What to do in St. Pete

For me, the weekends are for getting away and experiencing something new. As you have probably guessed, I love a good Florida road trip. A recent trip landed me in St. Petersburg, Florida, a waterfront city full of history, colorful art, and an eclectic mix of food and drink. Here’s my one-day itinerary for taking on St. Pete. 

Dali Museum

The Dali is known as an Artist’s Museum because of its dedication to one artist, Salvador Dali. Explore his quirky mind by browsing room by room of his various works of art. And make sure you head outside to get a glimpse of the Wish Tree as well as the artsy garden. You will also get a great view of the beautiful architecture that makes this museum even more one-of-a-kind.

Haslam’s Book Store

Bookworm or not, Haslam’s Book Store is worth a visit. It is Florida’s Largest New & Used Bookstore and honestly seems to go on forever. Opened by the Haslam family during the depression in 1933, the store has grown to 30,000 square feet with over 300,000 books. Don’t get lost…

Street Art

Just driving down Central Avenue you will probably pass at least 100 different colorful murals. I was honestly surprised by all the art, but it made it even more fun to walk down the street, hopping in and out of all the bars and restaurants.

Eat and Drink 

Lined with breweries, wine shops, and eateries, Central Avenue is the place to be when you visit St. Pete. It’s not hard to find something to quench your thirst or satisfy your hunger. 

Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, you’ll feel like family. It has a cool neighborhood feel and plenty of brews, wines, and sparkles to choose from. 

Taphouse 61, a warm and friendly atmosphere that eases you into relaxation. Plus, they had my absolute favorite cider on tap, Cider Boys Peach County. 

Annata, it can be hard to find a good Italian restaurant these days unless you are in New York, Boston or Chicago, so when you find one you feel like you are winning. This restaurant is located downtown, near the water. Luckily it wasn’t too unbearably hot by the time we stopped in for dinner, so we sat outside, and people watched. Need a recommendation on what to order, the Bolognese hands down. One of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had.

Have you visited the St. Pete / Clearwater area before? What were some of your favorite spots?