I’ve lived in Florida twice during my life, once as a child and once as an adult. Both times, I lived in a small city not too far from Miami, which allowed me easy and regular access. While Miami is great to visit, especially with the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup, it is still my second favorite place in the Sunshine State.
St. Petersburg, located on Tampa Bay, is a chill version of Miami, with even better beaches. My visits introduced me to the many exciting things to do in this Floridian hidden gem. I’d never actually been to Florida’s Gulf Coast, and I was blown away by everything cool I had missed, from the stunning sunsets to the world-class art and pristine beaches.
What We Did At This Cooler-Than-Miami, Florida Gem
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDACredit:Â Shutterstock
While on my Florida adventure, I had the privilege of visiting many of St. Petersburg’s most underrated and hidden gem destinations. While most tourists opt to visit popular places like the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg’s downtown area, my journey took me off the beaten path to attractions that deserve more attention. For those looking for a Miami alternative in Florida, St. Petersburg is the place to go!
St. Petersburg Attractions:
Zen Glass Studio
FloridaRAMA
Shell Key Preserve
3 Daughters Brewing
Fort De Soto
Each of these can be a standalone gem and a good enough reason to visit St. Petersburg, other than being popular for golfing, boating, fishing, and beachgoing.
Zen Glass Studio
While exploring St. Petersburg, Florida, I discovered it is an artist’s paradise. A place that encapsulates this is Zen Glass Studio, where we took a glassworking class. While creating art is a passion, glassworking was something I never thought I’d have the courage to try. Fortunately, everyone there was extremely helpful to a newbie like me. With a little help, I was able to make a beautiful fish pendant! Others with me made things like cups, flowers, and animal figurines.
For those wearing prescription glasses like I do, I’d suggest wearing contacts for this one. To work with glass, you must wear eye protection that can be cumbersome over your original frames. Alongside the workshop, the studio has a gallery where you can see all the incredible pieces made by the professionals.
FloridaRAMA
As a historian, one of my favorite things to do while traveling is to visit museums. While the places I frequent tend to be more focused on archaeology, art museums also pique my interest. No art museum I’ve been to has ever been quite like FloridaRAMA…or as fun! Half art exhibition and half escape room, this museum is built inside like a Floridian community, complete with an ice cream “shop,” a projected view of Florida’s wetlands, an interactive stormchaser’s car, and a motel lobby.
As you journey through the winding rooms full of uniquely curated art that celebrate Florida’s culture, you learn more about the museum’s overarching story: that feline aliens have invaded this small town and that the ice cream “shop” is actually their spaceship. This kind of museum would be the ideal place for a first date: it’s fun, it has puzzles and interesting art, and it is interactive! There’s even a bird-watching scavenger hunt that’s great to complete in pairs.
Shell Key Preserve
You’ll hear it from me first: St. Pete’s beaches are better than Miami’s! Even some of the Miami alternative destinations, like Deerfield Beach (which I often went to while living in Florida), don’t compare. What makes St. Pete’s beaches amazing is the area’s high level of marine conservation. While traveling in St. Pete, Shell Key Preserve is one of the best places to appreciate the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast’s beaches. This island biome has sugar-white sand and turquoise water.
However, the vistas aren’t the only amazing thing you can find here. During my time there, I was able to identify a wide range of marine life, including horse conchs, scallops, and pinnate marine bivalves. The best way to appreciate this stunningly gorgeous area is through Get Up And Go Kayaking. Their clear-bottom kayaks offered me the chance to explore the gentle ocean waters between the city and the island. Not only did I enter into this marine space, but I got the chance to feel like a part of it. Plus, they gave me a sticker for my water bottle that now follows me on all of my adventures!
3 Daughters Brewing
For the young and young at heart, the best evening jaunt in St. Petersburg is 3 Daughters Brewing. Beer lovers will have a blast trying all the unique craft beers that this brewery has to offer. What really makes this activity stand out is its ambiance. The seating area not only has picnic tables and fairy lights but also a small patio where patrons can play beanbag toss. The brewery is a hotspot for young professionals, so this location is perfect for those new to the area or travelers who want to make new friends.
Fort De Soto
Fort De Soto Bike pathCredit: Beyond My Ken,  Wikimedia Commons
The last thing I did in the St. Pete area was e-biking at Fort De Soto using Bay E-Bikes. This park, famous for its beautiful beaches with the area’s characteristic white sand, is a delight for U.S. history lovers. The fort itself was built in 1898, but the area’s history spans hundreds of years. The Spanish conquistador, Hernando De Soto, began his expedition in this area in 1539. Later, the site was important during the Civil War.
E-bikes at Fort De Soto, St. Petersburg, FloridaCredit:Â Photo by Arianna Helene Winslow
Fort De Soto Multipurpose Trail
The park itself has 40,000 miles of trails, but the one I partially traveled on was the 9.5-mile Fort De Soto Multipurpose Trail, which runs the length of the park. This paved trail was the perfect route to see some of the park’s best features: the white sandy beaches, the hammock forests, the coastal dunes, and the massive historical fort.
Where We Stayed In St. Petersburg
During my adventure in the St. Petersburg area of Florida, we stayed at a gorgeous luxury hotel called The Hotel Zamora. Located in St. Pete Beach, this 4-star luxury hotel recently underwent a $7.5 million renovation to update its 64 guest rooms. This hotel features upscale Mediterranean-style designs and decor, making your stay feel like an international vacation. The rooms are spacious and bright, with plenty of room to unpack and unwind.
Amenities here include a gorgeous pool, a gym, and beach access. Relaxing in the water of the pool, listening to the area’s calm music, and seeing the palm trees swaying above was the perfect way to wind down after a long day of travel. They even have two restaurants, Azura Sundown Rooftop & Lounge and Azura Coastal Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Zamora. Best of all, their amenities (including the pool, which I loved) are their rooftop lounge, where the ocean and sunset views are unforgettable!
Where We Ate While In St. Petersburg
Billy’s Stone Crab, St. Petersburg, FloridaCredit:Â Photo by Arianna Helene Winslow
As to be expected from St. Pete’s maritime location, the seafood here is some of the most incredible I’ve had anywhere in the world. For this and to see the stunning ocean vistas, we went to Billy’s Stone Crab.
The fried scallops were the perfect menu item after spending the whole morning kayaking at Shell Key Preserve! For dinner, we went to two restaurants: Grace and Lolita’s. Each of these restaurants offers tourists and locals alike top-notch dining experiences.
Umbrellas at Grace, St. Petersburg, FloridaCredit:Â Photo by Arianna Helene Winslow
At Grace, a restaurant with a seasonal menu for each season of the year, we had fried artichokes with cheese and a delicious flatbread topped with vegetables and balsamic vinegar. What really drew us to Grace was its unique ambiance. The decor featured upside-down paper umbrellas, which gave this restaurant a strong artistic vibe that fit in with the rest of St. Pete. Plus, Grace is right near the beach! Tourists who spend the day having fun in the sun and in the waves can head here after their day.
Lolita’s, on the other hand, is a Mediterranean-style restaurant that specializes in tapas. It was at this restaurant that I got to have one of my favorite dishes of all time: muhammara. We also tried two of my other favorites, whipped feta and the Italian burrata, both of which were delicious! They have great outdoor seating areas, with an arbor that patrons can sit under for a magical, romantic feel.
While Miami is still great, St. Petersburg is, in my opinion, a much cooler Florida vacation spot!