St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is quickly becoming one of my favorite cities in the United States. We have been visiting here regularly for the past 20+ years. I remember what it was like before they modernized it and turned it into what is is now.
Activities
For years my favorite thing to do in St. Petersburg has been to go to the Saturday Morning Market. It's one of the best outdoor markets I have ever been to and seems to get better every year. They offer crafts, food, music, local shoppes, and so much more. It's where I tried frozen wine for the first time and where I rediscovered my love of crepes. They have a variety of different ethnic food options and a farmer's market with some of the best looking fruits and vegetables. It also always has a live band or entertainment playing with tables so you can eat your favorite snacks and be entertained. It's also very dog friendly so you will see lots of cute dogs there, too. Also, random but important, it is in a park located next to a stadium, so they allow you to use the restrooms in the stadium so you don't have to use port-o-pottys, which is almost unheard of for an outdoor market! And best of all, entry is free!
The St. Pete Pier- It is amazing now, with or without kids. A few years ago, the city redid the whole pier and made it even better. There are now great restaurants that offer spectacular views and shops along the pier. There is a fishing pier that you can fish off of and even a museum! You can watch all the yachts and amazing boats. The pier also hosts different fun events throughout the week. Adults can enjoy the unique art around the park and the kids watch airplanes take off and land which always entertains my kids. But my kids favorite part is the amazing Glazer Family Park. It might be the best park my kids have ever been too, with an area for little kids and big kids! There is also an amazing splash pad that offers umbrellas for shade and even offers free sunscreen! There is also an accessible free beach area that is calm so kids can easily play in the water. If you do go with kids your kids, it is nice because your kids can enjoy all the kid activities and mom and dad can enjoy snacks and beverages (including adult beverages) from the snack shop! They offer great amenities and even have a golf cart to take you to the end of the pier, if needed, because their pier is so big since it hosts all these awesome activities.
Great Explorations Children's museum- Thank you to Blippi (parents you will understand), my kids wanted to visit this museum. They were watching their episode and I told them it was near where we were going and they were adamant that they went there. It was a perfect museum for a 2 and 3 year old. We went during the week so it was not very busy and they could enjoy all the activities and run back and forth to see it all. It had a climbing area, different career areas (fire station, veterinarian's office, doctor's office, pizza parlor), a play beach area, and my kids even got to hold a lizard of some sort. So they loved it, but I would say it is best for kids under the age of 6 or 7, any older and I think they would find it too babyish.
Shopping- There is plenty of shopping to do in St. Petersburg. You can find anything from your high end, luxury shopping, to your local beachwear shops, to even some awesome resale shoppes! If you want to buy it, you can find it.
Grand Prix of St. Petersburg- If you happen to be there in early March, check out the Grand Prix events. Think of it like a mini Monaco- where they close down the streets and the race cars drive through the actual streets. There is the actual race day or you can go to the time trials and watch the cars zoom by!
My favorite restaurants:
1. Ceviche (might be my ultimate favorite restaurant anywhere)
It is a Spanish Style Restaurant that specializes in Tapas, Paella, and ceviche. We always get a bunch of small plates and share them along with a pitcher of Sangria and all leave feeling full and satisfied.
2. BellaBrava
Their pastas, their wines, and their bruschetta, all delicious, all I need to say.
What actually brought me to this restaurant is I saw a picture of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez eating here (I'm dating myself) and I thought if it was good enough for them, it would be good enough for me. But then what brought me back to this restaurant was their pasta that they would make in a giant wheel of Parmesan cheese and scrape the cheese out of it and it was to die for.
4. Ferg's Sports Bar
If you are in town for March Madness or any big sporting event, this is where you want to go. I actually think they are a baseball bar, but I have never been for a baseball game. So go for the sports, stay for the wings.
5. Acropolis Greek Taverna
If flaming cheese if your thing, try this restaurant (I'm also realizing most of my food choices involve cheese)!
6. The Taco Bus
Not an actual bus (anymore), but delicious tacos, nonetheless at a very reasonable price.
The best thing about Florida restaurants is that the majority of them have outdoor seating so you can enjoy the atmosphere along with the food. Each year we go back to St. Pete, there are more and more restaurants so I am sure there are many more delicious ones (I was just reading about a new one that specializes in Lobster Rolls, but haven't tried it), so go for yourself and let us know which delicious restaurants you stumble upon.
Where to stay
We have actually never stayed downtown, as we always do day trips from St. Pete Beach, but there are tons of hotels in the area if you wish to stay downtown. The prettiest hotel I have walked through is the Vinoy, but I remember maybe 10 or so years ago, the governor of Florida chose this hotel out of all hotels in Florida to get married at, so my guess would be beauty comes at a cost!
So if you are looking for a warm city that does not actually feel like a city and you can still find cheap parking, St. Petersburg is your city. The restaurants, the entertainment, the markets, the shopping, it has something for everyone- young and old alike.
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