As some of you may know we recently moved to Florida! And while I absolutely love living here it is also the perfect place to vacation! We currently live in Seminole which is right in between Clearwater & St. Pete but they are definitely cities close enough that you need to visit both on the same trip.
We have learned so many fun places to check out in the area and I just want to share our favorites with you! But honestly there are so many more reasons to visit this area.
Clearwater
1.Clearwater Beach
Hands down the most popular beach in this area is Clearwater Beach. People really do come from miles around because of the miles of white sandy beach here! It is amazing and 100% a place I recommend visiting. That being said, I do have a few tips for making the most of your time!
Get there EARLY! Parking right at the beach fills up fast so looking for a parking garage a few blocks off the beach may be your best option. That being said, even the beach itself fills up quickly! How can miles of sandy shore fill up quickly? Well, when you are one of the most popular beaches in Florida people flock to you!
Bring your own chairs & umbrellas if possible. They do have chairs and umbrellas to rent but I have never thought they were worth the money. If you are traveling and don’t want to buy the chairs only to leave them behind then by all means rent. But for us it was cheaper to buy some cheaper beach chairs and a cheap umbrella than to rent chairs everyday for two weeks!
And definitely bring EXTRA sunscreen! Especially if you are traveling to Florida in the summer! The way that the sun is angled here and hits the water people can get sunburned in less than 15 minutes on certain days at the beach. So check the weather and bring double the sunscreen you may normally use at other beaches.
2.Clear Sky
This restaurant is just a block up from the beach and it is worth the drive into Clearwater all on its own. We have eaten here breakfast, lunch, and dinner and never been disappointed! Every single breakfast item I have tried is a win and my favorite lunch is definitely the pizza! For dinner order a wonderful steak with twice baked potatoes. You can’t go wrong!
3.Florida Botanical Gardens
If you’ve followed our blog for a while now you know I absolutely love a good botanical garden. And the Florida Botanical Garden is definitely worth checking out. The cool thing about this garden is that it is basically a two in one! The Florida Botanical Gardens and Heritage Village are on the same property and both free to the public. So you can enjoy the history of the Heritage village after seeing the beauty at the gardens!
And be prepared to see some gators as they love hanging out in the ponds here!
St. Petersburg
4.St. Pete Pier
Again, starting with the popular attraction, but so worth it! St. Pete Pier offers amazing food, drinks, and views. With a little beach area, a playground for the kids, and a fishing area it has everything you need! We love walking the pier and go there quite often.
If you aren’t big on walking but want to see the pier hop on the free tram that takes you from one end to the other! And stop off in the middle to grab a cold beer as well.
5.Free Trolley Rides
The Free Trolley Rides in St. Pete are one of my favorite things to do! The trolley takes you around the town and the drivers tell you all about the buildings and attractions. It really is a full on guided tour experience completely for free! And these trolly drivers are hilarious every single time. Whenever someone comes to visit us we take them on the trolley and they always love it too!
6.Central Ave.
Central Ave is where you will find the wall murals, bars, and restaurants that tourists and locals dream of. The nightlife is fantastic and there is always something going on in this part of town! There truly is something for everyone here. You want a mimosa brunch? Got that! You want drag queen karaoke?! Got that too! Just want some sweets at a cupcake shop? Yep! Central Ave. has you covered.
7.Treasure Island/John’s Pass
Not to far from St. Pete is Treasure Island and John’s Pass which are two super fun parts of town! Both offer a ton of restaurants with beach views and lots of shopping! John’s Pass village is home to a beautiful boardwalk and some of my favorite dining experiences. You do not want to miss the fun at these two destinations!
