St. Pete, Florida

Getting to St. Petersburg, St. Pete, The Burg:

You can fly into either Tampa Bay Airport (TPA) or Saint Pete/Clearwater Airport, both 30 minute drive away. I recommend renting a car for your adventure to the Burg. An Uber will cost you about $30 one way to take you downtown, and its 3 hours using public transportation. Rent a car.

What to do:
St. Pete is known for their murals and street art all around town, hundreds of them. Every Saturday at 10am Florida CraftArt does a street art tour. Visitors will hear the inside stories of the making of over 30 murals found in the four block tour. Who is Woo? Why Frida and Twiggy? Photo opps as a bird, a fish, a bug! The cost for the tour is $19 for adults, $11 for children ages 6-18, under 5 is free. Visit Florida CraftArt to reserve your spot.

Take a half day to visit The Dali Museum to view most comprehensive collection of Dalí's paintings outside of Europe. The building is surreal and has great views of the bay. You can even get a picture with a giant Dali mustache! The museum offers a free audio tour with admission and has docent guided tours on the hour throughout the day. Check out The Dali website for upcoming special exhibitions, they do not disappoint. 

The Morean Arts Center has a stunning collection of Dale Chihuly glasswork. The Collection includes Chihuly’s spectacular large-scale installations such as Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier created specifically for the Collection along with several popular series works including Macchia, Ikebana, Niijima Floats, Persians and Tumbleweeds which have thrilled audiences around the globe. Each space has been designed individually to complement each installation producing unique visual experiences. Visit their website for details on pricing, location and hours.

The Grand Central District - 1600-3100 Central Ave., is a great place to shop, eat, get a tattoo, or ride a bike. This area of town has some of the best eats in town and unusual shops to stroll in and out of. They have different types of events weekly for everyone. Check out their calendar of events, list of restaurants, and where to shop on this hip street.

Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Game at Tropicana Field. Rain or shine the Rays will play in their domed stadium. A small and nondescript stadium is a great place to get out of the rain and into the A/C for a game. Except for maybe opening day or playoff games this place is pretty empty, but a good time for baseball lovers. Check their schedule for game days.

My favorite eats in St. Pete:

Taco Bus

The Burg Bar & Grill

Old Key West

Urban Brew & BBQ

The Mill

Stillwater

The Cider Press

The Avenue

Specialty Grocery Shopping

Downtown St. Pete Saturday morning market - Every Saturday from October to May from 9am-2pm in the Rowdies (Soccer) Stadium parking lot you can pick up fresh fruits and veggies, hand made soaps, jewelry and artwork. The summer market takes place in Williams Park from June to August from 9am -1pm. 

Mazzaro's Italian Market - From fresh roasted coffee to delicious deli selections, gourmet baked goods to handmade pastas and specialty cheeses, Mazzaro’s is more than a one-of-a-kind Italian gourmet market – it’s one of Tampa Bay's favorite culinary destinations. For more information on this amazing culinary hot spot, visit their website.

Shep's Food Mart - It's more of a beer mecca. Located in the Historic Old Northeast, this place has an amazing selection of over 1200 beers and beverages. 2001 4th St NSaint Petersburg, FL 33704.

City Produce Fruit and Veggie Market - A simple fruit and vegetable stand located on 4th St. across from Trader Joes is a fantastic place to stop for fresh local goods. They also have some goods like olive oil and spices, as well as freshly made hummus, baklava, spinach pies and a selection of olives. They only take cash, but you won't need much because they keep their prices low. 2701 4th St N #101, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.

Where to Stay:

No hostels in St. Pete, so my suggestion is to look on AirBnb for an inexpensive place to rest your head. Take a look in the area near Central or Beach Ave.

The Venoy Renissance is the fancy place to stay in town. With beautiful views of Tampa Bay this historic hotel is located less than 1 mile from St. Pete Pier and The Dali Museum. Prices start at $209/night.

Bed and Breakfasts around town:

Beach Drive Inn

Watergarden Inn at the Bay

Larelle House Bed and Breakfast