St. Petersburg, Florida is a destination where metropolitan polish meets lazy days at the beach, making it one of the most unique cities in Florida. Located on a peninsula along Florida’s West Coast, St. Petersburg is home to some of the best beaches in Florida. Bordered on the west by the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and by Tampa Bay to the East, if you are looking to steal away and relax, there is no better place than the miles of white sand that comprises the beaches of the third largest metropolitan area of Florida.
Ft. DeSoto State Park
Ft. DeSoto State Park is home to America’s No. 1 Beach in 2005, and remains a perennial favorite of locals and tourists. The historical state park boasts miles of white sand, a fishing pier, an old fort, and for pet lovers, a dog beach where dogs romp in the blue-green waters of the Gulf. Visitors pedal their bikes or leisurely stroll along one of the many paths that wind throughout the park. Or, for the more adventurous, reserve a campsite or rent a kayak and explore the vast network of mangroves and shallows surrounding Ft. DeSoto.
Pass-a-Grille Beach
While Ft. DeSoto may be one of the best beaches in America, there is no other beach quite as picturesque as Pass-a-Grille Beach. Located on a spit of land at the southwestern tip of the peninsula, Pass-a-Grille is a unique community of locally owned shops, restaurants, homes and art galleries quaintly gathered on the waterfront. Local fisherman fish the Gulf’s bounty from the jetty while residents and tourists bask in the Florida sun and collect various species of seashells. Truly, Pass-a-Grille Beach has something for everyone.
One of Pass-a-Grille’s more unique dining offerings is the Seaside Cafe. Diners can enjoy a beach-side breakfast at this simple eatery where prices are reasonable and the food is plentiful. Many other restaurants, from traditional to fine cuisine, afford visitors varied dining options.
St. Pete Beach
Just up the road from Pass-a-Grille Beach, St. Pete Beach is the home of the historical Don CeSar Beach Resort. This hotel, known as the Pink Castle, is one of St. Petersburg’s most famous icons and offers a host of amenities including a spa, two pools, day sailing and children’s activities. Besides the Don CeSar, several beach resorts line St. Pete Beach along with locally-owned restaurants and beach shops.
Whether it’s a day at the beach or a week, make St. Petersburg one of your Florida destinations and you will soon see why the city consistently ranks at the top of the list for best beaches.
