Beachy, arty and outdoorsy St. Pete/Clearwater is everything families love about Florida holidays, and then some. The weather is warm and sunny right now and pretty much stays that way year round. Need more reasons to go? Take a look at our top ten…
White sand beaches, St. Pete/Clearwater
1. Add America’s best beaches to Florida holidays
Set on the west coast of Florida, St. Pete/Clearwater has no less than 35 miles of white sand beaches. If you want to know how lovely they are, everyone from TripAdvisor to Dr Beach is happy to tell you. In fact, several of the beaches here are regularly voted best in the US and one or two even top the world’s best beaches list.
Our pick of local beaches
- Try Caladesi Island State Park for the beach that bagged number two slot in Dr Beach’s list of Top 10 Beaches in the US 2022.
- Long and lively Clearwater Beach has been listed as one of the loveliest in the world.
- If you want a slice of swank with your sand, head to Belleair Beach. It’s trimmed with gorgeous waterfront mansions and a favourite with locals.
- Madeira Beach brings the beautiful and is also a near neighbour to John’s Pass for Old Florida style boardwalk buzz.
- Possibly the most famous in the area, St. Pete Beach was voted #1 in the US by TripAdvisor in 2021 and it’s easy to see why.
St. Pete/Clearwater holds the world record for most consecutive days of sunshine
2. Sunshine world record breaker
St. Pete/Clearwater holds the Guinness World Record for the longest consecutive run of sunshine days, 768 in total. And it’s not just sunny here, it’s warm too. Even January, the coldest month of the year, has average daily temperatures of 22°. So if you’re thinking winter sun breaks, this is where to find them.
Dali Museum, St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida
3. St. Pete/Clearwater has the art of Florida holidays
Beautiful beaches and endless sun are what you expect from Florida holidays, world class art collections probably come as more of a surprise. In 2022, Condé Nast Traveler named St. Pete/Clearwater “one of the top small US cities with big-time art scenes’. It’s not an exaggeration, as no fewer than seven art museums make their home here. And in addition to art in galleries, there are annual art festivals, art tours, incredible murals and astonishing local talent, which St. Pete/Clearwater is proud to nurture – and show off!
What to see in arty St. Pete/Clearwater
- The Dali Museum houses over 2,400 of the artist’s works, the largest collection outside Spain. The stunning museum building is as much part of the experience as the art, so set aside an afternoon for full immersion.
- An arty new addition, Fairgrounds St. Pete is a one-of-a-kind exploration of Floridiana from the ridiculous to the sublime. Take the journey with kids, they’ll love every dazzling second.
- Go from Floridiana to Americana at The James Museum of Western + Wildlife Art. Another St. Pete/Clearwater original, it’s a fascinating perspective on US culture and the work of local artists.
- The Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement (MAACM) is the only museum in the world dedicated to the history of the American Arts and Crafts movement, and it’s in downtown St. Petersburg.
- If you like murals, St. Pete/Clearwater has over 600 of them. Don’t worry if you miss the SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival in October, you can take the Pete Walking Mural Tour any time of year.
4. Direct UK flights from 4 November 2022
You’ll find St. Pete/Clearwater just 90 miles west of Orlando, set on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct from London to Tampa, flights take from 9 hours, and Tampa International Airport is about 20 minutes drive from downtown St. Petersburg.
Kayaking, St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida
5. St. Pete/Clearwater is the greatest outdoors
The great outdoors is seriously good fun in St. Pete/Clearwater. You can island hop to discover secret beaches. State Parks are the places to spot wildlife, explore unspoiled wildernesses and reconnect with nature. There are glorious waterways where you can kayak and canoe in the company of dolphins and manatee. And if you like your natural beauty a little tamed, this is the area where gorgeous gardens grow and invite you to explore.
Outdoor adventures you have to try
- Hop to Honeymoon Island State Park and wander walking trails, laze on silvery sands and meet the local gopher tortoise. Then catch the ferry on Honeymoon and sail to Caladesi Island State Park for some time on the #2 Best Beach in the US.
- For a wonder-filled two mile kayaking trail, visit Fort de Soto Park. If kids are too young to paddle a boat, they’ll have great fun paddling their toes in the warm, shallow waters here.
- Spend a day at Weedon Island Preserve and mix outdoor adventuring with learning about the area’s Native American history, indigenous culture and natural diversity.
- Feel like walking? Hit the Marquis Pinellas Trail between Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg. It’s 75-miles long, but you can do as little or as much as you like. And if you don’t want to hike, you can bike instead.
