Once a sleepy coastal city where retirees congregated on green benches lining the streets, Tampa’s neighboring town now draws entrepreneurs, painters, and travelers\u2014from beach lovers to art aficionados. (Retirees have a lot more fun too.)\n<\/p>\n
Emily Elwyn relocated to St. Petersburg along with scads of other Gen-Xers and millennials who’ve helped invigorate this town. “So much of what people want is what we already have: a walkable downtown<\/a>, front-porch neighborhoods, funky old buildings, and access to the arts, parks, and recreation,” she says. Not to mention the fact that beaches are minutes away<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Elwyn serves as president of the board of directors at Preserve the ‘Burg, a nonprofit that leads city tours for locals and tourists every Saturday. From the Historic Old Northeast neighborhood, with its inviting bungalows, to the business center along the marina, where new additions and million-dollar condos are popping up, St. Petersburg feels both historic and emergent.\n<\/p>\n Locals say the recent boom has centered along Beach Drive (facing the bay) and Central Avenue (lined with galleries, bars, and boutiques). Here are the places you can’t miss as you get to know this emerging town.<\/p>\n What To Do Famed artist Dale Chihuly chose St. Pete for this collection. Adding to the cachet of Central Avenue, the Morean Arts Center is a spot where locals can take classes and tourists can watch glassblowing demos. The center’s Chihuly collection (a trove of fantastical blown-glass creations by Dale Chihuly) moved inside a new gallery designed to help the viewer appreciate every curl and spire. The artist reportedly chose St. Petersburg because of its commitment to art and arts education. Gallery owner and multimedia artist Chad Mize even designed a popular T-shirt that proudly proclaims, in bold lettering, this city’s place among the world’s biggest cultural hubs: “Paris, London, Tokyo, St. Pete.”\n<\/p>\n “Originally, it was tongue-in-cheek, but we actually are kind of in that league,” said Mize, who has sold more than 60,000 items with his World Tour design. “We are definitely an arts city in terms of culture and desirability.”\n<\/p>\n moreanartscenter.org<\/a>, 719 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n Shop Central Avenue <\/p>\n Shoppers along Central Avenue can browse through the curated housewares at ZaZoo’d, snag affordable handmade jewelry at SaltLight Art, and find on-trend fashions under $60 at Misred Outfitters. Stroll past the murals that decorate refurbished buildings, some of which Mize painted after he moved to St. Pete, attracted by its heritage and potential for growth. “I loved the kitsch of it, the neon signs, the roadside-attraction aspect, and also the water,” he said. “Now there’s just so much\u2014new restaurants and more stuff to do.”\n<\/p>\n Beyond Central Avenue, the pastel-colored row of beachy Eighth Avenue features shops like Bamboozle and Etc., which are both brimming with stylish coastal wares.\n<\/p>\n zazood.com<\/a>, 631 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n saltlightartboutique.com<\/a>, 1916 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33712\n<\/p>\n bemisred.com<\/a>, 615 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n facebook.com\/bamboozle.etc<\/a>, 105 8th Ave., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706\n<\/p>\n Ricky Watts’ Eye of the Storm mural on First Avenue North. Explore The Fine Arts <\/p>\n Like Central Avenue, Beach Drive has done its part to spur the city’s renaissance. The Museum of Fine Arts, which anchors this thoroughfare with neoclassical grandeur, is approaching its 60th anniversary. Its handsome interiors are reminiscent of a grand old estate, one where there just happens to be a Monet hanging on the wall. (It’s one of his Houses of Parliament paintings, just in case you’re wondering.)\n<\/p>\n mfastpete.org<\/a>, 255 Beach Drive, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n Experience Sunken Gardens <\/p>\n The Sunken Gardens are home to iconic Florida flamingos. Only a few blocks away, a botanical wonderland called Sunken Gardens hides in the middle of downtown. This landscape\u2014more than a century old\u2014will lure you into a maze of towering palms, fountains of pink bougainvillea, and manicured gardens. People come from all over the country to admire the fluttering tops of bamboo stalks that grow as tall as palm trees. You can also visit the animals that call the gardens home, such as their flock of flamingos.\n<\/p>\n sunkengardens.org<\/a>, 1825 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33704\n<\/p>\n See The Works Of Dal\u00ed <\/p>\n Make time to stop by one of St. Petersburg’s most amazing jewels: the stunning home for works by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dal\u00ed. The Dal\u00ed Museum overlooks the marina and faces the renovated Duke Energy Center for the Arts\u2014The Mahaffey Theater, which hosts world-class concerts, ballets, and more. Worth a trip for the architecture alone, The Dal\u00ed invites visitors to climb an elegant spiral stairway to see masterworks housed on the third floor and to enjoy water and sky views through an undulating window on the way up.\n<\/p>\n Take in the Dal\u00ed Alive 360\u00b0 immersive experience, where you will step into the startling surreal landscapes in the new Dal\u00ed Dome. In the Avant-garden, you can pose with a mustache sculpture or sit on an oozing green bench that looks like it came straight out of a Dal\u00ed painting.\n<\/p>\n thedali.org<\/a>, One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n themahaffey.com<\/a>, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n Spend The Day In Pass-A-Grille <\/p>\n On a perfect day\u2014temps in the low 80s, no humidity, fluttering palms\u2014 it can be tough to find a parking spot on Gulf Way, which runs along the beachfront in the historic Pass-a-Grille neighborhood. The powder-soft white sand<\/a> and turquoise-streaked water are worth enduring a momentary traffic jam. Across from Eighth and Ninth Avenues, a happy, banana yellow hole-in-the-wall called Paradise Grille serves sunbathers from breakfast until dinnertime. It’s flanked on weekends by the Suntan Art Mart, where you can find beach-themed creations and estate jewelry.\n<\/p>\n paradisegrille.com<\/a>, 900 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706\n<\/p>\n suntanart.org\/art-mart<\/a>\n<\/p>\n Explore The Barrier Islands <\/p>\n At the dead-end at Merry Pier, there’s an old bait shop where you can book fishing charters. Hop on the shuttle to Shell Key, an undeveloped barrier island. After a 10-minute boat ride, the captain will drop you off where you’re free to snorkel, sunbathe, dolphin-watch, and collect shells<\/a> until the shuttle picks you up a few hours later.\n<\/p>\n merrypier.com<\/a>, 801 Pass a Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706\n<\/p>\n shellkeyshuttle.com<\/a>, 801 Pass a Grille Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706\n<\/p>\n Where To Eat Credit: Robbie Caponetto<\/p>\n Clusters of diners bustle by to meet friends at eateries like Red Mesa Cantina, which blends Latin and Caribbean flavors in small plate dishes, ceviche, and tacos. Feast on bowls, burritos, and specialty tacos, and wash it down with cocktails from the tequila bar. After dinner, locals take their dogs out for nightly walks, and places like Ocean Blue Galleries stay open late into the evening. St. Petersburg seems less like a typical resort town and more like a bayside neighborhood where visitors can take up residence and feel at home, if only for the weekend.\n<\/p>\n redmesacantina.com<\/a>, 128 3rd St. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n oceanblue.gallery\/st-petersburg-fl<\/a>, 284 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701<\/p>\n Sample The Changing Menu At Tryst Gastro Lounge <\/p>\n The Dal\u00ed draws visitors from around the world. Have dinner at Tryst Gastro Lounge on Beach Drive, and you might hear Spanish, French, or Italian accents coming from nearby tables.\n<\/p>\n Enjoy the ambiance as well as Tryst’s frequently changing menu that promises fresh surprises every time you visit. Order a cocktail, and join couples lounging beneath umbrellas at sidewalk tables. (Try the Tryst: Deep Eddy vodka, muddled strawberry, raspberry, lemon, and elderflower liquor.) Relax under the indoor twinkling light strands. They complement the illuminated facade of the Museum of Fine Arts, located just across the street, where banners highlight the current exhibit.\n<\/p>\n dinetryst.com<\/a>, 240 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n Unwind At Chill <\/p>\n End the day with dinner on historic Corey Avenue at the relaxed Chill Restaurant & Bar. (Order the espresso-rubbed beef tenderloin.) Enjoy drinks on the patio or go for a meal. Chill serves weekend brunch<\/a> in addition to lunch and dinner.\n<\/p>\n chillstpetebeach.com<\/a>, 357 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706<\/p>\n Dine With A View <\/p>\n Take a seat at the rooftop bar at Hurricane Seafood Restaurant for a seagull’s view of the beach scene. You can also enjoy wild-caught seafood<\/a> in one of the restaurant’s three dining levels. The nearby Brass Monkey also offers an impressive Gulf vista, along with a tangy Grouper Reuben.<\/p>\n thehurricane.com<\/a>, 809 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706\n<\/p>\n facebook.com\/thebrassmonkeypag<\/a>, 709 Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, FL 33706\n<\/p>\n Celebrate With A Toast <\/p>\n Credit: Robbie Caponetto<\/p>\n Don’t leave St. Pete without swinging back downtown for a drink along Central Avenue, which pulses with live music at a string of bars where tables spill onto the sidewalk. Check out The Mandarin Hide, a sophisticated speakeasy-style place, or head to Mastry’s Bar, a local landmark. They’re both great spots to toast St. Petersburg while planning your return.\n<\/p>\n mandarinhide.com<\/a>, 231 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n visitstpeteclearwater.com<\/a>, 233 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701<\/p>\n Where To Stay The Don CeSar hotel has been welcoming guests since 1928. Despite the city’s charms, the sand and surf of St. Pete Beach will eventually lure you away. The flamingo-hued Don CeSar hotel, known as the Pink Palace, has been welcoming guests to this barrier island since the 1920s. The Pink Palace is the centerpiece of St. Pete Beach. Opened in 1928, The Don Cesar celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2018 but still feels updated, with a new lobby and room renovations completed over the past decade.\n<\/p>\n doncesar.com<\/a>, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706\n<\/p>\n Stay In The Heart Of It All <\/p>\n With its restaurant (The Tap Room), a spa, and the stunning courtyard pool and terrace, the Hollander Hotel and Spa is an affordable gem within walking distance of Beach Drive and the many shops, restaurants, and local attractions. The outdoor terrace, pool, and poolside bar create a relaxing retreat just steps from all downtown has to offer.\n<\/p>\n hollanderhotel.com<\/a>, 421 4th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701\n<\/p>\n Rest In Retro Style <\/p>\n Discover the chic style of the Avalon hotel downtown. The Avalon, the Hollander Hotel’s sister property, offers access to the Hollander’s pool as well as complimentary Champagne and wine every evening. The Deco-inspired retro interior gives every stay a fun vibe. Guests can also book apartment-style suites with full kitchens.\n<\/p>\n
\n View Chihuly At The Morean Arts Center <\/p>\n
\nCredit: Robbie Caponetto<\/p>\n
\nCredit: Robbie Caponetto<\/p>\n
\nCredit: Robbie Caponetto<\/p>\n
\n Eat At Red Mesa Cantina <\/p>\n
\n Opt For An Iconic Stay <\/p>\n
\nCredit: Robbie Caponetto<\/p>\n
\nCredit: Robbie Caponetto<\/p>\n