn about their ongoing work of rescue, rehabilitation and release. Take a guided tour, a boat ride and be sure you save time for their daily educational presentations!
Tampa
Tampa, with its mix of historic architecture and modern landmarks, it is a city with culture infused with Cuban and Spanish flavors, vibrant business districts and beautiful waterway. Tampa’s downtown is alive with urban parks including Tampa Riverwalk, with its hip bars and innovative restaurants and amazing restored turn of the century buildings. There is no shortage of things to do in the Tampa area! Home to Busch Gardens, ampa is a great city for all ages.
Tampa remains a welcoming place for those seeking fun, opportunity and a chance to try new things.
While it’s only a short, 30-minute drive to the beaches, Tampa’s real strengths lie in its city life.
Ybor City, which was created around the Cuba cigar-rolling industry in the late 1800s, is now world renowned as a hot nightlife spot, its old red brick buildings now filled with lively music, cocktails and late-night dancing.
If you’re into hiking, biking, paddling or bird-watching, hit one of the Tampa area’s many parks and preserves, such as Hillsborough River State Park in Thonotosassa or Lettuce Lake Park in north Tampa.
There’s also plenty of adventures to be had in Tampa’s museums and theme parks, well known to visitors from across the country.
Busch Gardens has plenty of rides, shows and attractions to fill up a whole weekend and the nearby Adventure Island water park offers daring drops and relaxing wading pools.
The impressive Tampa Museum of Art is directly next to the Glazer Children’s Museum, which makes for great outing for the entire family.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is a city on Florida's gulf coast, part of the Tampa Bay area. It's known for its pleasant weather, making it popular for golfing, boating, fishing and beachgoing. Its waterfront parks host the Salvador Dali Museum, featuring surrealist works of art; the Museum of Fine Arts, with works ranging from ancient to contemporary; and Mahaffey Theater, home of the Florida Orchestra. And be sure to swing by the Chiluly Collection on Central Avenue to witness mind-blowing glasswork.
With it’s top rated restaurants and beautiful Fort De Soto Park, this waterfront escape is a perfect family getaway with so many things to do!
St. Petersburg, which glimmers between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, is known for its warm weather and for holding the title of “most consecutive days with sunshine” at 768 days!
Downtown St. Petersburg is the city’s heart, home to great shopping, restaurants, bars and attractions. After making a stop to check out the largest collection of Dali’s work outside of Spain, swing by the Chihuly Collection on Central Avenue to witness mind-blowing glasswork.
