St Petersburg & Clearwater Holidays

Art lovers will feel at home in St Petersburg. See some of Salvador Dali’s best works at The Dali Museum, snap pictures of Dale Chihuly’s amazing glass sculptures, or see up-and-coming works at the Morean Arts Center. If you’re travelling with kids, say hello to the rescue dolphins at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, or tour the Great Explorations Children’s Museum.

History lovers should make time for the fascinating St Petersburg Museum of History, while the Florida Holocaust Museum in Downtown is a moving place to visit. If you’re into nature, Sunken Gardens is a must-visit. It’s St Petersburg’s oldest ‘living museum’ at more than 100 years old, and you’ll find 50,000 tropical plants, waterfalls and a butterfly house. And Florida Botanical Gardens, just south of Clearwater, has more than 25 gardens, including butterfly, rose, daylily and tropical sections, for horticulture fans to explore.

Book a holiday to Clearwater and you’ll be spoiled for beaches. This pocket of Florida is home to two of the USA’s best beaches – Clearwater Beach (voted number one in the USA and number six in the world by a leading review site) and St Pete Beach (the USA’s second-best beach). The former is bustling, with a busy BeachWalk promenade, while the latter feels cosy and charming. Families will love Fort De Soto Park or Pass-a-Grille Beach, where you can safely paddle, go canoeing or wander along nature trails. Treasure Island has a nostalgic feel, and it’s made for kite-flying.

Just offshore, Honeymoon Island State Park has serene beaches that remain undeveloped alongside observation decks and a nature centre where you can spot seabirds. Caledesi Island State Park is another natural gem. It’s only accessible by boat, but you’ll be rewarded with white sands and pristine blue waters if you make the journey.

This coastline is often called the ‘Gulp Coast’ thanks to the abundance of craft beer breweries that you’ll find here. As you explore Florida’s answer to California’s wine country, make sure you try a Florida Weisse – Tampa Bay’s most popular beer. Must-visit pioneers in St Petersburg include Green Bench Brewing Co in the Downtown area, Mastry’s Brewing Co on St Pete Beach, and hidden gem Dissent Craft Brewing Company, best described as cosy and minimal.

Need some tasty bites to line your stomach first? Downtown St Petersburg is home to gems like trattoria-style BellaBrava, new American Brick & Mortar, and seafood institution Sea Salt St Pete. Venture north to Clearwater and you’ll also be spoilt for choice. Visit Island Way Grill on Pasadees Key for Japanese-style seafood hand-caught by staff. Or sample delicious food as you watch the sun sink from Caretta on the Gulf, just steps from Clearwater Beach.

Holidays to Clearwater and St Petersburg are best planned in March to May. It’s warm – temperatures hover in the mid-to-high twenties – and most days are dry, apart from the odd short shower. It’s a popular time to visit, so the cities are likely to be busy. If you want to avoid the rain, December to February is typically dry with clear, sunny skies. They’re also the coolest months, but temperatures rarely dip below the mid-teens and it’s still warm enough to swim.

St Petersburg and Clearwater are at their hottest between June and August, when temperatures can climb into the mid-thirties. It’s the wettest season, too, with short showers most days, and the humidity can feel uncomfortable. Autumn – also hurricane season – can feel very hot, but October and November are usually pleasant and the quietest time in the cities.