2018 Gulf To Bay by Times Total Media

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To Do

IN ST. PETE/CLEARWATER

beaches

our towns

Explore our collection of eclectic, amazing small towns and take in all the Gulf Coast has to offer.

Parasail along the beaches, kayak our mangroves, paddleboard in the bay or dive shipwrecks in the Gulf.

Voted on by thousands of visitors, locals and insiders, the best of everything in St. Pete/Clearwater.

Check out more than 70 restaurants listed here, from waterfront dining, to kid-friendly, to casual.

Surprisingly vibrant. And exclusively laid back. Downtown St. Pete's nightlife scene has it all.

St. Pete/Clearwater's ideal weather is exciting for athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.

With 35 miles of unmatched beauty, find your pictureperfect beach. Check out our pull-out beach guide to plan your holiday.

arts

WELCOME BY THE NUMBERS PLANNING YOUR TRIP MAP TAMPA BAY

4 A ME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

water

dining

Many of the area's most beautiful sights are found in our museums and galleries, like the DalÍ and Chihuly.

8 10 12 15 26

46 50 52 58 71

LOCAL ARTISTS BEACH BY NIGHT SHOPPING LGBT BREWERIES

best list

nightlife

76 82 84 92 94

BARS LIVE MUSIC WEDDINGS PETS VINTAGE

sports

96 98 103 106 111

BUSINESS AQUARIUM ARCHITECTURE EVENTS OUR SCENE

GULF TO BAY

Home of America's Best Beaches. VisitStPeteClearwater.com

OFFICES OF VISIT ST. PETE/CLEARWATER North American Office 8200 Bryan Dairy Road, Suite 200, Largo, FL 33777 USA 727.464.7200 or 877.352.3224 Central European Office Postfach 1806, D-61288 Bad Homburg, Germany +49 (0) 6172-38 80 94 80 or info@VisitSPC.de United Kingdom Office Link House, 140 The Broadway, Tolworth, Surrey KT67JE England 020 8339 6121

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater is a member of the U.S. Travel Association and is accredited by Destinations International.

CONNECT WITH US Facebook.com/ VisitStPeteClearwater Be inspired to travel with live broadcasts from America’s Best Beaches, brilliant sunsets and the area’s biggest events. Twitter.com/VSPC Follow @VSPC to stay in the loop on the area’s latest happenings and fun giveaways to sporting events, concerts and more. YouTube.com/ VisitStPeteClearwater Want to explore the destination in 360˚? Fly high above the Gulf of Mexico, ride horses on the beach and speed around a racetrack with new immersive video experiences. Instagram.com/VSPC Explore St. Pete/Clearwater one glorious photo at a time. Best part? Our most popular filter is no filter. #LiveAmplified Pinterest.com/VSPC We’ve collected the best-ofthe-best from top hotels to best sunset spots to tasty restaurants. Go ahead and pin your favorites to your own boards!

6 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH E S

This issue of the St. Pete/Clearwater destination magazine is published by Visit St. Pete/Clearwater in partnership with the Tampa Bay Times, 490 First Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 USA, 727-893-8535.

GENERAL MANAGER Chris Galbraith ART DIRECTOR Nikki Life DESIGNERS Marcus Oania, Paul Wallen PHOTO EDITOR Patty Yablonski PHOTOGRAPHY Douglas R. Clifford, Jim Damaske, Eve Edelheit, Scott R. Keeler, Danese Kenon, Chris Kozlowski, Tom Kramer, Marcus Oania, Jacob Pierce, Luis Santana, Dirk Shadd, Chris Urso, Steve Widoff, Sarah Wood, Patty Yablonski, Chris Zuppa WRITERS Marcia Biggs, Jay Cridlin, Stephanie Hayes, Janet Keeler, Will McCormick, Virginia Pelley, Laura Reiley, Christopher Spata, Gina Vivinetto, Brittany Volk, Patty Yablonski ILLUSTRATORS Ananda Spadt, Calusa Press Co. IMAGING Brian J. Baracani ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Bob Sitten

ON THE COVER That’s not Photoshop: A single two-second exposure and a specialized light tube create illuminated magic on Clearwater Beach at dusk. See more cutting-edge light-painting in the Beach By Night spread on page 50.

shell

HAVE ONE OF A VACATION. plunge into more fun dip your toes into more pools sip at more bars and dine at more restaurants just let go in a beachside hammock #JustLetGo

Book direct and save at JustLetGo.com/FLBCH or 877.300.5527

WELCOME

Love ItHere You’ll love it here, when the sky shifts from daylight blue to citrus orange and flamingo pink every evening as the sun dips into the Gulf of Mexico, illuminating our 35 miles of sugar-sand beaches. The show repeats in the morning when the sun pops up over Tampa Bay, playing games with the clouds. And up isn’t the only way to look for nature’s grace. Herons and egrets wade in waters just feet from your own outdoor perch. Sand tickles your toes. Blooming hibiscus and frangipani are more reminders that you are in paradise. You’ll love it here, thanks to the crack of the bat at Tampa Bay Rays baseball games and the roar of the soccer-loving crowd at Tampa Bay Rowdies matches. Thanks to artists who paint the walls in St. Petersburg and chefs in every town who transform Florida seafood into delectable dishes. Thanks to parks, pavilions and nearly private islands where families reunite in balmy weather. You’ll love the St. Pete/Clearwater area because at the same time there’s nothing to do but relax at the beach, there’s everything to do for nighthawks and culture connoisseurs. Yes, it is possible to fall in love with a place, especially where the wind is kissed with salt water.

VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 9

by the numbers A SNAPSHOT OF ST. PETE/CLEARWATER

Average number of sunny days per year.

Average year-round temperature.

Beaches ranked on TripAdvisor’s 2017 list of best U.S. beaches (St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach).

Acres of lush flowers, plants, and wildlife at Florida Botanical Gardens.

Artificial reefs for scenic scuba diving and fishing. Days of world-class jazz, pop, and R&B at the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday.

Age, in years, of George and Lucy, two Chilean pink flamingos who’ve lived at Sunken Gardens since 1956.

Vibrant murals in downtown St. Pete.

Miles of Pinellas Trail stretching from downtown St. Pete to Tarpon Springs.

Festival attendees at St. Pete Pride, the largest Pride celebration in Florida.

Craft breweries (and counting) in St. Pete/Clearwater.

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Miles of paddling fun on the kayaking trail at Caladesi Island State Park.

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Miles of white-sand beaches.

SUNSETS & SERENITY ON FLORIDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST BEACH UNIQUELY SANDPEARL. UNIQUELY YOU.

500 MANDALAY AVE., CLEARWATER BEACH, FL

855.559.5155 | Sandpearl.com

WEATHER

They say all you need to bring is a swimsuit. But no matter what time of year you come here, do pack sunscreen, a widebrimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses. Remember to always drink plenty of water. In late spring and summer, light, casual clothes work best. Fall and winter temperatures vary from mild to cool, so determine in advance of your visit whether shorts and sandals are still in season or if it’s time to pack a light jacket and pants. We hold a Guinness World Records title for the longest run of sunshine (768 days from February 1967 to March 1969), but temperatures can range from the low 50s to the high 90s.

Planning your trip

S P R I NG (M A RC H- M AY )

HIGH 80F 27C

LOW 65F 18C

S UM M ER (J U NE -AU G )

HIGH 90F 32C

Jolley Trolley clearwaterjolleytrolley.com • The Trolley operates daily on Clearwater Beach. The Coastal Route also operates daily between Clearwater Beach and downtown Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs. Passes can be purchased.

HIGH 83F 28C

LOW 70F 21C

Average Water Temps WINTER

63F • 17C

SUMMER

85F • 29C

VisitStPeteClearwater.com Check out our website for hotel rates and availability, maps, events, videos and tons of ideas for things to do on your next trip to St. Petersburg/Clearwater. All the planning information you need is just a few clicks away. The “deals” link helps you find ways to save money, and our email newsletter helps you stay current on news and events. Our videos will give you a preview of the fun in store, and our search and book direct features make planning, comparing and booking easy. Find local info on the go at VisitStPeteClearwater.com, from hot deals to listings for restaurants, hotels, attractions, things to do and more. For more information planning your visit, go to VisitSPC.com/Planning

LOW 76F 24C

FA LL ( S EP T-N OV )

SPRING

74F • 23C

FALL

77F • 25C

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Tampa International Airport (TPA) Just 30-45 minutes from beachfront accommodations, Tampa International provides numerous airlines and flights to choose from, as well as convenient shuttles from the gates to the terminal. 4100 George J. Bean Parkway, Tampa 33607, tampaairport.com or 813-870-8700

Clearwater Ferry clearwaterferry.com • Visit Clearwater Beach using this water taxi service. Free parking available and stops along North Beach and Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

W I NT E R ( D EC -FE B )

LOW 55F 13C

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) Offering low fares and small crowds, the airport puts you close to beaches. 14700 Terminal Blvd., Clearwater 33762, fly2pie.com or 727-453-7800

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Average Air Temps

HIGH 70F 21C

BY AIR

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS Find helpful resources on the following specialized websites: Habla español? Para narraciones y sugerencias de viaje en español, incluyendo información sobre restaurantes, vida nocturna y recreacion al aire libre, vaya a VisitStPeteClearwater.com/es Allí también encontrará relatos sobre playas, paseos en kayaks y actividades culturales en el área. Fala Português? Para sugestões em Português, incluindo informação sobre restaurantes, vida noturna e atividades ao ar livre, por favor navegar no VisitStPeteClearwater.com/br Encontrarar também informações sobre praias, passeio de kayaks e atividades culturais em nosso destino. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Deutsch sprechende Besucher haben ihre eigene Website mit ausgewählten attraktiven Aktivitäten. Information uber die Strände, Wanderungen und Naturlehrpfade, sowie Artikel über Kunst und Kultur der Gegend sind bei VisitStPeteClearwater.com/de

Looper loopertrolley.com • The St. Petersburg Trolley Downtown Looper route connects visitors to all major destinations within the city, including the Chamber Visitor Center and the major museums for a small fee. Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority psta.net • The PSTA is the public transit provider in Pinellas County, serving the St. Petersburg and Clearwater area, including travel to Tampa. Suncoast Beach Trolley psta.net/beachtrolley • The Beach Trolley allows visitors to explore the beach communities along Gulf Boulevard. Exact fare is required. Uber uber.com • Travel locally with the popular ride sharing service Uber. Download the app and connect with a reliable ride in minutes. Coast Bike Share coastbikeshare.com • Borrowing a public bicycle from the city’s new Coast Bike Share program makes it easy to explore downtown St. Pete. There are hundreds of cheerful sky-blue bicycles at dozens of stations along the downtown waterfront, the Central Avenue corridor and other nearby areas. Your bike can be rented from one station and returned to any other station. Rentals are $8 an hour for a single outing, or choose from monthly or annual plans.

BRING YOUR OWN BOAT

Come with your own boat or rent one to tour the shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico and Intracoastal Waterway. For boat rentals and ramps, go to VisitSPC.com/Boating

Fred Howard Park

TARPON AVE.

19 580

KEENE RD.

38TH AVE. N

9TH ST. 6TH ST.

Fort De Soto

EGMONT KEY

FORT DE SOTO PARK

Sunshine Skyway Bridge Fishing Pier & Park

SUNSHINE SKYWAY (TOLL)

TIERRA VERDE

)

MIAMI - 269 mi/433 km Approx. 4 hr., 10 mins.

• Busch Gardens • The Florida Aquarium • International Plaza • Lowry Park Zoo • The Museum of Science & Industry • Port of Tampa • Raymond James Stadium

BRI

DGE

Weedon Island Preserve

Museum of Fine Arts/Straub Park St. Petersburg Museum of History

The Dali Museum Albert Whitted Municipal Airport Morean Arts Center/Chihuly Collection Carter-Woodson African-American History Museum

FORT LAUDERDALE - 249 mi/401 km Approx. 3 hr., 45 mins.

TAMPA

Al Lang Stadium

5TH AVE. S

Lake Maggiore

SHELL KEY

40TH AVE.

1ST AVE. S

Tropicana Field

15TH AVE. S

Dolphin Gulfport Racer Historical18TH AVE. S TANGERINE AVE. Museum StarLite 22ND AVE. S LAKEVIEW AVE. 19 Sapphire Corey Gulfport GULFPORT Ave. Casino Gulfport Art Village Boyd Hill LL) Nature Trail Dolphin TO 17 54TH AVE. S Y( Landings A YW A B S A 62ND AVE. S ELL PIN

Gulf Beaches Historical Museum

Miami

MLK JR. ST. (9TH ST.)

1ST AVE. N

CENTRAL AVE.

679

62ND AVE. N

Holocaust Museum 23B

5TH AVE. S

PASS-A-GRILLE BEACH Ft. Lauderdale

Coliseum

9TH AVE. N 5TH AVE. N

S TO LA Y ( EL A N W PI AY B

FORT MYERS - 118 mi/190 km Approx. 1 hr., 50 mins.

Ft. Myers

22ND AVE. N

ORLANDO - 107 mi/172 km Approx. 90 mins.

Area of detail

Tyrone Square

BLV

TAMPA - 24 mi/39 km Approx. 30 mins.

FRA

G RID

Sunken Gardens/ Great Explorations

DRIVING TIMES

Tampa

D BLV

1ST ST. BEAC H DR. NE SHO RE D R. N E

TREASURE ISLAND CSWY

ST. PETE BEACH

Tampa International Airport

Derby Lane Greyhound Track

BAY

KENNETH CITY

ALT

Sunset Beach

Orlando

589

CAUSEWAY

4TH ST.

49TH ST.

66TH ST.

St. Petersburg/ Clearwater

GAN

4TH ST. 3RD ST

MISSOURI AVE.

BELCHER RD.

STARKEY RD.

TREASURE ISLAND

FLORIDA

54TH AVE. N

. Mall Boca Ciega SOUTH 19 Bay PASADENA

P n’s Joh

G Sawgrass The Shoppes Lake Park at Park Place

PARK ST.

War Veterans Memorial Park

19 AN

PARK BLVD.

SEMINOLE

John’s Pass Village • Hubbard’s Marina • Pirate Ship at John’s Pass

693

PINELLAS PARK

PARK ST.

MADEIRA BEACH

31B

118TH AVE. N

REDINGTON BEACH

St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport

Pinellas Trail

SEMINOLE RD.

Boca Ciega Millennium Park

NORTH REDINGTON BEACH

CAMPBELL

688

Lake Seminole Park

Lake Seminole

Old Tampa Bay

34TH ST. N

MYRTLE AVE.

FORT HARRISON AVE.

Principal Highways

Clearwater Mall

BRYAN DAIRY RD.

M CS ST W UA Y. RT

REDINGTON SHORES

Other Roads

CLEARWATER LARGO RD.

Seaside PARK BLVD. Seabird Seminole Sanctuary Mall

COURTNEY

ULMERTON RD.

Divided Highways

102ND AVE. N

113TH RD. N

INDIAN SHORES

Controlled Access Divided Highways

Spectrum Field

49TH ST. N

. MANDALAY AVE

RD. CKS N RO INDIA

OAK HURST RD.

BLVD. GULF

00 Exit Number

Ruth Eckerd Hall

EAST BAY DR.

686

Indian Rocks Historical Walsingham Park Society

580 AN

Largo Mall

Ridgecrest Park

SUNSET POINT RD.

DGE

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH

WALSINGHAM RD.

590

RI DE B

LARGO

Points of Interest Airport

Philippe Park

SAFETY HARBOR

YS I

State Highway

1.8

Tampa Bay Downs

Safety Harbor

Westfield Countryside

Florida Auto Exchange Stadium

Pinewood Cultural Center • Botanical Gardens 699 • Heritage Village • County Extension

U.S. Highway

OLDSMAR

UNION ST.

John Taylor Park

RACE TRACK RD.

DUNEDIN

Interstate

RD.

CURLEW RD.

Dunedin Fine Art Center

28TH ST. N

WEST BAY DR.

Canal Park Sports Complex

ALT

BELLEAIR CSWY.

3/4 inch = approx. 1.8 miles

The Capitol Clearwater HM Theatre Air Park COAC ME Clearwater Marina GU MO NE LF DREW ST. • StarLite Majesty VI CS RI CLEVELAND ST. EW WY AL • Captain Memo’s BL COURT ST. . GULF TO BAY BLVD. SAND KEY VD. • Sea Screamer Coachman • Calypso Queen LAKEVIEW RD. • The Tropics Boat Tours Sand Key Park Park Winter’s BELLEAIR RD. Dolphin Tale Eagle Adventure BELLEAIR BEACH Lake 595 Park Belleair ALT

BELLEAIR SHORE

NEBRASKA AVE.

Clearwater Harbor 19

Pier 60 Park Beach Walk

KEY

Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center

John Chesnut Sr. Park

PALM HARBOR

Dunedin Historic Museum

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Brooker Creek Preserve

611

Lake Tarpon

ALDERMAN RD.

OZONA N CS W

MCMULLEN-BOOTH RD.

Caladesi State Park

BELCHER RD.

EDI

CALADESI ISLAND

CLEARWATER BEACH

HIGHLAND AVE.

Gulf of Mexico

DU N

Leepa Rattner Museum of Art

ALT

CRYSTAL BEACH

Honeymoon Island Park

EAST LAKE

LAS A

PINEL

KLOSTERMAN RD.

Wall Springs Park

STO

Tarpon Springs Cultural Center A.L. Anderson Park

VE.

Sponge Docks St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral

Sunset Beach Park

HONEYMOON ISLAND

KEY

DODECANESE BLVD.

TARPON SPRINGS

Sunshine Skyway Channel TO SARASOTA

Tampa Bay

Nature lovers will appreciate the raw beauty of Honeymoon Island, an undeveloped 385-acre barrier island off Dunedin with 4 miles of white, sandy beaches, hiking trails and great bird-watching opportunities along the 2.5-mile Osprey Trail. Florida’s most-visited state park draws nature lovers who are looking to explore real Florida. Be sure to stop in at the Rotary Centennial Nature Center upon arriving, where you can talk to a ranger and learn about the island’s flora, fauna and history. Swim, fish, hike, picnic, rent bicycles or kayaks, or simply relax on the pristine beach. Bring your pooch – Honeymoon Island boasts one of the prettiest dog beaches around!

If you prefer a little solitude with spectacular gulf views, quiet and romantic Sand Key Park is just a bridge away from the hustle and bustle of Clearwater Beach. Pack a picnic, grab a fishing pole or just kick back for a lazy afternoon at this 95-acre county park with its wide beach, picnic pavilions and bathhouses. Walking trails and a boardwalk wind through a salt marsh, where you can spot herons, egrets and other wading birds. Shelling can be excellent just after a storm. If you’re feeling motivated, walk up the beach to the Sheraton for a sunset cocktail.

Our stress will be gone with the wind when you chill out with the locals and condo vacationers along the quiet Belleair beaches. Find a spot on 4,500 feet of secluded shoreline dotted with the area’s most lavish mansions and settle in for a reverie of sun, sand and seagulls. Parking spots can be nabbed at the beach access points with trails leading through the dunes to the beaches of this low-key gulf front community. Bring snacks and water: There are no public facilities or commercial establishments on this stretch of the beach.

Sister island to Honeymoon Island State Park, Caladesi is one of the few completely natural barrier islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Ranked as one of the Top 10 Beaches of 2016 by Dr. Stephen Leatherman (“Dr. Beach”), No. 6 Best Beach in Florida by USA Today (2015) and one of America’s Top 25 Beaches by TripAdvisor (2013), the 3-mile-long island is accessible only by boat. Get here by taking a short Caladesi Connection ferry ride from Honeymoon Island or rent a kayak from the outfitter along the Dunedin Causeway. A paddling trail winds through the mangroves, where you can spot a variety of wading birds. Come prepared by bringing beach chairs and a cooler; although cabanas can be rented beachside. The concession offers great burgers and sandwiches, and is also home to showers and changing rooms.

You can still find a nostalgic taste of Old Florida along this narrow barrier island where high-rise condominiums share the beach with small hotels and motels, beach cottages, family restaurants and neighborhood bars. Some 20 beach access points lead to the picture-perfect beach, where families congregate for day-long siestas. Come early to grab a parking spot at Indian Rocks public beach, with its restrooms and bathhouse. When hunger and thirst strike, you’ll find lots of options. The flip-flop crowd makes a beeline to Lulu’s Oyster Bar and Tap House, where the fresh steamed oysters are to die for. Or dine outside at Guppy’s on the Beach Grill & Bar for fresh seafood and cool drinks.

With its wide sugar-sand beaches and emerald-clear surf; a vast array of lodgings, restaurants and bars; and kidfriendly water sports, it’s no surprise that fun-loving Clearwater Beach was voted the No. 1 beach in America in 2016 and No. 20 in the world in 2016 by TripAdvisor. This popular city-beach caters to everyone, from millennials to couples and families. Stroll the half-mile Beach Walk, check out the surf shops and cafes, and enjoy the stunning gulf views. Sail away on a pirate ship, go dolphin watching, wine and dine on a sunset dinner cruise or head out on a fishing charter. Just minutes away, Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Winter the famous movie star dolphin are ready to delight. Don’t miss a grouper sandwich at one of four Frenchy’s seafood restaurants or a beachfront margarita at Palm Pavilion. For the best beach view in town, you can’t beat the rooftop bar at Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest at Pier House 60. Sunsets at Pier 60 is a nightly gathering filled with crafters, buskers and live music. Save one night to indulge in a fine dining experience at one of the many outstanding Clearwater Beach restaurants, like Caretta on the Gulf at the opulent Sandpearl Resort.

Tip your toes in the azure water, settle in at a tiki bar, try your hand at paddleboarding or indulge in a lavish spa day – it’s all easy to do at bustling and beautiful St. Pete Beach. With miles of beaches, surf shops and boutiques, and a vast array of lodging, dining and water sports for all ages, including the Dolphin Landings sunset sail cruise, it’s easy to see why this gently-curving stretch of perfection was voted TripAdvisor’s No. 3 Beach in the U.S. in 2017. From the five-star luxury of the historic 1920s Pink Palace – The Don CeSar Hotel – to the family-friendly TradeWinds Island Resorts and dozens of hotels and small inns, there’s a place for all tastes and budgets. Some of the best beach bars can be found here, too, like Jimmy B’s, the Undertow and Harry’s. Or try the Grand Plaza Hotel’s Level 11 Rooftop Lounge for stunning 360-degree views of the gulf and intracoastal. An added bonus: If you feel the need for some culture and an urban vibe, fun-filled downtown St. Pete is just 20 minutes away.

Brilliant white sand and sparkling blue water attract many vacationers to the condominiums, hotels and motels that line Gulf Boulevard. But not to worry finding a peaceful spot to spread your blanket is generally not a problem along this stretch of coastline shared by the three small communities of Redington Shores, North Redington Beach and Redington Beach. Take a stroll at sunset or cast a line along the 1,200-foot-long fishing pier, where local anglers come looking to hook tarpon and snook (rentals and bait are available). Ready to kick it up a notch? Head to Mad Beach where John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk is buzzing with more than 100 shops and restaurants in a rambling, Old Florida-style waterfront atmosphere. Rent a wave runner, catch a deep-sea fishing charter, cruise on a pirate ship or go dolphin-watching. Meander through the surf shops and art galleries to find that perfect Florida souvenir, then enjoy fresh seafood along the boardwalk at the Friendly Fisherman or Sculley’s. Thirsty? Try Mad Beach Craft Brewing Co. for a variety of IPAs and lagers. If you’re here in the fall, the annual John’s Pass Seafood & Music Festival is a family-friendly event featuring music, arts and crafts, and, of course, some of the best seafood in St. Pete/Clearwater.

Known for its wide expanse of gorgeous beach, Treasure Island is the perfect place to find your zen. Three miles of sparkling sand lines the gulf with an array of lodging, from luxury resorts to kitschy hotels and small inns. Locals gravitate to popular beach bars like Sloppy Joe’s at the Bilmar Beach Resort, or Caddy’s and the Ka-Tiki Lounge, which offer live music most evenings on Sunset Beach. For some live music and dancing on the weekend, head over to Gator’s Café and Saloon at John’s Pass where you can sit on the outdoor deck and watch the boats go by. A popular drumming circle gathers each Sunday night on the beach an hour before sunset with bongo and bucket drummers, hula hoopers and fire dancers of all ages, while the LGBT crowd flocks to Sunset Beach at the southernmost tip.

Old Florida charm in a tiny beach town is what you’ll find at peaceful Pass-a-Grille, just a few miles south of busy St. Pete Beach. Voted one of the Top 5 beaches in Florida by USA Today in 2015, Pass-a-Grille boasts 4 miles of natural shoreline and a soft, sandy beach. When you get hungry, grab a snack at the beachfront Paradise Grille or walk across the street to the legendary Hurricane Restaurant for a grouper sandwich. The sunset views from the rooftop are also legendary. Sea Critters Café is a great spot if you’re looking for a slice of tropical Parrot-head paradise. Small inns and beach cottages are within walking distance of shops and galleries along the Eighth Avenue Historic District. Head to the Merry Pier for some fishing (rod rentals available) or to find boat excursions for dolphin watching, snorkeling or exploring Shell Key, a small island that is both a bird refuge and great shelling spot. Catch up on your local history at the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum or with a stroll through the Pass-a-Grille Historic District.

This gorgeous 1,136-acre county park spread over five islands at the southern tip of the gulf beaches immerses visitors in an unspoiled Florida barrier island habitat. Named Best Family Beach in 2014 by USA Today, Fort De Soto Park can’t be beat as an all-day getaway with grandma and the kids. There’s plenty to do, with two beaches, a 7-mile paved trail for biking and blading, a historic fort featuring old artillery holds and batteries, some of which are slowly being reclaimed by the Gulf and make for perfect snorkeling locations. There’s also kayak and bike rentals, two fishing piers and a 238-site family camping area right on the water. The park is recognized nationally as a top bird-watching spot (especially during spring and fall migration). Catch the ferry to Egmont Key (pictured) for a chance to do some snorkeling and tour a working lighthouse or set off in a kayak to explore the quiet waterways and mangroves. Accessible only by boat, Shell Key Preserve is a 1,800-acre island found just off the shores of Fort De Soto. Boating, camping, hiking and beach activities are permitted on this remote destination.

HoIslaneynd moo n State Park

BEACHES

VISITSPC.COM/BEACHES

EARLY

Florida settlers called it “Hog Island,” but in 1939, a developer built 50 palm-thatched bungalows along this 4-mile stretch of beach and renamed it Honeymoon Island. The island is now home to Florida’s most popular state park, Honeymoon Island State Park, where every year a million people visit. • The Dunedin Causeway connects the park to the mainland; a short drive will get you all-day access to everything the park has to offer. The popular picnic pavilions offer shaded picnic tables and barbecue grills. The South Beach Pavilion rents bicycles and pedal-powered surreys and Café Honeymoon. Umbrellas and beach chairs also are available. • Hike through the 2.5 mile nature trail, where you might see gopher tortoises, armadillos, blue heron or snowy egrets. Surf-cast for fish, or enjoy a quiet walk along the north shore, where Gulf currents deposit an incredible variety of seashells. • Honeymoon Island even features a pet beach. • VisitSPC.com/ Honeymoon

FLORIDA’S GULF COAST is as unique a place as it is beautiful. Its miles of white sand beaches, crystal-clear emerald waters, tropical temperatures and sun that shines nearly every day make this place truly magical. • The Gulf of Mexico takes fossilized limestone, tumbles and bleaches the prehistoric granules and pushes them back toward shore, forming a series of barrier islands. The barrier islands protect the coastline, provide safe havens for sea turtles and marsh birds; form the Intracoastal Waterway to give ships safe passage, which spawns new industries and creates endless business opportunities. • State parks, nature preserves, campgrounds, resort hotels and five-star restaurants grow from the one-of-a-kind snowy sands. It’s like Jack and the Beanstalk with sunglasses, and it just keeps getting better. • The beaches are magical. And while people may come to St. Pete/Clearwater for any number of reasons, they all come back for that magic.

1 6 A ME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

CALADESI

Island State Park’s white sand beaches, emerald waters and remote location earned its ranking as North America’s Best Beach in 2008 by TripAdvisor. • Originally part of the same island, Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands were formed in 1921 when a hurricane split the islands in two. Now, Caladesi is reachable only by private boat or by the Caladesi Island Ferry, which departs from Honeymoon Island State Park. • Be a beach bum and enjoy swimming, suntanning, shelling and snorkeling without the crowds. Birdwatch while hiking the 3-mile trail through the island’s interior or paddle the kayak trail. Enjoy sheltered picnic areas or plan a group outing and reserve a pavilion. • The park has a boat marina with electric and water hookups. Boat camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. • Pets are not permitted on the beach, but are allowed throughout the rest of the park. • The park also offers a snack bar and gift shop, as well as a playground and restrooms. • VisitSPC.com/Caladesi

CIsalaland Stdatee Psiark

CleBarewacahter

TRIPADVISOR

has named popular Clearwater Beach as the No. 1 beach in America and No. 7 in the world in 2018. • Enjoy the near-perfect scenery as you shuffle your toes through the pristine white sand or swim in the clear water. Check out the Ron Jon Surf Shop as you walk along the palm-lined Beach Walk or take the Clearwater Jolley Trolley. • Grab a bite to eat or a tropical cocktail at the Island Way Grill, Palm Pavilion Beachside or one of Frenchy’s three locations. • Enjoy the luxurious accommodations at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa, Hilton Clearwater Beach or Sandpearl Resort, which was recently named one of the best beach resorts in the country. Slightly less opulent, but just as enticing, are the Palm Pavilion Inn and Shephard’s Beach Resort. • The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival is a fun event for all ages, but if you can’t make the annual springtime sand sculpture competition you can still enjoy Sunsets at Pier 60. The festival of local artisans, street performers and musical acts lines up along the pier from two hours before until two hours after sunset, 364 days a year. And the actual sunsets aren’t too shabby either. VisitSPC.com/ClearwaterBeach VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 1 7

BEACHES

Sand Key THOUGH

technically part of Clearwater Beach, Sand Key is a separate barrier island that sits just south of Clearwater Beach across Clearwater Pass, connected by a short bridge. • Once across that bridge you’ll find a selection of vacation condominiums, two highly regarded hotels, Clearwater Community Sailing Center and Sand Key Park. The vacation condos are available for long- and short-term rentals, for visitors who prefer something homier than a hotel room. But if it is a hotel that you’re looking for, there’s the Marriott Suites on Sand Key as well as the iconic Sheraton Sand Key Resort which is also home to Rusty’s Bistro, recent recipient of one of Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Awards. • Take a visit to Sand Key Park, a county park that boasts a large sandy beach with excellent views of the gulf, beach cabanas, a concession stand, beach rentals, a picnic area, large bathhouses, a dog park, a playground and seasonal lifeguards. • Endangered sea turtles frequently lay eggs on the beach at Sand Key and visitors can watch endangered birds nesting and feeding in a rare salt marsh. • VisitSPC.com/SandKey

PERHAPS

1 8 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

it’s the beachfront mansions, the look and feel of a private beach or the lack of any commercial businesses or public facilities that keep the masses away. But just 10 minutes south of the hustle and bustle of Clearwater Beach, you’ll find these beaches tucked between Gulf Boulevard and the Gulf of Mexico. • Nearly empty yearround, these thin strips of sand provide a quiet oasis to those who visit. They’re a perfect spot for a nap, a leisurely stroll or to settle in with a good book. Parking can be a little tricky, but there are usually a few spots available at the public access points and from there, simply follow the paths through the sea grass-covered dunes to the beach. • Again, there are no public facilities along this roughly three-quarters of a mile stretch of beach, meaning no public restrooms, businesses or concessions. Pack anything you’ll need and make a restroom stop before going. VisitSPC.com/Belleair

Belleair Beach Belleair Bluffs Belleair Shores

Indian Rocks Beach & Indian Shores FUN

things to do, old Florida charm and fabulous sunsets are some of what draws people from the other side of town, as well as the other side of the world, to the small beach communities of Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores. • While on the beautiful strip of beach, check out the free Indian Rocks Historical Museum, play a round of miniature golf and feed the live alligators at Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf or get more than a little wet with a visit to the new Splash Harbour Water Park, which features a lazy river, a zero-entry pool and two 42-foot water slides. Or choose to stay dry with a visit to the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, home to an animal hospital that treats thousands of sick and injured birds annually. The sanctuary is open to the public 7 days a week and admission is free.• Stay in one of the beachfront or Intracoastal Waterway-view vacation condominiums available for rent, camp out or enjoy one of the quaint beach cottages or mom and pop motels that dot this stretch of Gulf Boulevard. You’ll find more than 30 entry points to the public beaches here, and after a day in the sun enjoy dinner or drinks at one of the many family restaurants or neighborhood bars. You’ll never go wrong with the original Crabby Bill’s Restaurant for local seafood. Parking can be a challenge by mid-day, especially on weekends. The area offers free beach access parking, but the limited number of spots fill up quickly. • VisitSPC.com/IRB

SMACK

dab in the erangboom the lies oast Sunc the middle of is home to the that d shaped, 3-mile stretch of barrier islan sands of thou has area . The Redington Beach communities their vacation it call who plus 500her anot and permanent residents swath of t quie the urants or home. • Come for the excellent resta d Islan e reez SeaB and l Gril uncrowded beach. Conch Republic the Frog at t kfas brea y Enjo s. view t rfron Grill serve local seafood with wate thier heal they also offer Pond, known for gigantic portions, but kfast and lunch until 2 p.m. with brea es serv Cafe Sage t wee options. The S able on the pet-friendly patio. avail ons seating for you and your furry compani at a resort-style hotel there are a • If you’re looking for accommodations want the full Redington experience, couple to choose from here, but if you small vacation condos, fish off the stay at one of the boutique hotels or g Pier, catch happy hour at Wahoo’s Lon 1,200-foot aptly named Redington at the Friendly Tavern, where they Waterside Pub & Patio; then end up y low-key offer nightly karaoke, all in a decidedl atmosphere. VisitSPC.com/ TheRedingtons

Redington Shores

h c a e B n to g n i d e R th r o N

Redington Beach

a r i e d a MBeach

POPULARLY

known by the locals as “Mad Beach” or simply “Madeira,” Madeira Beach is a bustling beach and fishing community which centers around John’s Pass and John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. • You can rent just about anything you want from the folks at Hubbard’s Marina or one of their neighbors on John’s Pass. You can rent scooters for land, or Jet Skis or WaveRunners for the water. You can also book a charter boat for deep-sea fishing or dolphin-watching, or a pirate ship for sightseeing or a pleasure cruise. And you’ll find paddleboards, skimboards, parasailing excursions and just about anything else water-related available for rent here, where the Intracoastal Waterway joins the gulf at John’s Pass. • “The Pass” was created by a hurricane in 1848, when heavy winds and a storm surge burst through the barrier island. Pirate John Levique made the first passage through the newly created channel, earning it the name “John’s

rT eIassluarned 20 A MER I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

Pass.” • The Village and Boardwalk was originally a real fishing village and John’s Pass is still home to the largest fishing fleet in Florida. The Boardwalk is now a retail and dining complex with over 100 shops and restaurants. The always-fun John’s Pass Pirate Days and the John’s Pass Seafood Festival are events to enjoy every fall. • VisitSPC.com/MadeiraBeach

ON THE OTHER SIDE

of John’s Pass, you’ll find the laid-back beach community of Treasure Island and the world famous Gator’s Cafe and Saloon. A Treasure Island fixture for more than 20 years, Gator’s boasts of having the “World’s Longest Waterfront Bar,” where you can tie your boat or personal watercraft right up to the barside dock, enjoy sports on one of the many big-screen HDTVs and try some real “Gator Bites.” • Beyond Gator’s you’ll find much to explore, like the new Treasure Island Beach Resort, offering modern and luxurious accommodations and a gulf view from every room. “T.I.” is also known as Florida’s “sand sculpture capital.” • Spend some time on the public beach volleyball courts or just relax along this beautiful 3-mile stretch of pristine beach. Enjoy lunch or cocktails at Sloppy Joe’s at the Bilmar Beach Resort, or venture across the street for nightly live music at Ricky T’s or next door to the V.I.P. Lounge, where locals line up for the excellent Mexican food. • For something a little different, try the weekly drum circle held every Sunday at sunset on the beach, or head to the south end of the island to Sunset Beach for more live music at Caddy’s (smack on the beach) or the Ka-Tiki Lounge across the street. A little farther down, at the island’s very southern tip, you’ll find the LGBTQ section of Sunset Beach, which is especially popular on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. • VisitSPC.com/TreasureIsland

BEACHES

THE FOLKS

along this section of the Gulf Coast are so committed to their laid-back attitude and beach lifestyle that a few years ago they officially changed the name of the city from St. Petersburg Beach to St. Pete Beach. The long and beautiful crescentshaped stretch of beach was voted TripAdvisor’s fourth-best beach in the United States in 2016 and third-best in 2017. • Locals and longtime visitors have found St. Pete Beach to be the perfect mix of sun, sand, food and good times. It’s a place that draws singles, families, seniors and millennials alike because it offers something for everyone. • For the spa treatment, try the historic Don CeSar Hotel, known as the “Pink Palace.” If it’s a family-friendly vacation you’re after, hit the TradeWinds Island Resort, basically a city within a city with multiple restaurants, pools and bars on-site, as well as great sunsets and a huge waterslide on the beach. • For unrivaled old Florida charm, stay at the Bon Aire Resort. This 1940s-style motor lodge is family-owned and operated; it’s where locals “staycation” and throw their kids’ slumber parties, and where visitors return year after year for family reunions. For drinks, hit Jimmy B’s, the Undertow or the Postcard Inn’s PCI Beach Bar. • Have dinner with a view at Spinners Rooftop Revolving Bistro or enjoy cocktails and seafood on the deck at Woody’s Waterfront. VisitSPC.com/StPeteBeach

SBt. ePaechte

BEACHES

Pass-a-Grille

THIS IS

a quiet little beach town at the south end of St. Pete Beach, where the Intracoastal Waterway reunites with the Gulf of Mexico. But don’t let the sleepy reputation fool you – there’s plenty to do in Pass-a-Grille. • At the beachfront Paradise Grill, probably the best concession stand of any beach in the area, you can grab snacks or a cool drink and never have to leave the water’s edge. Or walk across the street for lunch or dinner with a commanding view of the gulf on the Hurricane Restaurant’s famous rooftop deck. • Visit the Eighth Avenue Historic District, shop for souvenirs or antiques or check out the Don CeSar’s satellite Spa Oceana. Climb aboard Miss Pass-a-Grille for a day of deep-sea fishing, take the Shell Key Shuttle to Shell Key or the Island Ferry to Egmont Key or beyond. Head over to the Merry Pier for charter information; or rent a rod and reel and cast right off the pier. • If you’re more of a hands-on type, try Stand Up Paddleboard Rentals. Or if you’d rather let the motor do the work, rent a speedboat from St. Petersburg Speedboat Adventures. • VisitSPC.com/PassAGrille

THE LARGEST

Fort De Soto Park

of the county parks and is actually a series of five islands – or keys – that stretch over 1,136 acres on the southernmost tip of the St. Pete-Clearwater peninsula. • High winds near the Sunshine Skyway beckon to windsurfers and kiteboarders, while birdwatchers come to see some of the 328 bird species. • Fort De Soto also has two award-winning beaches, two long fishing piers, a 7-mile paved trail for hiking, biking, jogging or rollerblading, bike and kayak rentals, guided nature tours, a boat ramp and a family-friendly 238-site waterfront campground. • Dogs are not permitted in the campground, but they are allowed just about everywhere else in the park. Dogs can run free inside the fenced-in dog park, as well as at the adjoining “dog beach.” • If you love to explore, kayak out to the ruins of the historic fort and snorkel around the old artillery holds, then paddle back to the fishing pier for some ice cream from the concession stand. • Jump on the ferry to go out to Egmont Key or to catch a glimpse of the working lighthouse, and see for yourself why the beaches of Fort De Soto are consistently ranked near the top, including a 2009 “Best Beach in the Country” designation by TripAdvisor and a “Best Family Beach” by USA Today in 2013. • VisitSPC.com/FortDeSoto

22 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

communities VISITSPC.COM/COMMUNITIES

TSarpprionngs

ST. PETE AND CLEARWATER are known for beautiful beaches, great shopping, vibrant nightlife and world-class hotels and restaurants. But what really sets this slice of paradise apart is its sense of community. • Regardless of where you come from, you'll feel welcome anywhere you land here. Every beach has its own feel, each downtown has its own vibe, each restaurant has its own flavor. Yet somehow, unique and familiar join in a way that allows you to feel so many miles away from your ordinary life, but still right at home. People from all over the world visit this area and come back over and over again for just this reason. • The six communities described here are perfect examples of this. Each is steeped in its own history and tradition but blends perfectly into its surrounding landscape. Each one stands out — like a star among many in a cloudless sky.

THE TOWN

has come to be defined by its rich Greek heritage, but there’s a lot more to it than the sponge docks. Certainly check out the famous working waterfront and sample something delicious from one of the many Greek restaurants, but also plan to delve a little deeper. • Start your visit at the Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society or visit one of the many excellent museums, like the Safford House Museum, the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum or the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. The latter was formerly an amazing private collection of modern art, now housed in a beautiful museum space on the Tarpon Springs campus of St. Petersburg College. • Nature lovers and outdoorsy types have a lot to choose from among such sites as A.L. Anderson Park, Craig Park, Fred Howard Park, the Discovery Playground or Brooker Creek Preserve, a spectacular 8,700-acre county park with excellent walking trails in a relaxing natural setting. • Enjoy a glass of wine or tour the Tarpon Springs Castle Winery, or enjoy a local microbrew at Silverking Brewing Co., Two Frogs Brewing Co. or the Saint Somewhere Brewery. Or if you’re in town each January, check out the city’s Epiphany celebration (pictured above), which honors the baptism of Jesus Christ. • VisitSPC.com/TarponSprings

HOME

to the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Palm Harbor is a highly sought-after destination for golfers from around the world. The most famous of Innisbrook’s courses is the challenging Copperhead Course, the venue for the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship each spring. Innisbrook also offers three other championship-level courses, as well as a nine-hole walking course that’s open to all skill levels. Outside the links, the resort’s amenities include a 620-room four-star hotel with a wellness spa, conference facilities, three restaurants and six swimming pools. • Palm Harbor is known for its downtown shopping and restaurants, and for a variety of monthly and annual festivals. The first Friday of each month brings the First Friday Celebrations, which are popular community events for all ages. There are rides and games for kids and adults alike, with many local restaurants serving varied food choices; and local artisans’ arts and crafts for sale. • The Taste of Palm Harbor festival, held in October, features live music and seafood and other specialties. • VisitSPC.com/PalmHarbor

Palm Harbor

communities

Safrbetyor Ha

THIS TOWN

on the west shore of ected waters where ot pr name from the its s aw dr y Ba pa Tam Tampa Bay. Many nal pours into Old the Lake Tarpon Ca nds of the e ancient burial mou people claim that th ’s Philippe Park are or rb d in Safety Ha un fo ns dia In ga ba Toco a from direct hits by d the Tampa Bay are holy what have protecte , happenstance or e years. Hullabaloo Tocoe th to it vis a hurricanes over th t bu r know for sure, ve ne l e’l u W yo ? en ion nt wh interve a must Philippe Park are rm fo s st baga Mounds and re fo rbor. • Old growth adways. come to Safety Ha any of the town’s ro m er ov s pie no ca e lik staurants with elre nn g tu in ul az tif beau now house am ws alo ng bu d dining an sm restored parlors an Old Florida Craft d porches or in the un wn feel aro -to ap all wr sm on d a, meals serve an old Florid to on ld he s ha ity mun u visit the city’s rooms. • The com ck in time when yo ba ed pp d ste e u’v yo spa day or a weeken and you’ll feel like r treat yourself to a O ct. & tri rt dis so wn Re to or charming down el, the Safety Harb munity’s crown jew pointed and getaway at the com s 172 beautifully ap er off , 25 19 in d de un ng on 22 acres Spa. The resort, fo oms in a quaint setti ro t es gu d te da up en of thoroughly . It’s billed as a “hav of stunning grounds flow.” rs te wa g lin “hea tranquility” where etyHarbor VisitSPC.com/Saf

IN 1916,

Oldsmar

Oldsmobile inventor Ransom Eli Olds purchased the land at the northernmost tip of Tampa Bay and set about laying the foundation for what is now the town of Oldsmar. Olds had grand plans for what he called the gateway to the St. Pete-Clearwater peninsula. • A century after its founding, the city is home to nearly 1,500 businesses including the $80 million “nerve center” of Nielsen Media Research, the Oldsmar BMX Track, the Tampa Bay Skating Academy and the Mobbly Bayou Preserve. • Oldsmar retains the small-town feel, even while acting as an exemplary model for modern and future urban centers across the country. • Sitting at the mouth of the bay, the area is an integral part of the Tampa Bay watershed, Florida’s largest openwater estuary. Roughly 30 percent of the city is made up of parks and open space, including 34 acres of protected wetlands along the Lake Tarpon Canal. • VisitSPC.com/Oldsmar

24 A MER I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

Dunedin KILTS,

caber tosses, Caladesi Island State Park and the Toronto Blue Jays – you’ll find these and a whole lot more in tiny Dunedin. • Dunedin is proud of its “firsts.” The World War II amphibious tractor known as the “Roebling Alligator” was assembled in Dunedin and frozen orange juice concentrate was invented here as well. Dunedin was the first home of the Professional Golfers Association, the county’s first radio signals originated here and the Dunedin Brewery is Florida’s oldest microbrewery. • The town boasts unobstructed views of the Intracoastal Waterway, St. Joseph Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as a downtown business district notable for its absence of large commercial signage, corporate franchise restaurants or chain retail stores. • Each spring, Dunedin celebrates its Scottish heritage as thousands come for the Dunedin Highland Games, which features three days of live music, piping and drumming and Highland dancing competitions. • The community’s annual Mardi Gras celebration draws thousands, too. Florida’s most popular state park, Honeymoon Island State Park, annually draws 1 million people to Dunedin, and the town is the spring training home of Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays, as well as the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League. • VisitSPC.com/Dunedin

ONE

G u l f p o rt

of the area’s quirkiest communities, Gulfport has long been a haven for artsy types and popular with the LGBT community. Gulfport almost seems like it was plucked from the Florida Keys and relocated to its present home, nestled between St. Petersburg and Boca Ciega Bay. • The town’s unofficial motto is “Keep Gulfport Weird” and the annual Geckofest is a good time to see that sentiment in action. Held at the end of summer, it’s the community’s free, family-friendly festival of food, arts and crafts, and live music. • Gulfport boasts a wide variety of excellent restaurants, ranging from classic breakfast spots or candlelight dinner seatings, to ethnic eateries and late-night pub food. • Swing dance at the Gulfport Casino, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, or venture out into the beautiful waterfront district to take in views of Boca Ciega Bay, or sing karaoke at O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille. • Take a walk in the Clam Bayou Nature Preserve, fish or watch the sunset from Williams Pier, grab some local produce or fresh-baked bread at the weekly Tuesday Fresh Market or eat, drink and check out the local galleries and art exhibits at one of the popular Gulfport Art Walks. • VisitSPC.com/Gulfport VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 25

the bay area

THIS IS

THE PLACE

AS THE MOST POPULAR tourism destination on the American Gulf Coast, the St. Pete/Clearwater area is

the Jewel of Tampa Bay, a region defined by a triptych of major cities: St. Petersburg to the south, Clearwater to the west and Tampa to the east. Though each has their own distinct vibe, collectively they form the bones of a region that is quickly becoming an international contender, with two international airports (and some 20 daily nonstops to NYC), a dynamic and diverse local economy, a subtropical coastal climate and an enviable Central Gulf Coast location just 90 miles from Orlando area theme parks. Millions of visitors arrive each year, a growing number of them adding to the area’s 3 million residents that place Tampa Bay among the top 20 metro areas in the U.S. Though technically an island, the St. Pete/Clearwater area is officially situated on what’s called the Pinellas Peninsula, bounded on one side by the Gulf of Mexico and the other by Tampa Bay. With more people per square mile than Miami, it’s the most densely populated area in the state. But don’t let that fool you: from Caladesi Island in the north to Fort De Soto Park in the south, visitors can find wide expanses of gleaming white sands and absolute solitude any time of year. The peninsula is home to some two dozen distinct communities, from the Greek sponge-fishing enclave of Tarpon Springs and Celtictinged Dunedin in the north to small-town Safety Harbor mid-peninsula, to Madeira, Indian Rocks and a string of Gulf-front beach towns along 35 miles of barrier islands, all the way down to artsy/oddball Gulfport on Boca Ciega Bay.

ST. PETERSBURG THE 'BURG

Downtown St. Petersburg – St. Pete or “The ’Burg’” to locals – is the area’s cultural heart, with iconic museums (Dalí, Chihuly, Museum of Fine Arts, and more on the way), a mix of gleaming new condos and historic neighborhoods and a stretch of public parks lining the bay that many say give it a distinctly European flair—particularly in the Spring, when the city comes alive with Grand Prix racing in the streets. The city that holds the Guinness record for most consecutive sunny days (768) is also home to the highest concentration of nightlife and dining establishments in the entire region, ranging from velvet-roped rooftop cabana bars to stately verandas in historic hotels to trendy open air spots with see and be seen sidewalk seating. Its mix of residents and visitors gets more diverse each year – particularly with an upscale international crowd looking for a fresh new alternative to the crush of humanity that flocks to South Florida. It’s for these reasons and more – such as the burgeoning craft beer and brewery scene – that The New York Times recently placed the Sunshine City on it’s list of “52 Places to Go in the World.”

CLEARWATER

THE BEACH

If St. Pete is the cultural center, then Clearwater is the perfect complement: a well-thought out resort town where gleaming new hotels and mom-and-pop motels stand side-by-side on some of the most spectacular beachfront in the entire state. From USA TODAY to Time Magazine to Conde Nast and TripAdvisor’s No. 1 Beach in the U.S. for 2016, Clearwater Beach is routinely placed on “Best Of” lists the world over – and with good reason: more than a decade ago, to complement the area’s natural beauty, forward-thinking city officials adopted a “beach-by-design” initiative that led to the construction of Beach Walk, a pedestrian-friendly promenade that runs the entire length of the beach, acting as a sort of linear Central Park and giving the entire resort area an intimate yet open feel. With frequent public transit and golf-cart cabs galore, visitors to the area really don’t need a car during their visit—a rarity for any Florida town. The city comes alive year round with activities of all kinds, from offshore power boat races, to the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, to restaurant weeks, chalk art competitions, a massive “Sugar Sand” festival, Olympic-qualifying sailing regattas and more. Add to this mix the much-loved Clearwater Marine Aquarium, whose most famous resident starred in the oh-so-popular Warner Bros. Dolphin Tale films, and you have a Florida beach experience like no other.

TAMPA THE BIZ

Across three bridges lies Tampa, the states third largest city, with a dynamic business climate and a rich pre-Colombian history that traces back to the Tocobaga, Calusa and other Native American tribes that once lived in the area. Other historic influences include Henry Plant’s railroad, which established new trade opportunities with its opening in 1884, followed closely by the development of the city as a cigar manufacturing powerhouse, vestiges of which can still be seen in historic Ybor City. Today, the city enjoys a growing international reputation for its port (the largest in Florida) and its cruise ship terminal—most popular for western Caribbean cruises on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, NCL—as well as its professional sports teams: NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning (MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays play across the bay in St. Pete). Gasparilla, a pirate-themed Mardi-Gras festival, is one of the social highlights of the year, complete with an invasion of privateers on the Hillsborough River downtown. Tampa recently saw the groundbreaking of Water Street, a massive $3 billion mixed-use development (partially backed by investment from Bill Gates) that will double the footprint of downtown by its completion in 2027. Busch Gardens, a 20-minute drive north of downtown, is a vacationer’s island unto itself, hosting theme park enthusiasts from all over the world, wowing with a mix of old-school theme-park fare and cutting-edge modern coasters.

V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 27

B R E AT H TA K I N G Gulf front views from E V E RY W I N D O W.

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PIE

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YourTampa Bay Beaches Airport! PIE is Tampa Bay’s most convenient gateway to St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa and America’s award-winning beaches, with air service throughout the United States and Canada. The airport offers affordable parking with short walking distances and an easy-to-navigate terminal. PIE is one of the fastest growing airports in the United States and continues to break yearly records with annual increases in passengers. The St. Petersburg-Clearwater area can easily be reached from over 60 cities, all with non-stop ﬂights. Allegiant continues to be the largest airline at PIE and ﬂies non-stop to more destinations than any other airline in the Tampa Bay Area. We welcome you to enjoy all the wonderful attractions our destination has to offer and we take pride in making air travel easy as PIE!

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YOU CAN CALL IT YOUR WATERSHED MOMENT. It doesn't really hit you until you drop through the clouds and begin your descent into theTampa Bay area. The captain makes his "final approach" announcement and as you raise your seatback and tray table and the flight attendants prepare for landing, you take a look out the nearest window and find yourself blown away by the sheer amount of water all around. It's everywhere.

WATER VISITSPC.COM/WATER

Water surrounds the wet and wild Gulf Coast, where Tampa Bay joins the Gulf of Mexico, offering endless chances for adventure.

You have, of course, the Gulf of Mexico and its smaller cousin, Tampa Bay, but there's so much more. The Intracoastal Waterway runs the entire length of the St. Pete/Clearwater peninsula. And from above, an intricate network of rivers and tributaries almost seems like a mesh holding everything together. Then there are swimming pools — hundreds of them — and a smattering of smaller lakes that dot the landscape like freckles on a beautiful, suntanned face. So as you sit back and prepare to land, you begin to make a shopping list: sunblock, flip-flops, board shorts, (maybe) swim goggles, fins, a snorkel ... At the point where Tampa Bay meets and joins with the Gulf of Mexico, you have Florida's Suncoast — the pristine white sand beaches and amazing emerald green waters of St. Pete/Clearwater, where year-round sunshine and warm weather converge to create a sportsman's paradise and a proving ground for anything water-related. If you can do it in, on, or around water, you can bet we're doing it on the Suncoast.

From Skyway to Clearwater Rent a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard from Sweetwater Kayaks and explore some of the wildlife and the paddling trails at Weedon Island Preserve. Then enjoy lunch or a cool beverage at I.C. Sharks or The Getaway, then stroll out onto the Gandy fishing pier for a unique perspective on Tampa Bay. Just to the south in downtown St. Petersburg, boaters can moor at the Municipal Marina at

Demens Landing and enjoy all the benefits of downtown living, a short walk from world-class museums, five-star dining, excellent shopping and amazing nightlife. The only thing missing is the mortgage. With a little forethought and planning, folks reserve their spots early in the spring and find themselves watching the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg or the St. Anthony's Triathlon from the deck of their own boat. Or experience the roar of the Clearwater Super Boat Races as they reach speeds of 180 mph off the coast of Clearwater Beach. You don't have to have a boat to have a good time here. The only limit on your options is your imagination. Surfcasting at sunrise is some of the most fun you'll ever have with a fishing pole. In the very early mornings, when the conditions are right, you'll see big snook hovering just a few feet from the beach in shin-high, crystal-clear water. Try to cast right in front of the hovering fish and wait for it to take the bait; when you feel that familiar tug, set the hook and reel him in. The Sunshine Skyway fishing piers are open to the public 24/7/365. With an average water depth of just 12 feet, Tampa Bay, especially during the warm summer months, is teeming with life and draws migrating birds and game fish alike, which stop in for the warm waters and the all-you-can-eat buffet. Anglers net live bait to catch Spanish mackerel, cobia, snapper and grouper, as well as catfish, sea VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 31

Lake Tarpon

Sunshine Skyway

trout and spotted and largemouth bass. Just slightly west of the Skyway, in Egmont Channel, prized tarpon line up, just waiting to jump onto your hook as they make their way back north from the annual spring run in the Florida Keys.

Parks and barrier islands Fort De Soto is a constant draw for the 300 species of birds, wetlands, mangrove stands, palm hammocks and native plants. Accessible by car, boat or ferry, Fort De Soto sits at the south end of the Suncoast near the mouth of Tampa Bay. The park offers two fishing piers, beautiful beaches, a dog park (and dog-friendly beach), paved and nature trails, boat and kayak rentals, a historic military fort, a gift shop and food concessions, as well as shaded picnic areas and an excellent campground. Snorkelers can explore the ruins of the military fort below the waterline while kite surfers, sailboats, stand-up paddleboarders and windsurfers zip along above it. Just beyond Fort De Soto are Shell Key Preserve and Egmont Key, which are only accessible by boat and draw people looking to spot dolphins, sea turtles and manatees. Birdwatchers, shell collectors, hikers and campers 3 2 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

can access these barrier island jewels by heading to historic Pass-a-Grille, at the south end of St. Pete Beach. There, at the Merry Pier, you can take a shuttle, book a dolphin tour, rent snorkeling gear or get information about the nature preserve and permitted camping. Honeymoon Island, Caladesi Island and Anclote Key offer a pristine setting. Just a short drive across the causeway and you'll find yourself at Honeymoon Island. Park your car for the day and hike the nature trails in the morning, then have lunch at the concession stand before hopping on the ferry to Caladesi for an afternoon of remote beauty and quiet solitude. Three miles offshore from Tarpon Springs you'll find Anclote Key, an even more remote barrier island. Accessible only by boat, it's a prized destination for those seeking solitude and quiet. The primitive campsites are not for the faint of heart, but for those who'd like to spend the night under the myriad stars away from the city lights, they provide a unique experience.

Watersports galore If you're looking to ramp up your fun, you can take it to the next level by booking a variety of activities from

Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach. Try Jet Ski and WaveRunner rentals, parasailing and banana boat rides, kite surfing, wake boarding, barefoot and water-skiing excursions, and even the space age-looking levitation of the JetLev or Flyboard. You can also get scuba certified or book a spot on a dive boat to explore some of the 42 artificial reefs that dot the Suncoast. There are manmade structures, some dropped as close as 200 yards from shore, as well as remote, old shipwrecks located as far as 24 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. These reefs are also big draws for snorkelers and free divers whose interests range from underwater photography to spearfishing. Find a video and map of dive sites at VisitSPC.com/Dive. There are many rental and charter outfits located up and down the Gulf Coast beaches. Hubbard's Marina and Woody's Watersports at John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach are two reputable and long-standing businesses that can be a good place to start.

No salt please Lake Tarpon and Lake Seminole are both freshwater lakes, offering excellent bass and bluegill fishing, as well as boat launches and equipment rental. More “saltless” options can be found in Indian Rocks Beach at Splash Harbour Water Park. Conquer the 42-foot tall slide, with twists and turns, or challenge the Pirate’s Plunge that dumps you into crystal blue water. For those that want to simply relax, float down the 600-foot lazy river that features mists and waterfalls.

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best list VISITSPC.COM/BEST VOTED ON BY THOUSANDS OF LOCALS, VISITORS AND AREA INSIDERS, HERE IS YOUR LIST OF THE BEST OF EVERYTHING IN ST. PETE/CLEARWATER.

Best Beach Bar

Best Festival

1. Palm Pavilion, Clearwater Beach

1. Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival, Clearwater Beach

2. Frenchy's Rockaway Grill, Clearwater Beach 3. Caddy's on the Beach, Sunset Beach 4. Crabby's Bar & Grill, Clearwater Beach 5. Shephard's Tiki Beach Bar, Clearwater Beach

2. John's Pass Seafood Festival, Madeira Beach 3. Ribfest, St. Pete 4. Clearwater Jazz Holiday 5. St. Pete Pride

Best Sunset Spot 1. Pier 60, Clearwater Beach 2. Palm Pavilion, Clearwater Beach 3. The Hurricane, Pass-A-Grille Beach 4. Caddy's on the Beach, Sunset Beach 5. Tropics Boat Tours Sunset Cruise, Clearwater Beach

Best Rooftop Bar Best Charter Boat 1. Captain Memo's 2. Dolphin Landings 3. Hubbard's Marina 4. StarLite Cruises 5. Yacht StarShip

1. Jimmy's Crow's Nest, Pier House 60, Clearwater Beach 2. The Hurricane, Pass-A-Grille Beach 3. Canopy, The Birchwood, St. Pete 4. Level 11, Grand Plaza Beach Resort, St. Pete Beach 5. Hotel Zamora, St. Pete Beach

Best Live Music Venue 1. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater 2. Jannus Live, St. Pete 3. Capitol Theatre, Clearwater 4. Vinoy Park, St. Pete 5. Mahaffey Theater, St. Pete

Best Beach 1. Clearwater Beach 2. St. Pete Beach/Pass-A-Grille 3. Caladesi Island/Honeymoon Island State Park 4. Fort De Soto Park 5. Treasure Island

Best Museum Best Hotel 1. Don CeSar Hotel, St. Pete Beach 2. Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach 3. Wyndham Grand, Clearwater Beach 4. TradeWinds Island Resorts, St. Pete Beach 5. Vinoy Renaissance, St. Pete

1. The DalÍ Museum, St. Pete 2. Chihuly Collection, St. Pete 3. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Pete 4. Great Explorations Children's Museum, St. Pete 5. Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Pete

VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 37

Best Shopping Splurge 1. International Plaza, Tampa 2. John's Pass Village & Boardwalk, Madeira Beach 3. Dunedin's Main Street 4. Grand Central District, St. Pete Best Mural 5. Sundial, St. Pete

Best Downtown

1. Under the Sea, Vitale Bros. 2. Shark Toof, Shark Toof 3. Space Rainbows, Ricky Watts 4. Time to Think, Derek Donnelly and Sebastian Coolidge 5. Mr. Sun, Chad Mize

1. St. Pete 2. Dunedin 3. Clearwater 4. Safety Harbor 5. Gulfport

Best Spa 1. Sandpearl Spa, Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach 2. Safety Harbor Resort & Spa 3. Spa Oceana, Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach 4. Vinoy Salon & Day Spa, Vinoy Renaissance, St. Pete 5. Sandava Spa, Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach

Most Exciting Sporting Event

Best Dog Hangout Best Day Trip Away 1. Orlando Theme Parks 2. Crystal River 3. Busch Gardens, Tampa 4. Sarasota 5. Weeki Wachee Springs, Spring Hill

Best Walk in the Park

1. Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa

1. Sunken Gardens, St. Pete

2. Tampa Bay Rays, St. Pete 3. Spring Training, Clearwater & Dunedin 4. Firestone Grand Prix of St. Pete 5. Tampa Bay Rowdies, St. Pete

2. Philippe Park, Safety Harbor 3. Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo 4. Sawgrass Lake Park, St. Pete 5. Boca Ciega Millennium Park, Seminole

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1. Fort De Soto Park 2. The Dog Bar, St. Pete 3. Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin 4. Dunedin (Dogedin) 5. Downtown St. Pete

Best Brunch Best Coffee Shop 1. Indian Shores Coffee Co. 2. Kahwa, St. Pete 3. Sweet Brewnette, Madeira Beach 4. Bandit Coffee Co., St. Pete 5. Intermezzo, St. Pete

1. Island Way Grill, Clearwater Beach 2. Clear Sky, Clearwater Beach 3. 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House, St. Pete 4. Sea Porch, The Don CeSar Hotel 5. Marchand's Bar & Grill, St. Pete

Best Wedding Venue 1. Don CeSar Hotel, St. Pete Beach 2. Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach 3. Honeymoon Island, Dunedin 4. TradeWinds Island Resorts, St. Pete Beach 5. Vinoy Renaissance, St. Pete

Best Grouper 1. Frenchy's Rockaway Grill, Clearwater Beach 2. RumFish Grill, St. Pete Beach 3. Palm Pavilion, Clearwater Beach 4. Guppy's on the Beach, Indian Rocks Beach 5. Crabby’s Dockside, Clearwater Beach

Best Restaurant ($$) 1. Red Mesa, St. Pete

Best Restaurant ($)

Best Restaurant ($$$)

1. Cristino's Coal Oven Pizza, Clearwater

1. Salt Rock Grill, Indian Rocks Beach

2. Bodega, St. Pete 3. Mykonos, Tarpon Springs 4. Ted Peter's Famous Smoked Fish, St. Pete 5. Pizzeria Gregario, Safety Harbor

2. The Black Pearl, Dunedin 3. Café Ponte, Clearwater 4. Sea Salt, St. Pete 5. Il Ritorno, St. Pete

Best Food Truck 1. St. Pete Taco Lady 2. I Wanna Wok 3. Maggie on the Move 4. Surf and Turf Truck 5. Smokin' Bowls

Best Brewery 1. Dunedin Brewery 2. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Pete 3. Mad Beach Brewing, Madeira Beach 4. Green Bench Brewing Company, St. Pete 5. Cycle Brewing, St. Pete

2. Casa Tina, Dunedin 3. Snapper's Sea Grill, St. Pete Beach 4. FarmTable Cucina, St. Pete 5. Brick & Mortar, St. Pete

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A R T

St. Pete/Clearwaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation as a thriving cultural arts destination is undeniable. Colorful murals explode on streets and hidden alleyways, while world-class museums, galleries and working studios form a vibrant and growing arts scene.

ARTS VISITSPC.COM/ARTS

CITY OF THE ARTS IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO FEEL THE VIBE OF CREATIVE SPIRIT around downtown St. Petersburg. A mix of established and emerging artists are spread throughout five districts: Warehouse Arts, Grand Central, EDGE, Central Arts and Waterfront. Wander the streets, join a monthly Art Walk or hop on a trolley to find galleries, studios and colorful street art at every turn; more than 100 murals are spread throughout the five arts districts. Dubbed one of the "Most Beautiful Museums in the World" in 2016 by Condé Nast Traveler, the DalÍ Museum is home to one of the most comprehensive Salvador DalÍ collections outside Spain. With its spectacular concrete and curved-glass “Enigma” architecture, the internationally acclaimed museum combines traveling shows with masterworks and other curious art by the renowned Spanish surrealist. The Museum of Fine Arts offers national traveling exhibits along with a fine permanent collection including paintings by Monet, Cézanne, and Renoir, sculpture gardens and a Steuben glass gallery. The Morean Arts Center presents contemporary art exhibits by local and regional artists, with a hot shop showing live glass-blowing demonstrations. The St. Petersburg Museum of History is home to the largest private collection of autographed baseballs in the world, along with artifacts and memorabilia covering more than 100 years of Tampa Bay’s history as a spring training destination. At the Florida Holocaust Museum, traveling and permanent exhibits honor the memory of victims of the atrocities during World War II. Scheduled to open in early 2018, the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art promises to be a world-class cultural destination featuring the magnificent private collection of local residents Tom and Mary James. The museum, with more than 30,000 square feet of gallery space, will be a diverse collection of paintings, bronze statues, Native American jewelry and pottery, and stone sculptures depicting the landscape, wildlife and culture of the American West. Blue Neon Tumbleweed, 2009 Chihuly Collection

V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 43

ARTS Also coming soon… the $70 million Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement in downtown St. Pete. This five-story museum will feature Ciccarello’s collection of photography, furniture, pottery and more. Visit with talented local artists at one of dozens of galleries and studios. Stroll along Central Avenue and wander a few blocks north or south to find many of them. In the Warehouse Arts District, drop by Soft Water Studios, where 4,000 square feet of space is devoted to local artists. Or tour the ArtsXchange market studio, home to artists of various media. The adjacent MGA Sculpture Studio is where large-scale commissioned sculptures in a variety of media are designed and fabricated. The kilns are fired up at the Clay Center of St. Petersburg in the old train station, where working potters can be seen almost daily. Florida CraftArt and Florida Craftsman House feature unique fine crafts in clay, fiber, glass, and other media by both national and local artists. Above Florida CraftArt, the ArtLofts are filled with local artists.

DalÍ Museum

GLASS ART MECCA Admirers of glass art will find much to please them in St. Petersburg. The stunning glass installations of renowned Seattle artist Dale Chihuly can be found at the Chihuly Collection. In the Warehouse Arts District (WADA), the 3,000-square-foot studio, galleries and hot shop of local artist Duncan McClellan is where you can find his signature etched glass urns. A guest gallery showcases nationally and internationally recognized glass artists, while outside a working hot shop invites visitors to learn about glassblowing. The brand new Imagine Museum has transformed a recently renovated building on Central Avenue into an impressive 15,000 square feet of exhibit space devoted to the history of the American Studio Glass Movement, dating from the 1960s to now. “We present the history of studio glass art along with work by important established and emerging artists,” executive director Nate Jessup says. “It is our goal to be a major contributor to the rising tide of the glass art scene in St. Pete.”

Duncan McClellan

44 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

OFF THE BEATEN PATH The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum is a notable privately owned collection of vintage cars and vehicles from around the world tucked away in an industrial complex in Pinellas Park. Rare cars from France, Germany, England, Ireland, and the US are housed in this 12,000-square-foot warehouse. In Dunedin, the Dunedin Fine Art Center presents exhibitions in four galleries featuring national, regional and local artists. The center is home to the David L. Mason Children's Art Museum, featuring interactive exhibits for little ones. The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, on the campus of St. Petersburg College in Tarpon Springs, offers changing exhibits by national artists in addition to a 6,000-piece permanent collection that includes works by important 20th and 21st-century artists. In Safety Harbor, Syd Entel Galleries and Susan Benjamin Glass present work by national and international artists.

ART WALKS & FESTIVALS Art walks in St. Petersburg, Dunedin, and Gulfport allow visitors to explore galleries and studios and interact with local artists. Up to 40 studios and galleries open their doors during the 2nd Saturday ArtWalk in downtown St. Petersburg, 5 to 9 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month. Many offer wine, cheese, acoustic music and a lively social scene. Find a map at one of the participating galleries; hop aboard a free ArtWalk trolley for a fun evening exploring five arts districts. The Gulfport Art Walk turns Beach Boulevard into an outdoor art festival the first Friday and third Saturday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m. Explore artsy Dunedin’s galleries and studios during the Second Friday Wine and Art Walk; go to Pioneer Park in the center of downtown to get started. During spring and fall, fine arts festivals such as Mainsail, Art on the Bayou in Tarpon Springs, and Dunedin Art Harvest present top-caliber national and regional artists and craftspeople.

Softwater Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

DalÍ Museum

FAMILY FUN With its interactive exhibits, Great Explorations Children’s Museum encourages kids to touch, move, create and learn. Next door, take a stroll through the exotic Sunken Gardens, one of the area’s oldest attractions, visit the flock of pink flamingos and meander among 50,000 tropical plants and trees. History buffs will want to take a walk through Old Florida at Heritage Village in Largo. This 21-acre living history museum features more than two dozen significant structures, from the 1852 McMullen-Coachman Log Cabin to a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse, railroad depot, and general store. In Tampa, the Glazer Children’s Museum, Museum of Science and Industry and the Tampa Bay History Center are filled with fascinating exhibits for the family. Find a complete listing of cultural offerings in the area at VisitSPC.com/Arts.

Soft Water Studios ChalkFest

Sunken Gardens

m mixed d i a ARTS

Vibrant artists brighten St. Pete/Clearwater with works from dance to dolls, and share their inspiration with the rest of the world.

Helen Hansen French

One reason St. Pete/Clearwater is a celebrated arts destination? We’re home to some of the nation’s most exciting visual artists, actors, writers, dancers and musicians. Meet just a few of the talented people who help make our area special. Dancer and choreographer Helen Hansen French is a mover and shaker, literally, in our arts community, co-founding the St. Petersburg Dance Alliance and Beacon, a contemporary dance series. After graduating from Juilliard she was invited to join the Buglisi Dance Theatre in New York, where she rose to principal dancer. She’s toured nationally and internationally, with top arts critics calling her performances “luminous” and “radiant.” Her own choreography has been performed at

46 A ME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

venues including the Peter Jay Sharp Theater and the Clark Studio Theater at Lincoln Center. Painter, installation artist and muralist Ya Levy La’ford finds inspiration in community, which could be why she creates so much of her award-winning art in public spaces. The Jamaican-born artist’s large-scale abstract works can be found in galleries, libraries and public collections across the country, as well as in the private collections of actor Will Smith and the late Maya Angelou. Locally, La’ford has created installations and murals for institutions, museums and cultural centers, including the Chihuly Collection, the Tampa Museum of Art and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.

Husband and wife Chris Chomick and Peter Meder met in 1978 while clerks in a Chicago art supply store and found their mutual love of puppets, stop-motion film and mechanical toys. They were soon collaborating on projects, including a stop-motion animated puppet version of the Dutch Boy for Sherwin-Williams Paints, starting a career of creating special effects for national TV commercials. As Chomick+Meder, they began creating their unique movable art dolls from clay, wood, and other materials. Their award-winning figures have been featured in national and international art doll and automata publications, and are in private collections around the world.

MEET MORE AWARD-WINNING ARTISTS WHO CALL ST. PETE/CLEARWATER HOME MARK AELING creates eye-catching sculptures for public and private clients around the country, including the splendorous Ripples of Life (with co-designer Carrie Jadus) at The Florida Aquarium. In 2012, Aeling was the only American invited to show work as a finalist in the International Stone Sculpture Triennale in Japan. ELIZABETH BAKER is a modern composer whose innovative works were showcased at the 2014 Electronic Music Midwest festival in Kansas City and the 19th International Festival of Women Composers in Gainesville. GREGORY BYRD is a poet whose work, often set in his boyhood home of the Florida Keys, explores place and mythology. Among Byrd’s accomplishments are a 2011 Fulbright fellowship in poetry to Albania and a Pushcart Prize nomination. ROXANNE FAY is an actor and playwright, garnering acting awards from, among others, Broadway World, Theatre Tampa Bay, and Creative Loafing. As a playwright, Fay was named a 2018 artist-in-residence at The Growlery in San Francisco. LINDA DEE GUY is a mixed-media painter with more than 20 solo exhibitions, as well as international shows in Peru and Japan. Her public work is on permanent display at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. D YAEL KELLEY is an oil painter and longtime arts advocate whose evocative expressionist paintings can be found in collections throughout the nation and world. STEVEN KENNY is an oil painter whose unique style combines classical human figure painting and fantasy-drenched surrealism. He exhibits work around the world. BILL LEAVENGOOD is a two-time Eugene O’Neill playwright and Circle Repertory alumnus whose plays have been produced off-Broadway and regionally for more than 20 years. DAVID MANSON is a jazz musician, composer, and educator. He is the founder and director of the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival and the groundbreaking EMIT series of jazz, world music and new music.

YA LEVY LA’FORD

CAROL MICKETT AND ROBERT STACKHOUSE are a husband-and-wife team who collaborate on large-scale site-specific sculptures, paintings, and prints. Stackhouse’s solo works can be found in such museums as the Museum of Modern Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. ROSE MARIE PRINS’ luminous mixed-media paintings and sculptures have been featured in solo and group exhibitions at museums, cultural centers, and galleries throughout the United States, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Woman’s Building in Los Angeles. BABS REINGOLD is an artist who creates dynamic wall art and installations that explore beauty, poverty and the environment. Reingold’s work can be found in private and public collections around the world. ANDEE SUN SCOTT is an interdisciplinary dance artist whose bold choreography has been performed nationally and internationally, most recently in the Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival and Barnstorm Dance Fest in Houston. TOM SIVAK is a composer whose credits include original musicals, the score for the documentary film Golub, and a world premiere performance of his composition Prelude and Fugue by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. LISA POWERS TRICOMI is a theater professional and a drama therapist. She works with such groups as veterans and children and adults diagnosed on the autism spectrum to help them improve their lives through storytelling and self-expression.

PETER MEDER & CHRIS CHOMICK

At Creative Pinellas our mission is to facilitate a vibrant, integrated, collaborative and sustainable local arts community and cultural destination. We offer a range of grants to support and sustain working artists, and to lift emerging artists. The grantees featured here are St. Pete/Clearwater’s artists of outstanding talent and ability. For more, visit CreativePinellas.org/artists V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 47

MURALS VISITSPC.COM/MURALS

WITH MORE THAN 100 MURALS, St. Petersburg was named one of the Top 15 Best Street Art Cities in the World in 2017 by Huffington Post. The Shine Mural Festival each fall adds 16 new ones to the mix as local, national and international artists converge on the ‘Burg for a week of extreme wall painting, outdoor festivities and arts events. This year marks the fourth Shine festival, which will include guided bicycle and walking tours. “St. Pete has become a 24-hour open-air art museum,” says John Collins, head of St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, which produces the Shine Mural Festival. “Shine is bringing top artists here from around the world and people are coming from all over to watch them.” Sign up for a guided walking mural tour at Florida CraftArt on Central Avenue; tours are held at 10 a.m. every Saturday. You can also download your own self-guided walking mural tour map at www.shineonstpete.org. Explore the complete list of street art in St. Pete at VisitSPC.com/Murals.

5 0 AME R I C Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S B E ST B E ACH ES

AS THE BEACH BY DAY brings out the expected happy hues only sunshine can afford, a distinctly subtler palette prevails on the Gulf coast by night. Sea oats stretch to the sky to wave the day goodbye (9), while shiny green palm fronds become ghostly silhouettes beckoning visitors to the darkened shore (2). Dunes (1), docks (7) and denizens of the deep (8) are defined by bursts of manmade light, while a natural glow paints the Gulf in swaths of silver, catching driftwood in the act (left). A solitary swing (5) and dormant guard stand (6) work the night shift, quietly watching visitors prowl beachfront bars (4) or take in the vastness of the night sky in sandy solitude (3). 1

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SHOPPING

FLORIDA PURE SEA SALT Harvested from Florida’s shores, Florida Pure Sea Salt is the perfect finishing touch to any recipe. Pure sea salt holds more moisture and flavor than the kind you find on supermarket shelves. Stick with the briny classic or try a pinch of an infused variety, made right here in St. Petersburg. Shake some limeinfused salt on your pan-fried catch of the day or sprinkle some of the maple bacon-infused salt on your morning glazed doughnut. Find these salts on the shelves of Locale Gourmet Market, a restaurant and market from celebrity chefs Michael Mina and Don Pintabona. floridapureseasalt.com. $15-$26.

BOTIKI JEWELRY Gulfport, south of St. Petersburg, is a slice of funky Florida, so make sure to stop by BoTiki for some one-of-a-kind fashion. Peruse their unique jewelry collection and you’ll find pieces from local jewelry designer Chrissy Hounchell of Cadyn and Charlie, inspired by and named after her children. We’re loving these handmade beaded gemstone bracelets. A portion of the proceeds goes to charities close to the family. botiki.com and caydnandcharlie.com. $34 and up.

TRUCKER HAT You’re going to need a little shade when you’re on the water. Boaters Republic, west Florida’s premier boating and fishing outfitter, has plenty of hats and visors to keep the sun at bay. Whatever your preference, represent #boatlife in style. boatersrepublic.com. $22.95$32.99.

PADDLEBOARDS Make sure to try any watersports while you’re here, and paddleboarding is a local favorite. C-Ride Board Shop in St. Petersburg makes stand-up paddleboards for every level. Here, you’re buying directly from the creator, so you know they stand by their products. You can rent a board or buy a used one. c-ride.com. $350 and up. FLORIDITA SWIMWEAR Bring out your inner mermaid with this swimwear, designed by a local marine biologist! Charlotte Marin opened a swim school in St. Pete in 2014, and now she’s flexing her creative muscles with a collection of luxury bathing suits. They are made in Colombia, where the company supports single working mothers who have been victims of violence. floriditaswimwear.com. $89-$149. 5 2 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

AFTER SUN REMEDY Spend a little too much time under the sun? No worries, because Night Shift Wax Company’s After Sun Remedy Mist will come to the rescue. It’s locally made with all-natural plant and mineral ingredients, such as green tea, aloe vera and coconut, that work to refresh, restore and cool your skin. You can meet the owner, Samantha Cipriani, at many of the area’s indie markets, where she sells her natural candle and skincare products. nightshiftwaxcompany.com. $16 for 2 ounces, $32 for 4 ounces.

TARPON SPRINGS SPONGES Soak up a piece of Florida history when you visit the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs, one of the most fun tourist attractions in the area. There, you’ll learn about the Greek immigrants in the town who saw a golden opportunity in the sponge industry. Don’t forget to pick up a sponge at Spongeorama’s Sponge Factory before you leave. Opa! Spongeorama.com. $12 and up.

CHIHULY UMBRELLA The Chihuly Collection moved to St. Pete's Central Avenue in 2016 and the larger gallery is home to a dazzling collection of vessels and sculptures by Dale Chihuly, the most famous glass artist in the world. Don’t miss the gift shop where you’ll find calendars, apparel and glass art. Stay colorfully dry during Florida rainy season with this umbrella featuring that magical ceiling display. chihulyworkshop.com. $36.

PERGAMO STICKERS Send someone a piece of weird Florida from Pergamo Paper Goods. A staple at many of the indie markets across the county, these eccentric stickers feature flamingos in classy suits, alligators with hula hoops or mermaid pugs. These oddball animals also come on cards, prints, tote bags and pillows. Pick up a sticker at LocalShops1, a marketing firm and pop-up store in Gulfport. pergamopapergoods.com. $2.50 and up.

LOCAL FINDS

PET STUFF Take your pooch to The Dog House of Safety Harbor, if only for the doggie pools in the front. This upscale pet boutique has everything — outfits for your fluffy pal, funky dog planters and this adorable Preston nylon dog leash. Take something home for you and your best four-legged friend. the-dog-house-of-safetyharbor-inc.myshopify.com. $15.95 and up.

PINELLAS CHOCOLATE Brothers Addam and Cody Vessa are modern-day Willy Wonkas, magically turning cacao beans to chocolate bars in their Largo kitchen and Pinellas Chocolate retail shop. Each bar of dark chocolate is infused with unique flavors; definitely try the Florida Bar Set, which includes Florida-inspired flavors of orange, salted lime and datil pepper. Pick up a bar at many local breweries, markets and coffee shops. You’ll even spot them at Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach, and they make the perfect take-home treat. pinellaschocolate.com. $20 for a set of three.

ROYAL STEWART RED BOWTIE If you enjoy the sound of bagpipes, try Dunedin, which loves to celebrate its Celtic culture with pubs, clubs and festivals. Take home a little green pride with you from the Celtic Shop of Dunedin, a quirky spot with lots of Celtic trinkets, including the ever-popular Celtic bowtie. celticshopdunedin. com. $28.

KITES Let’s go fly a kite! Up to the highest height! Sorry for that earworm, but flying a kite on the St. Pete/ Clearwater shores is seriously fun. Windworks at John's Pass in Madeira Beach carries lots of modern, brightly-colored kites that will soar through our blue skies. floridawindworks.com. $45.99 and up.

HOGAN’S BEACH SHOP Central Florida is home to a few celebrities, but probably none as big -- literally -- as Hulk Hogan. Terry Bollea, Hogan’s real name, grew up in the Tampa Bay area and has lived around Clearwater for a couple of decades. The retired professional wrestler opened Hogan’s Beach Shop in Clearwater Beach in 2012, and it’s a mini-museum about the larger-than-life persona. It includes an impressive collection of tumblers showcasing many professional wrestlers. Plus the Hulkster occasionally makes appearances to sign merchandise at the shop. shophulkhogan.com. $14.99. V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 5 3

LOCAL markets

You can always have fun – and score great locally sourced products – at one of St. Pete and Clearwater’s markets. Some are seasonal, while others go on year-round. Here are some favorites:

W O R L D FA M O U S

SATURDAY MORNING MARKET St. Petersburg • This vibrant market with about 130 vendors in the heart of downtown is THE place to nosh, people-watch and groove to live music on Saturdays from October through May in the parking lot of Al Lang Field. BROCANTE VINTAGE MARKET St. Petersburg • Browse through 15,000 square feet of antique furnishings, salvaged housewares, old toys and tools, and flea market treasures at this indoor warehouse market open the first Saturday and Sunday of every month. DUNEDIN DOWNTOWN MARKET • Pioneer Park bustles with fresh produce and plants, arts and crafts, health and well-being products, food vendors and live music Fridays and Saturdays from November through May. In June, it’s only on Saturdays.

COREY AVENUE SUNDAY MARKET • St. Pete Beach • You’ll find a diverse array of locally-made products from honeys, soaps and jams to jewelry, all set among the shops and restaurants along Corey Avenue every Sunday from October through May.

GULFPORT FRESH MARKET Every Tuesday of the year, small-town funky charm welcomes visitors who will find a quirky mix, from fresh produce and hot sauces to gecko art and hand-blown glass works, along Beach Boulevard in the Waterfront District. CLEARWATER FARMER’S MARKET • Downtown Clearwater’s scenic waterfront market under the Memorial Causeway features fresh local produce, meats, fish, cheeses and artisanal foods every Saturday yearround. Visitors will also find a bevy of trinkets and treasures.

INDIE MARKET • St. Petersburg • Everything hand-crafted, sustainable, repurposed and recycled can be found at this hipster market that pops up the first Saturday of the month year-round at Green Bench Brewing.

Only 20 Minutes from Clearwater Only 45 Minutes from Tampa Only 2 Hours from Orlando

Experience the flavor of

Greece and the excitement of an authentic working waterfront on the Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs, Florida. Greek restaurants, bakeries, seafood, sponge diving, shops and tour boats make this waterfront destination unique. Tarpon Springs Historic Downtown offers restaurants, craft breweries, art, antiques and eclectic boutiques. Tarpon Springs is also the home of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, host of the largest Epiphany celebration in the western hemisphere.

Tarpon Springs Tampa Tampa International Airport

Clearwater

REGIONAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

St. PetersburgClearwater International Airport

Central Pinellas Chamber Of Commerce (727) 584.2321, Centralchamber.biz Clearwater Beach Chamber Of Commerce (727) 447.7600, Beachchamber.com Clearwater Regional Chamber Of Commerce (727) 461.0011, Clearwaterflorida.org Dunedin Chamber Of Commerce (727) 733.3197, Dunedin-Fl.com Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber Of Commerce (727) 784.4287, Palmharborcc.org Gulfport Area Chamber Of Commerce (727) 344.3711, Gulfportareachamberofcommerce.org Pinellas Park/Gateway Chamber Of Commerce (727) 544.4777, Pinellasparkgatewaychamber.com Safety Harbor Chamber Of Commerce (727) 726.2890, Safetyharborchamber.com Seminole Chamber Of Commerce (727) 392.3245, Seminolechamber.net St. Petersburg Area Chamber Of Commerce (727) 821.4069, Stpete.com Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber Of Commerce (727) 360.6957, Tampabaybeaches.com Tarpon Springs Chamber Of Commerce (727) 937.6109, Tarponspringschamber.com Treasure Island & Madeira Beach Chamber of Commerce (727) 360.4121, Islandneighborschamber.org Upper Tampa Bay Chamber Of Commerce (813) 855.4233, Utbchamber.com 5 4 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

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Celebrate pride with 250,000 pals

Our area has gained a reputation as an LGBT mecca for good reason. It’s home to St. Pete Pride, the largest LGBT pride event in Florida. Of course, pride is celebrated 365 days a year here, in everything we do. From shopping and nightlife to sunny days at the beach, there’s always been a place for us in St. Pete/Clearwater.

In 2017, The Advocate named St. Pete the 3rd Queerest City in America and nothing captures our festive spirit like St. Pete Pride. The multiday celebration draws up to 250,000 attendees each June. The event’s highlight is a spectacular night parade along the city’s scenic downtown waterfront, followed by a lively street festival in the gay-friendly Grand Central District. Throughout June, the city is awash in rainbow colors. Hundreds of local businesses and organizations fly Pride flags to toast the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. There’s even an annual Pride flag-raising ceremony at City Hall.

Welcome to the ‘gayborhood’ No matter what time of year you visit, you can swing by the LGBT Welcome Center in St. Pete’s Grand Central District. The cozy 1920s bungalow is a year-round gathering spot for LGBT folks to grab a cup of coffee, get connected to the local community, and map out the day’s plans, beginning right here in what locals call their “gayborhood.” Spend the day shopping in the Grand Central District’s many LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly antique shops and trendy boutiques. Refuel at one of the district’s hip cafes, like Casita Taqueria, with its authentic Mexican menu; or Love Food Central, which caters to the vegan and gluten-free crowds. In the evening, enjoy dinner and a game of drag queen bingo at laid-back neighborhood favorite Punky’s Bar & Grill. Or hear live music while dining al fresco at the British-themed Queens Head. (Keep your eyes peeled: the Queens Head is one of several Grand Central District bars and restaurants housed in repurposed 1950s gas stations.) Stroll a few blocks east to downtown’s EDGE District to dance the night away at the state-of-the-art Enigma Bar & Lounge. Traveling with your pooch? Join the locals sipping cocktails with their cocker spaniels at The Dog Bar, a neighborhood lounge and dog park combo that’s especially popular with women. (You’ll need a copy of your dog’s vaccination records and a $40 annual membership.)

History (and more) in Clearwater and Dunedin Downtown Clearwater is home to the legendary Pro Shop Pub, the oldest LGBT bar in Tampa Bay. Since 1976, locals have enjoyed the tree-shaded outdoor patio at this friendly neighborhood bar, now an important slice of LGBT history. Less historic, and far zanier is Clearwater’s Hamburger Mary’s, part of a popular nationwide burger chain specializing in no-frills grub, cheap drinks, and drag queen-hosted trivia and bingo. (Sister locations are in St. Pete and Tampa’s Ybor City.) In downtown Dunedin, the gay-friendly Blur Nightclub hosts Friday night drag shows, where some of Tampa Bay’s best-loved queens strut their stuff.

St. Pete was named the #3 Queerest City in America for 2017 by The Advocate. St. Pete Pride made history in 2017 with its first ever TransPride March. In 2018, the event celebrates its 16th anniversary.

Sand and sun for everyone You can’t go wrong with any of St. Pete/Clearwater’s award-winning beaches, but if you’re looking for one that’s been welcoming the LGBT crowd for decades, head to Sunset Beach on the southern end of Treasure Island. Known for its Key West-style free-spiritedness, this little slice of paradise is packed with colorful homes, beachfront bars and tiki huts.

Wind down with a movie Visiting in October? You won’t want to miss the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, now in its 29th year. The festival happens over nine days in venues across the Tampa Bay area, including St. Pete’s freeFall Theatre and the Museum of Fine Arts. You can also catch films from January to August as part of the TIGLFF’s popular monthly film series.

LGBT-friendly hotels and B&Bs Friendly lodging abounds in the area, with the sprawling Flamingo Resort offering perhaps more recreation than rest. The St. Pete hotel doubles as an entertainment complex, featuring several bars, country and western dancing, cabaret shows and, naturally, Sunday tea dances around the swimming pool. Something more quaint? St. Pete is bursting with charming LGBT-friendly B&B inns, including Dickens House Bed and Breakfast, a 1912 craftsman bungalow decorated in arts and crafts style. It’s nestled in the city’s historic Old Northeast neighborhood, just a short walk to downtown. Also popular: Beach Drive Inn on the downtown waterfront, and the affordable, pet-friendly GayStPete House. In Dunedin, the Meranova Guest Inn is an antiques-filled B&B boasting a pool and a lovely orchid garden. Want to stay right on the beach? Bay Palms Waterfront Resort, a boutique-style hotel on St. Pete Beach, is just 200 feet from the sand.

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Yum

ALL KINDS OF

60 AME R I C Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S B E ST B E ACH ES

dining FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF LOCAL DINING OPTIONS SEE VISITSPC.COM/DINING The St. Pete/Clearwater food scene is having a moment. This area has sneaked onto loads of national “foodie destination” lists. USA Today, Travel & Leisure — everyone seems smitten all of a sudden. We asked Laura Reiley, food critic of Florida's largest newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times, her thoughts on the area's most popular dining hot spots. Here's her list of top spots across the region.

Waterside CADDY’S ON THE BEACH

Sunset Beach, Treasure Island; $ You may encounter a thong-clad octogenarian with a parrot on her shoulder; both can drink you under the table. Caddy’s is prime sand, prime sun and a gently graduated entry into gulf waters. You’re drinking out of plastic cups, the food is serviceable and waitresses need a whole lot of sunblock to cover what’s exposed. But there’s live music and housemade brisket, and Sunset Beach is one of the only places where alcoholic drinks are allowed on the sand.

WOODY’S WATERFRONTSt. Pete Beach; $ On the water but not precisely on the beach, the rocky little inlet of Blind Pass was carved out by a hurricane in 1928. The bar itself loosely dates back to 1946 as a bait shop and gathering spot for burgers and big fish tales. Burgers are still tops, but Woody’s has so much more. There’s always a performer straddling that is-thiskaraoke-or-is-it-live space. Add the dolphins cavorting nearby, often discomfiting the paddleboarders. It’s family-friendly, with the best deal on Wednesdays and Thursdays when fish and chips are $8.95 all day. FRENCHY’S ROCKAWAY GRILL

Clearwater Beach; $$ Rockaway boasts a wide swath of white-sand beach, a comfy pastel indoor-outdoor dining room and bands that know their way around '70s and '80s favorites. Order the famous lush, velvety she-crab soup, but don’t miss out on the grouper sandwich. The beachfront deck is the place to be, but they don’t take reservations, so cool your jets and listen to the music.

THE HURRICANE Pass-a-Grille; $$ Across the street from the Gulf of Mexico, the 40-yearold Hurricane is a tourist must, a shambling three stories of indoor-outdoor conviviality with live music most evenings. You come here for a few specifics. Exhibit A: the grouper sandwich, still good fried, grilled, broiled, blackened or jerked. Exhibit B: the rooftop sunset watching. And Exhibit C: tropical drinks that tend to discolor your tongue (and, on occasion, your judgment).

The Hurricane Woody's Waterfront

KEY

$ Most entrees less than $10 $$ Most entrees in the $20s $$$ Most entrees in the $30s $$$$ Most entrees $40+ Family-Friendly Pet-Friendly

American STILLWATERS TAVERN St. Petersburg; $$ An anchor on Beach Drive in a prime spot across from the Museum of Fine Arts, the handsome 260-seat indoor/outdoor restaurant is a tourist and snowbird magnet. The menu has been tweaked to accommodate the customer base: portion sizes have gone up, there are more meat-centric dishes and the wine list has been simplified. The biggest seller is the lager cheese fondue, the short rib burger with red-wine mustard is a keeper, as is the trout spread. For happy hour, one of the best deals of the century is the housemade beer nuts for $1.99. THE READING ROOM St. Petersburg; $$$ The

indoor space of this former Christian Science Reading Room is gorgeous and spare, with expansive windows on two sides that look out onto a 3,000-square-foot vegetable garden. The Reading Room’s

Brick and Mortar

menu is divided into four chapters; Chapter Two, mostly salad, is absolutely stunning. But zero in on Chapter Three’s bowl of clams and mussels in a winey-vermouthy broth or juicy pork set atop luscious whipped potatoes with smoky grilled greens and pickled onion.

BRICK AND MORTAR St. Petersburg; $$

Hope Montgomery and Jason Ruhe’s quirky personal vision yielded the kind of intimate independent restaurant for which St. Petersburg is becoming known. It’s all reclaimed wood and Pinterest-style tableaux of packing pallets and flower pots, and it’s working: the place is frequently packed. Ruhe riffs with Spanish ingredients and Italian fundamentals with the occasional Indonesian fillip, all with a focus on local sources whenever possible.

Not to be missed: the house beef carpaccio with housemade ravioli stuffed with leek and goat cheese mousse and egg yolk.

CAFE PONTE Clearwater; $$$ The office phone rings. “Where should I take my wife for our anniversary?” If I don’t know the caller, Cafe Ponte is my go-to because it dings every bell. Suave service, a glamorous setting, not too loud, a new American menu that tiptoes from Mediterranean to Southeast Asia. There’s an early four-course prix fixe: $36 for soup, salad, choice of entree and dessert (which recently has been a burnt orangecardamom crème brulee). Or go all out with the six-course seasonal tasting menu for $90 and an extra $35 for wine pairings.

Seafood

Dimitri’s On The Water

DIMITRI’S ON THE WATER Tarpon Springs;

$$-$$$ When I want Greek pastries, it’s Hellas; lamb shanks, it’s Mykonos; souvlaki, it’s, well, Mr. Souvlaki. But for an overall sit-down meal, I go here. There is textbook avgolemono (egg and lemon soup), moussaka and spanakopita, all of it just a bit lighter than at many nearby restaurants. But my favorite dishes are the lemony whole roasted fish and a dish of chickpeas stewed with curly endive.

OLDE BAY CAFE Dunedin; $$ More outside than in, with a convivial marina-side deck on which to imbibe a little craft beer with friends before getting down

62 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

to the business of eating fresh fish. There are a few kinds each day, which you can have as a pair of messy tacos, in a sandwich or as a dinner. Owner Walt Wickman also has Hog Island Fish Camp, a casual Cracker-style spot nearby, but Olde Bay is the place for peel-and-eat shrimp or a grouper sandwich.

SALT ROCK GRILL Indian Shores; $$-$$$ Frank Chivas continues to offer one of the best early bird deals around. Each diner gets a salad, then a choice of many entrees (chicken cordon bleu, coconut-crusted shrimp, mile-high meatloaf, fresh day-boat fish in a crab cream sauce) and then a chef’s choice on dessert. All of this for $14.90, but you must be seated by 5:30 p.m. But this is just part of why this longtimer is still packed to the gills. It’s the suave service, the water views, the convivial vibe, and the fresh fish from Chivas’ own boats. SEA SALT St. Petersburg; $$$ On the fancy end of the seafood spectrum, with a staggering glass-fronted

wall of wine. The main attraction here can’t be missed: At the entrance to the 12,000-squarefoot, 300-seater, there’s an L-shaped display of whole fresh fish on ice, decorated attractively with seaweed and lemons like a confusing underwater tableau. Executive chef Kenny Tufo has hit his cruising altitude with just-slightly-Italianinflected luxe seafood dishes and a notable lineup of oysters, between six and nine types daily.

SNAPPER’S SEA GRILL St. Pete Beach; $$ A seafood restaurant on the beach, right across from the TradeWinds? Gotta be a tourist trap, right? Not on Dan Casey’s watch. He has slowly grown a little empire, with Snapper’s, nearby MadFish, set in a retro dining car, and a steakhouse, 1200 Chophouse, also close at hand. What sets Snapper’s apart is fresh-off-the-boat fish and a tremendous wine list served by a savvy staff that does it justice. Chef Chris Burghart has a slightly Floribbean palate, with fruity salsas and coconut, but the fundamentals are grouper and snapper. Salt Rock Grill

dining VISITSPC.COM/DINING

Steak

1200 Chophouse

1200 CHOPHOUSE St. Pete Beach; $$$ Veteran beach restaurateur Dan Casey launched this tiny steakhouse in 2013, in many ways a throwback to the days before steaks had brand names and beef-centric fine dining took place in vast spaces. Unlike many restaurants, this is not an a la carte approach, entrees accompanied by salad, potato, etc. The wine list is sophisticated and the markups reasonable — a fact that contributes to making this one of the best steakhouse values. The “tomahawk chop” bone-in rib eye, seared on a griddle and then broiled at 1,200 degrees, is a standout.

FarmTable Cucina

FARMTABLE CUCINA

St. Petersburg; $$ This market-restaurant concept has been in a perpetual state of change since launch. One bit that’s established as truly noteworthy is upstairs, in the FarmTable Cucina. It draws from all over the store: Fresh juices from the market’s phalanx of juicers; rolls from the bakery; extruded and filled pastas; and dry-aged steaks from the beef case where they lounge, flanked by 196 Himalayan salt plates. They are magical on the grill or pan-seared, but they are rainbow-unicorn magical when cooked by experts over the flywheel grills.

Casa Tina

CASA TINA Dunedin; $-$$ Tina and Javier Avila’s

place has become part of the fabric of the charming downtown with celebrations like Mexican Independence Day, Cena de Nochebuena and Dia de los Muertos. This is fairly upscale, with loads of vegetarian and vegan options and a reluctance to lean too heavily on the deep fryer. First chips and salsa are free, so plan accordingly. Fajitas get high marks, but I tend to head for the chile rellenos, the chiles en nogado (stuffed poblanos) or the sweet-smoldery mole poblano veggie enchiladas.

ROCOCO STEAK St. Petersburg; $$$ Even in its infancy it aimed high, nabbing Wine Spectator’s “Best of” award of excellence for its list of more than 650 selections, with 34 wines by the glass. Set in the historic 1920s YWCA building, it has a nostalgic glamor to it, with excellent private dining space. The dinner-only menu continues to be one of the only area places selling grass-fed filet mignon. If you’re the scientific type, order a corn-fed and a grass-fed side by side.

Red Mesa

Mexican

MEXICO LINDO Pinellas Park, Clearwater; $ Both locations are solid examples of the classic Mexican grocery/cafe. Not much atmosphere and only about eight tables, this is where you grab a soda and stand at the counter wrestling with your conscience about how many tacos to order (at $1.89 each, your conscience usually convinces you three is right). The al pastor and carne asada are great, but my favorite is carnitas. House gorditas are also notable, and the Clearwater location’s bakery makes nice concha and other pan dulces.

RED MESA

St. Petersburg; $$ Peter and Shawn Veytia, their son Pete and chef Chris Fernandez rotate from the flagship 20-year-old Red Mesa south to the sprawling, clubby Red Mesa Cantina, and then west to the quick-serve/market Red Mesa Mercado. Fernandez’s most ambitious work can be seen at the flagship, where the cuisine is regional Mexican with an emphasis on sophisticated plates at dinner and speedier, more streamlined lunch offerings. Try the guacamole sampler.

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Pizza

BAVARO’S PIZZA NAPOLETANA & PASTARIA

St. Petersburg; $ At the core of Dan Bavaro’s business are thin-crust Neapolitan-style pies, with a tender center and a blistery, puffed outer edge, best eaten with fork and knife. Sauce is a bright, chunky puree of hand-crushed and deseeded San Marzano tomatoes, but there are plenty of good white pies, such as a vegetariano with cow’s milk mozzarella, shaved zucchini and yellow squash, mixed peppers and a swirl of olive oil. The best route at Bavaro’s: share a salad, then a pasta, then a pie.

Pizzeria Gregario

Cristino’s Coal Oven Pizza

CRISTINO’S COAL OVEN PIZZA Clearwater; $ Coal-oven pizzas tend to be big pies, wood-fired are smaller, more individual, with those leopard spots. Coal-oven pies can travel, wood-fired not so much (too delicate and soft at the center so they get sludgy swiftly). Cristino’s is the coal-oven champ, with a handful of basic styles: margherita, marinara, bianca, quattro formaggi, etc. With a great online ordering system, it’s easy to get crazy clicking the little boxes. Restrain yourself. Cristino’s pies are best with just a handful of toppings. And you have to leave room for gelato. PIZZERIA GREGARIO Safety Harbor; $ Greg Seymour is a pizza zealot. He makes field trips to the farmer growing his produce, collaborates with other farmers in the growth and care of the pigs he buys, and makes his own mozzarella. But there’s nothing overly fancy or rarefied about his little Safety Harbor spot. Order at the counter, choose from local craft beer and a handful of California wines, and 12-inch pies with perfect blistery sourdough crusts. Salads are always fresh and interesting, and desserts are a must, especially if they feature fresh fruit or ice cream.

Cheese&charcuterie can dress up and feel utterly comfortable eating your whole meal with your hands. Need more drama in your life? The smoke-infused beef tartare comes under a glass dome swirling like Dumbledore’s pensieve.

ANNATA WINE BAR

St. Petersburg; $$ Fact: Delice de Bourgogne is the happiest-making cheese there is. It’s got a bloomy rind that, when ripe, gives way to a melty edge and a silky, fudgy, nutty center. It figures frequently on the list at Annata, opened in 2014 by Mary and Kurt Cuccaro, which is one of the few local spots where you 6 4 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

THE MILL St. Petersburg; $$ Belying a possible affinity for Jules Verne by chef Ted Dorsey and partner Jason Griffin, the place is steampunk-cool, festooned with gears and vintage waterwheels. Their menu focuses on gamier meats and humbler cuts, and the housemade charcuterie board and accessories continue to stretch and expand like the universe itself. Think octopus bacon and plush tongue rillettes to go along with the duck bacon and toro pastrami, surrounded by grainy mustards and baby pickled zucchini. Here’s a tip: Use the complimentary valet on the back side of the building.

The Mill

Brunch Noble Crust

NOBLE CRUST St. Petersburg; $$ The ItalianSouthern fusion pizza-pasta-etc. hotspot feels just right for brunch. In virtually all weather the best seats are on the 800-square-foot patio with its retractable roof and remote-control windows, but the funky-industrial dining room is also sun-dappled during the day. The brunch menu is the right mix of sweet and savory, breakfast and lunch fare. They offer a free mimosa, but you may have

dining VISITSPC.COM/DINING

to prod your server to reveal this fact. The chicken and waffles rank with the area’s best, with a bewitching bourbon pecan butter and a cup of watermelon salad.

THE OHANA CAFE Dunedin; $ Dunedin, a brunch town, demands its due. It boasts about a dozen places that get swamped on Sundays, and increasingly this is one of them. Vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free-ers and paleo folks will all find solace here. I’m a big fan of owner Teresa Pablo’s loco moco bowls, a classic Hawaiian dish popularized in the 1940s, which is probably why at brunch I was smitten by the Da Kine bowl: brown rice topped with organic black beans, organic scrambled eggs, chopped tomato, avo and cilantro.

Trip's Diner

TRIP’S DINER St. Petersburg, Seminole; $ Gordon Stevenson hit it just right. In 2012, he took over the space vacated by beloved but crusty diner Dave’s, kitted it out with wonderful Burgert Brothers black-and-white historic photos of St. Petersburg and opened this classic nostalgic diner. It was an immediate hit, with sturdy, egg-centric breakfast fare and bottomless coffee. A cozy-booth, jukebox, breakfast-all-day kind of place, where meatloaf and cheese grits are in order and eggs Benedict will set you back just $7.59. Pancakes, called hubcakes because of their hubcap-like size, have been more effective than Lunesta in clinical trials.

French Cafe Largo

THE BLACK PEARL

Dunedin; $$$ What since 1996 was Dunedin’s beloved “continental” datenighter under owners Tony and Kathy LaRoche was bought in 2014 by Zach Feinstein, who seems to have signaled to longtime chef Christopher Artrip that it’s time for the gloves to come off. The room is lovely and intimate, with servers exhibiting deep wine knowledge and nearly anachronistic manners. Plates are pretty enough to pause and appreciate — that goes for a cheese and charcuterie plate showcasing foie gras terrine and a wedge of Humboldt Fog, as well as the No. 1 seller, the white truffle lobster risotto.

CAFE LARGO Largo; $$$ One of a small handful of restaurants to traffic in classical French cuisine, with owner Dominique Christini presiding solo over his monthly Saturday morning cooking classes and a seasonally changing prix-fixe menu for $35. He’s

Parts of Paris

something of a psychologist: Put wild boar or venison chops on the printed menu, no takers. Make it a special, explicated tableside, and folks will bite. He also offers classics like cassoulet (slow-cooked white beans, duck, sausage and other goodies), warming braises like elk stew with cepes and Grand Marnier souffle.

PARTS OF PARIS Safety Harbor; $$ Safety Harbor restaurants have an ace in the hole. Most are set

in lovely, repurposed 1930s bungalows, many with come-hither front porches and tree-canopied front yards. Parts of Paris is the luckiest duck — which they do serve, as confit with braised fennel and a tarragoncashew brown rice. It’s one of Tampa Bay’s date-night stalwarts, with a lineup of classic French fare, from boeuf bourguignon to textbook beef tartare. On a pretty day, brunch cannot be beat, with dishes that go sweet (crepe Suzette) or savory (moules-frites). V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 6 5

Asian Buya Ramen

BUYA RAMEN St. Petersburg; $$ For about the past decade, “Japanese food” in these parts meant one thing: sushi. But no more, with the 2016 opening of Buya (pronounced BOO-yah) Ramen. The tonkotsu broth is lush, with blanched chicken and pork bones simmered with roasted vegetables for 22 hours before it is strained and married with noodles and toppers like duck confit, fatty-edged pork belly or smoky beef brisket. There’s a smart wine list, craft beers and cocktails that rely heavily on sophisticated Japanese whiskeys.

LA V St. Petersburg; $ Still haven’t fallen for Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches? Think of a perfect BLT (meaty tomato, salty bacon and mayo to bring it all together).

treats IceBurg

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Souzou

It’s like that, only with heat and herbal zing. Thuy Le offers nine versions, the signature packing a crusty baguette with pickled carrot and daikon, fresh herbs, jalapeno rounds and a pile of grilled pork, chewy pork skin, a salty ham (jambon) and a spongy pâte. A broad lunch and dinner menu supplemented by a smart little wine list and decadent desserts.

OSAKA SUSHI & THAI RESTAURANT

Seminole; $ One of the boomingest restaurants around is this chic emporium of crowd-pleasing specialty rolls. The strength here is more-is-more combination rolls, many with suitably embarrassing names, plated attractively and

HYPPO GOURMET ICE POPS

St. Petersburg; $ Founded in 2010 and now with seven shops around the state selling drop-dead stunning gourmet ice pops. Some are creamy and some are pureed fruit popsicles, but they come in seasonally rotating swoony flavors like mamey sapota and pistachio rosewater. This is almost exclusively fresh fruit and dairy that is rBST-free. So, it’s like health food on a stick.

RITA’S ITALIAN ICE Clearwater, Seminole; $ Here is a universal truth: Custard and Italian ice go great together, especially when it’s super dense and creamy custard on the bottom, then the fluffy-grainy flavored ice, then a rosette of custard again at the top. The misto shakes are solid, but it’s the juxtaposition of textures and flavors that makes Rita’s ravishing. SNO BEACH Safety Harbor; $ A charming purveyor of fluffy Hawaiian-style shave ice, with more than 40 flavors, seven sugar-free and a paper parasol jutting jauntily from each cup. This place also offers shave ice stuffed with vanilla soft serve and sweet cream. Pick your size, pick one to three flavors, then a topping or stuffing.

marrying different fish, garnishes and sauces. The freshness of the fish and quality of ingredients lifts it above our area’s other strong contenders.

SOUZOU St. Petersburg; $$ The idea was a sophisticated Asian fusion restaurant pretty enough for date night and with family-friendly prices. It’s set a bit away from downtown, in an office building. Heavy on sushi and with noodles and hot dishes that amble between China, Japan and Thailand. At lunchtime the tempura-fried snapper tacos with cabbage and Sriracha aioli will bring a little drama to the middle of the day. The sake listhas emerged as the one to beat in Tampa Bay.

ICEBURG St. Petersburg; $ This is something new here, as much showmanship as dessert: Thai rolled ice cream. IceBurg offers acai bowls, smoothies and Thai rolled ice cream courtesy of a machine from Hong Kong. The finished cups featuring pretty and tight rolls that look like delicate rosettes. Oreos and Fruity Pebbles are fine, but simpler flavors like the taro powder mixed with coconut flakes yields a sophisticated dessert. Then goof it up with exploding fruit bobas and sprinkles. Hyppo

dining VISITSPC.COM/DINING IL RITORNO

Pia’s Trattoria

PIA’S TRATTORIA Gulfport; $$ I’ve always rooted for Pia and Tom Goff’s little Italian beauty, partly on the strength of its pastas, salads and traditional chicken and veal dishes (parmigiana, marsala, piccata and saltimbocca), and bi-weekly specials. Also, partly because they seem like nice, community-minded people. Set to an Andrea Bocelli soundtrack in the flickering light from dozens of taper candles, this is antipasti misto territory, but the seasonal soups tend to be gutsy and sophisticated, the calamari is tender, and traditional Italian desserts are distinctly homemade.

St. Petersburg; $$-$$$ David Benstock’s little charmer offers what feels like some of the most exciting and audacious food around. It’s also easy on the eyes: Visualize a fall salad with frisee and apples and pears that, if you squint, looks like Il Ritorno Monet’s water lilies. A big seller is a composed dish of swaths of American red snapper crudo accented by kumquat rounds, radish, sweet-hot calabrese chile jam and red-veined delicate leaves of lemony blood sorrel.

BODEGA St. Petersburg; $ George and Debbie Sayegh were ahead of the curve in the EDGE District. Now it’s all fancy and foot traffic, but when they debuted their mostly outdoor cafe, I wondered how few pedestrians and tons of summer storms might affect business. Their lechon and Cuban sandwiches, pollo asado and cafe con leche kept them in the game and in 2016 they expanded, adding more indoor seating and a juice bar. Their Cuban is a thing of beauty, crisply pressed and filled with roasted pork, ham, gooey Swiss, pickles and a swipe of mayo. (SWAH-REY) St. Petersburg; $ Leslie-Ann and Gregg Ciccone opened this dessert bar at the end of 2015. New to St. Pete, they swiftly showed themselves to be strong community partners, sponsoring charity fundraisers and local events and equipping their shop with modern essentials like free Wi-Fi, USB ports and plugs, and “pupcakes” for dogs. Two-bite mini cakes are only $1, but then for 50 cents to $3 more, you can take it upscale with what they call a “hook up,” where the mini hovers at the lip of the shot glass of your beverage choice.

Bodega Iberian Rooster

Little Lamb Gastropub

LITTLE LAMB GASTROPUB Clearwater; $$

This edgy newcomer has a no-frills charm, with just 38 seats if you count the long concrete bar. There’s a one-page lunch menu and equally brief dinner menu, with many dishes playing to our more sybaritic impulses. How about a paper cone of chicharones, salty, crispy and airy, served with spicy mayo; or a solid spin on poutine, the sturdy fries standing up to the avalanche of bouncy cheese curds, gravy and flurry of chives? A secret weapon is pastry chef Kyrie Rotolo, whose desserts have a sophisticated understanding of balance.

IBERIAN ROOSTER St. Petersburg; $$ Colonial Portuguese fusion. That’s a lot to unpack right there. Let’s just say the food could be African or southeast Asian or sub-Sahara African or South American. You’ll come back

for the minchi. It’s one of the beloved comfort foods of Macau, a jumble of minced beef and in this case chorizo, with onion and potato and a bed of basmati rice, a sunnyside egg perched on the top.

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dining VISITSPC.COM/DINING

Late~Night

Eats

When the fun lasts well into the night, count on finding terrific after-hours fare at these local restaurants and cafés.

KINGS STREET FOOD COUNTER in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete specializes in tasty 21st-century diner fare. Enjoy one of Kings’ bountiful chili dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, or over-the-top milkshake combos. Open until 1 a.m. on weekends. Also in downtown St. Pete, THE OYSTER BAR offers unbelievably fresh seafood, chicken wings, and thick gourmet sandwiches. The restaurant’s comfy exposed-brick atmosphere makes it the perfect place to wind down. Open until midnight daily, 3 a.m. on weekends. A true 24-hour diner with ideal food and cocktails recently opened in DTSP. Opposite Sundial, 2ND & SECOND (it’s namesake and location) offers late-night eats once the bars close. VITO & MICHAEL'S PIZZERIA on St. Pete Beach stays open into the wee hours of the morning to serve pizza, eggplant parmesan, and other Italian staples to

late-night beach revelers. Open until 4 a.m. daily. Also on St. Pete Beach, WILLY’S BURGERS AND BOOZE serves giant burgers big enough to share with your pals, and a sinfully delicious deep-fried mac and cheese that locals are hooked on. Open until 3 a.m. daily. FOXY’S CAFÉ on Treasure Island lures hungry beachgoers with its burgers, wings, and other classic American comfort foods. The no-fuss cafe offers a place to gather 'til late night daily, midnight on weekends. The largest of the legendary Frenchy’s chain of restaurants on Clearwater Beach, the beachfront FRENCHY’S ROCKAWAY GRILL is famous for its yummy fresh grouper sandwiches and other Floribbeanstyle dishes. Open until midnight daily, 1 a.m. on weekends. Craving an end-of-the-night sub sandwich? FLORIDA SUBS & GYROS is a super no-frills Clearwater spot that offers surprisingly scrumptious fast food. Choose from hot and cold subs, Greek gyros, tacos, and more. Open until 2:30 a.m. most nights, 5 a.m. on weekends. OUR PLACE DUNEDIN is famous for its home-

cooked prime rib and pot roast melts that taste like they’re straight out of Grandma’s kitchen. The Dunedin restaurant’s cheerful red walls, generous portions and friendly servers make you feel welcome any time of day. Open 24 hours daily. THE DUNEDIN SMOKEHOUSE in downtown Dunedin is known for its lip-smacking BBQ and its brisket chili nachos. Out on the town with your pooch? The friendly mom-and-pop spot also welcomes dogs. Open until late, midnight on weekends. Find a little slice of Key West at the THIRSTY MARLIN in Palm Harbor. The restaurant’s most popular dishes include delectable blackened bacon-wrapped scallops and a mouthwatering Caribbean jambalaya. Open until 11 p.m. daily, midnight on weekends. Also in Tarpon Springs, swing by the TARPON TAVERN, an old world-style pub in a charming vintage red building that serves top-notch traditional American fare. You can’t go wrong with the fish and chips platter — or the chili bowl with homemade cornbread. Open until midnight on weekends.

Great Grouper

Stop in at just about any beach eatery in St. Pete/Clearwater and you’re likely to see one particular favorite on the menu: grouper. This mild, light and slightly sweet fish is served pretty much any way you can imagine.

WHERE TO TRY IT: Asian Grouper tacos at RumFish

Grill on St. Pete Beach, Del Sol Grouper at Marina Cantina on Clearwater Beach, Potato Crusted Grouper at Grace Restaurant on Pass-a-Grille or a fresh-caught traditional grouper sandwich found… just about anywhere locally.

WHAT’S THE CATCH? Grouper varieties include black, red, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth, rock hind, coney, warsaw and snowy, but the most common from here are gag and red.

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FUN FISH FACT: Popular Clearwater Beach restaurant

Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill sells about 52,000 grouper sandwiches each year, and that’s just on the weekends.

CELEBRATE GROUPER: Each summer, St. Pete/ Clearwater honors the fish with its own week: Grouper Week. For more information on all things grouper, including delicious recipes from local restaurants, log on to GrouperWeek.com

VisitSPC.com ⁄ Dining

Options listed here are just a small sampling of all the culinary offerings in the St. Pete/Clearwater area. For a complete selection searchable by cuisine, community, beachfront, etc., see VisitSPC.com/Dining

MORE INFO AT TAMPAVALUETICKET.ORG

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St. Pete Brewing Co. 33 Milo’s IPA

Located in the heart of downtown St. Pete’s Central Arts District, St. Pete Brewing Co. brings out the kid in everyone with Nintendo 64, popcorn and board games galore. Pair your brew with a pint-o-bacon!

Our craft beer scene, the largest of any found in Florida, rivals some of the country’s most well-established craft beer towns. Get your fill of sunshine and craft beer here. Seriously. For nearly every mile of our white-sand beaches (35 to be exact), you’ll find a local craft brewery serving up suds – many award-winning – that you can’t find anywhere else. St. Pete/Clearwater’s craft beer trail has turned the Gulf Coast into the Gulp Coast and it has something for everyone, from pet-friendly brew hangouts and gigantic warehouseturned-tasting rooms, to family-friendly watering holes the whole gang can enjoy!

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Two Frogs Brewing Co. Saint Somewhere Brewing Co. DeBine Brewing Co. Palm Harbor Brewery Stilt House Brewery Lagerhaus Brewery Soggy Bottom Brewery Dunedin Brewery Dunedin House of Beer SeaDog Brewing Co. Grindhaus Brew Lab Southern Lights Brewing Co. Barley Mow Brewing Co. Rapp Brewing Company Pair O’ Dice Brewing Co. Mad Beach Brewing The Pesky Pelican SeaDog Brewing Co.

Snag a free passport to collect stamps for beer inspired swag and more information at GulpCoast.com

Mastry’s Brewing Co. JMC, Chocolate Porter

A beach vacation in a pint glass! Located in a converted old gas station, the first craft brewery of St. Pete Beach is small and quaint and the perfect spot to chill after the beach.

Caledonia Brewing 15 Hoppiness Monster, DIPA

Giving new life to the old Dunedin Printing Company building, Caledonia Brewing is a nod to the city’s prominent Celtic heritage with its romantic Roman namesake for Scotland.

Green Bench Brewing Co. 32 Sunshine City IPA

GBB gets its name from St. Pete’s lesser-known label - City of Green Benches. A 1,500-square-foot, 12-tap tasting room features an expansive view of the 15-barrel brewhouse and opens onto an outdoor beer garden.

Big Storm Brewing Co. 23 Wavemaker, Amber Ale

In its new, 16,000-square-foot facility in Clearwater, Big Storm is centrally located, perfect for happy hour in the spacious and modern tasting room. Award-winning brews are named after the common summer storms along the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Crooked Thumb Brewery 17 Street Dog, Pale Ale

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Located one block off Main Street in quaint downtown Safety Harbor and named after the shape of Pinellas County, it’s housed inside a restored warehouse with a large tasting room and a beer garden with picnic tables, yard games and live music.

3 Daughters Brewing 30 Rod Bender, Red Ale

Brewers' Tasting Room 25 Bad Badger, Hefeweizen

Tampa Bay Brewing Company 8 Reef Donkey, APA

Arkane Aleworks 22 Irish Wrist Watch, Irish Red

Pinellas Ale Works 31 Milk Bone, Sweet Stout

Silverking Brewing Co. 3 Silverking Strike Blonde

Woodwright Brewing Co. 11 Hefeweizen

Flying Boat Brewing Co. 28 Green's Lantern, American IPA

Cueni Brewing Co. 10 Orange Trail Cream Ale

Cycle Brewing Cream and Sugar, Coffee Porter

7Venth Sun Brewery 9 Mangrove, DIPA

Cage Brewing 29 Galaxy Cat, American APA

You’ll find Florida-inspired beers at this family-friendly brewery headquartered on the edge of the Warehouse Arts District in St. Pete. A cozy tasting room opens up to a large warehouse area featuring a myriad of games that the whole family can enjoy.

Located on the edge of Westchase and Oldsmar, the brewery features a line of eight core and 38 seasonal proprietary beers; many of them award-winning! A full restaurant and lounge-style outdoor patio make this a great destination for any meal.

Often referred to as “PAW” - this dog friendly, 15 barrel brewery features fresh craft beer brewed with locally sourced ingredients. PAW welcomes you with a courtyard area complete with giant games, great tunes and a cozy tasting room with TVs.

Part craft brewery, part wood shop - this hip hangout in downtown Dunedin is filled with unique touches that you won’t find anywhere else. Cool, casual and friendly, grab a seat at the bar, upstairs in the loft or outside on the patio.

Located conveniently along the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin, you can walk or bike right up to Cueni, which puts the four-barrel brewing system on display and you right in the action. You’ll notice a large selection of English Ales and Belgians, which is their specialty.

This tiny, dog-friendly brewery in Dunedin has a small tasting room, storefront and outdoor patio. It has a stellar reputation for small-batch IPA’s, oak-aged sour beer and spirit barrel-aged beers.

Here, you’ll find a rotating lineup of beers made on premise by select home brewers as well as 20 taps of American craft beers and bottles. BTR is also known for spunky Cajun food, live music, and bingo and trivia nights, as well as occasional beer releases.

The second craft brewery to set up shop in Largo is bringing a great variety of beers to the masses. You’ll find adult coloring sheets here and beer descriptions that will make you giggle. Almost all beers and wine are just $5 per glass.

Once the original Tarpon Springs Fire Station in 1909, it’s now home to craft beer created by fishermen and outdoorsmen. Located only one mile from the world-famous Sponge Docks, brush up on local history and listen to what the walls have to say in two tasting rooms.

Paying homage to the first commercial airline flight across Tampa Bay, from the namesake to the wooden airplane flight holders, this community-style, off-the-beaten-path brewery serves up a variety of light beers named after local St. Pete neighborhoods.

Originally started in Gulfport, this brewery has become a staple in downtown St. Pete. It offers world-class beers with 12 rotating taps listed on a chalkboard. Tuesdays bring $4 pints. Call ahead for a tour and grab one of their cool T-shirts while you’re at it.

In the Grand Central District of downtown St. Pete, Cage Brewing is an expanded transplant from its original beginnings at R Bar on Treasure Island. Kick back in the outdoor space featuring giant games, TV’s and a large grassy area - perfect for your fourlegged drinking buddy!

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Th rs for

fun

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Belly up and sip a craft beer or specialty cocktail at some of the finest drinkeries in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and beyond.

The Canopy

Off the beaten path Eddie’s Bar and Grill: Perhaps the most family-friendly bar in Dunedin, with a full menu, a huge craft beer list and a big game room with Skee-Ball, pool and other arcade games. Chic-a-Boom Room and Blur: These adjacent Dunedin bars both have a kicky, cheeky appeal – the former for its sweet, creative martinis; the latter for its popular weekly karaoke, line dance and drag queen bingo nights. O’Maddy’s: The ultimate locals’ hangout in the colorful waterfront community of Gulfport, its Wednesday karaoke nights are almost as popular as its burgers and cold drinks. The Getaway: On the eastern edge of St. Petersburg, you’ll find this oasis in the mangroves of Gandy Beach, where loungers and boaters link up for some of the most potent tiki cocktails in town.

Fun in the sun

The downtown scene The Canopy: Beach Drive’s ultimate rooftop lounge has stunning views of the waterfront overlooking Tampa Bay. Private cabanas, specialty cocktails and a tasty menu draw visitors and locals to this must-experience upscale bar, complete with fire pit. Park & Rec: Downtown St. Pete’s party spot believes that “youth has no age.” Vintage arcade games, an outdoor patio and artificial turf cornhole area promises folks will have fun while sipping on any one of their custom “dranks,” beer or wine. The Ale and the Witch: The 'Burg's most popular craft beer bar features a constantly rotating menu, including frequent tap takeovers, and live music in an outdoor courtyard almost every night. Hops and Props: A few steps from the St. Petersburg Museum of History is this intimate, aviation-themed craft beer bar, which occasionally nabs rare and hard-to-find releases from local breweries. The Bends: The premier late-night hangout for St. Pete's artists, rockers and scenemakers, it's known as much for its potent drinks — like the Cucumber Creeper — as it is for its hip clientele. Mandarin Hide: The bar that kick-started St. Pete's modern mixology movement draws a crowd for its "Test Kitchen Tuesdays," featuring experimental off-menu drinks, and its $5 Moscow Mule Wednesdays. Cask & Ale: A creative libation hangout serving an array of aromatic, Instagram-worthy creations, it’s also a haven for St. Petersburg’s bourbon and whiskey lovers, with a wall of options of all styles.

Number of bourbons, scotches, whiskeys, ryes and other fine spirits on the menu at Cask & Ale in St. Petersburg.

The Hurricane: For decades, Pass-a-Grille beachcombers have found their way here at sundown. There may be no better place to end a day than at the Hurricane’s rooftop bar with a rum drink in hand. Palm Pavilion: A Clearwater Beach spot that dates back to the 1920s, where you’re guaranteed good conversation, great sunset views and one of the best piña coladas in Tampa Bay. Shephard’s Beach Resort: During the week, it’s a great boardwalk for whiling away the evening with a tropical drink or sipping tequila. On weekends it turns into Clearwater Beach’s best party destination, with world-class DJs jetting in to drop the needle. The Undertow: From the game room to the bikini-clad bartenders, to the rooftop deck and the lazy river running through the bartop, it’s St. Pete Beach’s laid-back version of a spring break getaway. Caddy’s On the Beach: Long a destination for weekend revelers, this open-air compound tucked away on Treasure Island is one of the few spots where you can take drinks out onto the beach, which makes those Mai Tais and Rum Runners taste so much sweeter. Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest: High on the 10th floor of the Pier House 60 Marina Hotel, this open-air perch offers unparalleled views of Clearwater Beach, from Pier 60 and the white sands at sunset to the pedestrian bustle of Mandalay Avenue. Mahuffer’s Bar: Scour the seven seas and you won’t find a more colorful bar than Mahuffer’s in Indian Shores. Every inch of the place is covered in dollar bills, signatures and nautical bric-a-brac. It’s a place you must see to believe. Bamboo Beach Bar and Grill: On the north end of John’s Pass in Madeira Beach sits this fan-cooled tiki bar with a colorful calling card: signature drinks served in a souvenir coconut monkey-head mug.

Caddy's The Ale and the Witch

Mahuffer’s Bar Eddie’s Bar and Grill

nightlife VISITSPC.COM/NIGHTLIFE

St. Petersburg is much more than the general area defined simply as “downtown.” It’s a patchwork of vibrant, distinct neighborhoods, from upscale patios of the BEACH DRIVE waterfront, to the booming bars of Central Avenue’s historic DETROIT BLOCK, to the old-school dives and hipster havens of the Central Arts District also known as 600 BLOCK, the EDGE DISTRICT and the laid-back artsy GRAND CENTRAL. There’s a scene to suit every vibe, from low-key cocktails to a turned-up dance party to a romantic date night. And should the mood change, a game of late-night SkeeBall, a thumping sound system or a glass of wine under the stars is usually just a stroll away.

As thousands of white lights set North Straub Park aglow each night, the nearby Canopy rooftop bar is the place for stylish people to sip cocktails in cabanas and take in the gorgeous waterfront view. Back at ground level, order signature drinks at the long, marble bar inside the Victorian-accented Tryst Gastro Lounge, but outside, along the street where the Bentleys and Maseratis park, is the place to be. Tryst’s upscale lounge furniture along the sidewalk offers both bottle service and excellent people-watching, as do outdoor tables at Cassis and Stillwaters Tavern. Other popular eateries on Beach Drive include Parkshore Grill, 400 Beach Seafood & Taphouse, BellaBrava and the Vinoy Veranda Patio. • Get your fill of dancing and tropical concoctions at Chè, the Latin-flavored bar known for flamenco shows and live music tucked in the basement of the Ponce de Leon Hotel. Or take the Sundial walkway to Tower Plaza Shops and choose from Sab Cafe’s outdoor sake bar, the Ale and the Witch’s 30-plus craft beers on tap or Wine Madonna’s wine flights. All share a breezy outdoor courtyard, where people have been known to dance under the stars to the bluegrass or soulful adult rock and jazz bands that play there often.

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Sometimes referred to as St. Pete’s “first block,” this is party central, where you'll find the raucous party on historic Central Avenue any night of the week, but especially the first Friday of every month when the streets are closed for a massive block party. There are no bad seats for live jazz at Ruby’s Elixir, a red-light-tinted, old-school lounge connected to Central Avenue Cigars. Hit the dance floor under the laser lights at LUX Bar & Lounge, order a hand-crafted cocktail under an elaborate vintage chandelier at Mandarin Hide, or feel at home grabbing a bucket of Bud Light at casual spots Five Bucks Drinkery, Mastry's or Caddy's, where there's always a party-starting bar band. Want to get above the fray of partiers? Try the balcony at A Taste for Wine or the new rooftop hideaway The Landing at Jannus Live. Turn the corner for giant mega-bars like MacDinton’s Irish pub, Yard of Ale and One Night Stand, a country bar where the mechanical bull, Mustache, never stops bucking. Or head south to The Mill for an upscale crowd sipping craft cocktails, or over to Park & Rec, where a neon sign over the bar serving tallboy cans and “dranks” reads “youth has no age,” and activities include SkeeBall, air hockey, and giant beer pong played with trash cans subbing for Solo Cups on the Astroturf “lawn.”

8 0 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

This once-grittier part of downtown is now a mix of trendy restaurants, like Portuguese fusion specialist Iberian Rooster and its basement speakeasy Subcentral, a haven for standup comedy; and the old, hangingon dives like the wood-paneled Emerald, still serving up cheap drinks and a hazy atmosphere after half a century. After the galleries and charming gift shops close, you can still catch a metal or punk show with the tattooed crowd at Fubar or a national touring band at the State Theatre, but you’re just as likely to find the crowds shooting pool at The Lure, a freshly-remodeled sushi restaurant in a 100-year-old brick building. Dark beer specialists Cycle Brewing keep the garage doors open late into the night so patrons can enjoy a pint of coffee porter at the long, communal tables out front and still enjoy some prime people-watching on Central Avenue.

The EDGE District is a mix of new residences, entertainment and colorful street art. At one end, two of St. Pete’s hipster bars sit yards apart: Blue Goose is a roomy space with a jukebox, while The Bends is the spot to sip a PBR under the framed photo of Magnum P.I., or dance to a local experimental band under the Christmas lights. Beer pumps through the heart of the district, with the bartenders always ready to recommend something new or rare at The Independent, a stone’s throw from Green Bench Brewing, a local favorite and master of sours that hosts nighttime markets and music. At the opposite edge of the district is Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, Ferg’s, a sprawling, multi-story complex with “small ball” bowling lanes. Or walk across the street and taste unique Asian street fare at Hawkers. Specialty items include small plates, rice and noodle bowls. Also try Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails, a specialty coffee shop and craft cocktail bar, or Enigma Bar & Lounge, an electric venue offering amazing sounds and an incredible lighting system for the ideal experience.

Things are more laid-back in this artsy, 16-block stretch just outside downtown, dotted with unique eateries like the Thai-Mex fusion spot Nitally’s; or Southern fare specialists Urban Comfort, which is housed in an old gas station with shuffleboard courts in front. Hideaway Café is an intimate place for a showcase of local singers and songwriters, while the equally cozy Right Around the Corner bar is the place for pinball and classic arcade games. Meanwhile, the multiroom Hawthorne Bottle Shop offers 300 canned beers in a stylishly remodeled industrial space, and the ARTpool gallery, record store and vintage clothing shop regularly hosts nighttime parties, such as the annual Trashion Fashion runway show. Grand Central is also home to a vibrant LGBT community, including St. Pete’s LGBT Welcome Center catering to locals and visitors, too. Many bars and restaurants call Grand Central home including Punky’s and Queens Head welcoming gay-friendly visitors.

music VISITSPC.COM/MUSIC

St. Petersburg and Clearwater are stocked with hot spots to hear world-class live music every night of the week, no matter what kind of sound you’re into. Jannus Live

See stars St. Petersburg’s half-century-old Mahaffey Theater, home base for the Florida Orchestra, has hosted such legends as Brian Wilson and Smokey Robinson, and comics like Aziz Ansari. Across town, the Palladium is a stately setting for everything from rock to opera, and its Side Door Café is a popular jazz and blues venue and incubator for top local talents. Up the road is the Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo, the centerpiece of a sprawling city campus of parks and libraries. And in Clearwater, Ruth Eckerd Hall is a world-class destination for A-listers like Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, while the historic Capitol Theatre books greats like Michael McDonald and the Go-Go’s. The city also holds occasional outdoor shows in nearby Coachman Park, including favorites like John Legend, Bryan Adams and Kenny G. 8 2 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

Get festive Coachman Park is the setting for some of the area’s premier music festivals: February’s Clearwater Sea-Blues Fest, which features eclectic rock and soul alongside fresh seafood; March’s Wild Splash, the area’s top hip-hop festival; April’s Fun ‘n’ Sun, a day of country music by the waterfront; and October’s Hispanic Heritage Concert, a huge gathering of salsa and reggaeton fans. And then there’s the granddaddy of them all, October’s Clearwater Jazz Holiday, which over 37 years has hosted icons like Tony Bennett, Chicago and Clearwater’s own Chick Corea, R&B vocalist Alex Harris and newest stars like the Avett Brothers. St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park kicks off its year with January’s Sunshine Music Festival, always led by the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Vinoy Park also hosts the enormous Tampa Bay Blues Festival in April, the Vans Warped Tour in July, the smooth grooves of Beats By the Bay in October; and the smokin’ classic rock of Ribfest, drawing some 60,000 barbecue lovers every November. And in Safety Harbor, the Safety Harbor SongFest brings songwriters from around the nation to sing and tell stories for an intimate audience.

Go downtown Downtown St. Petersburg’s coolest shows are at Jannus Live and the State Theatre, where you’ll find big-time artists before they hit the big time – artists who’ve played those tight stages include Radiohead, Ed Sheeran and Twenty One Pilots. Punks and rockers congregate at Fubar, the Bends and the Emerald, which serve dynamite drinks for devoted clientele. The Mandarin Hide and Ruby’s Elixir are hot spots for jazz, funk and soul, Latin groups cook up rhythms at Ceviche’s cantina, and the Ringside Café is known for rockin’ blues. There’s also a great blues night at the Hideaway Café, an intimate songwriter’s nook that has booked greats like John McEuen and Robin Zander. There’s always something eclectic cooking in the courtyard of craft beer hangout Ale and the Witch. And once a month the city lights up for First Friday, with live music and food in the streets.

Clearwater Jazz Holiday

Ruby's Elixir

St. Pete Records

Alex Harris

Blues Festival

The Studio@620

Vans Warped Tour

Colorful sounds

Look to the east

Mingle with locals at Clearwater’s free Blast Friday street festivals, featuring acts like Spyro Gyra and the Family Stone. At Dunedin Brewery, jam-banders and punks unite for sweet brews and good tunes. The Safety Harbor Art and Music Center is a testament to that town’s artistic nature, with architecture and décor as colorful as the artists who perform there. On the beach, Ka’Tiki in Treasure Island is known for live blues and open mics. And no music lover’s journey through St. Petersburg would be complete without visiting a well-curated record shop like Daddy Kool Records, Planet Retro or Bananas Music.

It’s well worth the effort to cross the bridge into Tampa, home to the area’s biggest music venues: Amalie Arena, which hosts stars like Paul McCartney and Katy Perry; and the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, where country kings like Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line come to play. The historic Tampa Theatre is an enchanting place to catch a show, as is the David J. Straz Center for Performing Arts. And rock, hip-hop and dance music fans can head to Ybor City for a late night at the Ritz Ybor, Orpheum or Crowbar. VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 8 3

Weddings VISITSPC.COM/WEDDINGS

You turn to the love of your life and say what everyone is thinking: “Let’s run away.” There’s a reason so many couples tie the knot in Florida, flush with historic hotels, charming chapels and Mother Nature’s best backdrop: the beach.

e d s i un s ks

s s i bl

Vintage grandeur The Don CeSar Hotel: For the pinnacle of Florida postcard weddings, get hitched at what locals lovingly call the Pink Palace (above middle). The 1928 St. Pete Beach resort sits on the Gulf and can host weddings for up to 250 people. Ceremony spots include a courtyard, ballrooms or the beach itself. Bonus: An onsite spa for pre-ceremony pampering. The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club: Near downtown St. Petersburg’s luxurious Beach Drive, the grandiose 1925 hotel is home to everything from small tea garden weddings to ballroom affairs. The Vinoy’s Grand Ballroom features a chandelier by world-famous glass artist Dale Chihuly (above right).

Going to the chapel Chapel by the Sea: This nondenominational church on Clearwater Beach is a spiritual home to locals, tourists and seasonal beach residents. The charming main chapel maxes out at 400, and modest traveling groups can go even more intimate inside the church’s small chapel. Andrews Memorial Chapel: Couples seek out the Andrews Memorial Chapel in the quaint waterfront city of Dunedin. Established in 1888, this Victorian building is made of Florida heart of pine, with a hand-carved ceiling and pews, and original stained glass. The chapel welcomes couples of all faiths and orientations.

Floats your boat

8 4 A ME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

Yacht Starship: You’re carried away in love. So why not get carried across the water? Yacht Starship specializes in weddings, receptions and rehearsal dinners for 2 to 600 guests on one of three luxury yachts, docking in Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, St. Pete Beach, Sarasota and Tarpon Springs. Food is plated, buffet or cocktail style, and the views are pristine. Dolphin Landings: If you have dreams of a private, sandy elopement, Dolphin Landings has you covered, offering island weddings at sunset for couples, or intimate ceremonies on board in Boca Ciega Bay. They also arrange big weddings with a fleet of yachts and work with top wedding coordinators and venues.

132

YEARS OF CULTURE TO EXPLORE

FL Start with the unmistakable strains of Flamenco music over dinner at Florida’s oldest restaurant. After, stroll beneath iconic iron balconies on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City, Tampa Bay’s Latin Quarter. Amid the grand facades of historic social clubs, modern nightclubs throb with dance beats. In boutique shops, Cuban masters craft hand-rolled cigars with the skills that once made Ybor City the Cigar Capital of the World. Treasure awaits.

Countless ideas. Endless fun.

VisitTampaBay.com

s ’ A D ORI

RICS O T S I H VERIE

DISCO

sports VISITSPC.COM/SPORTS

Welcome to the big leagues There's a reason Super Bowls, Final Fours and more championship events keep coming to the Tampa Bay area: It's a sports lovers' paradise, from the city streets to the beaches.

Vertical Ventures 8 6 AME R I C Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S B E ST B E AC H E S

St. Petersburg's robust baseball history dates to its first spring training games in 1914, including many featuring Babe Ruth in his prime. Today it's the home of the Tampa Bay Rays at family-friendly Tropicana Field. The Trop, as it's known locally, houses the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame, a memorabilia-filled trip through time named for the legendary slugger, who lived nearby late in his life. The Philadelphia Phillies (Clearwater) and Toronto Blue Jays (Dunedin) both play Grapefruit League games within minutes of the beaches, as do their minor league affiliate teams, the Clearwater Threshers and Dunedin Blue Jays. Not far away you'll find spring training and minor league sites in Tampa (New

York Yankees), Lakeland (Detroit Tigers), Sarasota (Baltimore Orioles), Bradenton (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Lake Buena Vista (Atlanta Braves). St. Petersburg's other pro team is the Tampa Bay Rowdies, who belong to the United Soccer League and have eyes on joining Major League Soccer. The team's passionate fans, Ralph's Mob, have turned games at Al Lang Stadium into must-attend events for fans of all ages. In Tampa, you'll find Amalie Arena, home to the NHLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tampa Bay Lightning and 2018 All-Star Game, as well as arena football's Tampa Bay Storm. The NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers play in Raymond James Stadium, which also hosts the University of South Florida Bulls and many other events, such as U.S. men's and women's soccer matches.

Oldsmar BMX Supercross

Clearwater Super Boat National Championship

Tampa Bay Rays

FootGolf

the big stage St. Anthony's Triathlon

The IndyCar racing season kicks off in the spring at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a screaming sprint through downtown's waterfront. The 2017 winner was Sebastien Bourdais, who lives in St. Petersburg in the offseason. The PGA's Valspar Championship is played each March at the picturesque Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor. Many of pro golf's best are among its former winners, including major champions Jordan Spieth, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh. The tournament draws big crowds with concerts right on the course by artists like Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith. Across Tampa Bay, the Outback Bowl pits top teams from the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten against one another on New Year's Day, with fan-friendly pep rallies across town.

World-class athletes descend on St. Petersburg each spring for the St. Anthony's Triathlon, one of the biggest events in the North American triathlon season. The course, winding in and around downtown St. Petersburg, also features a sprint triathlon (750-meter swim, 20K bike ride, 5K run) and "Meek & Mighty" open to participants as young as 7. Clearwater Beach roars to life each October for the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship, with performance boats blasting along the coast at nearly 200 miles per hour. The championship weekend is filled with fan-friendly parties, fireworks and a seafood festival. And in June, St. Pete Beach provides an ideal setting for fast-paced powerboat and jet ski racing action at the P1 Powerboat Grand Prix of the Gulf. VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 8 7

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Oldsmar Zipline

Firestone Grand Prix

St. Pete Shuffle

fun in the sun Want to ride the waves? Stop by Suncoast Surf Shop in Treasure Island or Nekton Surf Shop in Indian Rocks Beach, which offer surfing gear and can give you tips on good times to surf. They can also point you toward kitesurfing options. If you prefer things a little calmer, stand-up paddleboarding is popular around the beaches and downtown St. Petersburg, with a a variety of companies offering rentals and lessons. Kayaking is a great way to see Florida's natural beauty from a new angle. Popular spots include the mangrove trails of Weedon Island Preserve and Fort De Soto in St. Petersburg, Anclote Key Preserve State Park in Tarpon

Springs and Caladesi Island in Dunedin. For experienced snorkelers and divers, dozens of sunken ships and artificial reefs lie just off the coast, waiting to be explored. Thousands come to Florida each year for fishing, either to participate in tournaments like Suncoast Kingfish Classic in Treasure Island or just cast off into the water. Some popular fishing piers include Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, the Redington Long Pier in Redington Shores and the Skyway State Fishing Piers at the south end of St. Petersburg. For a list of fishing sites and charter companies, see VisitSPC.com/Fishing. Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club

1 GOLF 10 COURSES TO PLAY

Find more courses at VisitSPC.com/Golf

8 8 A MER I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, Palm Harbor: Paul Azinger once called the Copperhead Course, home to the PGA TOUR's Valspar Championship, "the best course we play on tour."

Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club: A lush branch of the historic downtown St. Petersburg resort, it’s a haven for native birds and wildlife.

Dunedin Golf Club, Dunedin: Designed by legendary course architect Donald Ross, it hosted the PGA’s Senior Tour Championship from 1945 to 1962 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club, Seminole: This pristine but challenging spot hosted the JCPenney Classic, a mixed team PGA and LPGA event that brought in Arnold Palmer, Fred Couples and Nancy Lopez.

Phillies Spring Training

Cypress Breeze Farm Trail Riding

off the beaten path Disc golf lures scores of weekend warriors into some of the area's top courses, positioned in wooded and naturalistic courses like the Tocobaga Disc Golf Course in St. Petersburg's Maximo Park, Oldsmar's Sheffield Park, Largo's Taylor Park Disc Course and Clearwater's North East Coachman Park. FootGolf, a combination of soccer and golf, can be found at the Largo Golf Course and Dunedin Stirling Links. And there's always the ultimate family beach activity, putt-putt, at St. Pete Beach's Polynesian Putter, Madeira Beach's Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf and Clearwater's Congo River Golf. The most popular participation sport in downtown St. Petersburg might be shuffleboard. The charming St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club is home to St. Pete Shuffle, a Friday-night gathering featuring families, tastemakers and shuffleboard veterans gathering for drinks, music and a chance to learn a game that's synonymous with Old Florida recreation. Next door sits the St. Petersburg Lawn Bowling Club, a historic facility boasting members from around the world. It’s open to members of all skill levels from November to April. The Pinellas Trail, which stretches 54 miles from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, draws more than 1 million people to bike, run and hike along the trail and its offshoots each year, making it one of the most heavily trafficked trails in the country. And if it rains, the premier

Mangrove Bay Golf Course, St. Petersburg. One of the state’s top municipal courses, Mangrove Bay rewards those who want to work on their short game. The adjacent par-3 Cypress Links are also popular.

indoor rock climbing facility Vertical Ventures sits just off the trail. The 20,000-square-foot complex features 40-foot-high walls and huge yoga and fitness facilities. At Clearwater's short-track Showtime Speedway, fans gather for weekly stock, truck and mini car racing on what's billed as "the fastest quarter-mile in the south." And for racing with a little more personality, hit Derby Lane in St. Petersburg, among the oldest greyhound tracks in the country. The track’s popular poker room also draws a crowd. The Dunedin Highland Games pay homage to the town's Scottish settlers with a weekend of bagpipes, Celtic music and traditional competitions like stone, hammer and log tossing. And speaking of old traditions, how about horseback riding in the surf? Cypress Breeze Farm Trail Riding offers rides by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, near the mouth of Tampa Bay. Thrill-seekers can visit the TradeWinds Island Resort and strap on a JetLev Flyer, a water-powered jetpack that will shoot you up to 30 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. You'll never see the calm waters of St. Pete Beach the same way again. Ziplining has taken off around Florida in recent years, allowing adventurers to coast through cypress trees and scrubland. Empower Adventures Tampa Bay in Oldsmar offers a course of five ziplines across 20 acres, taking riders as high as 65 feet off the ground.

Cove Cay Golf Club, Clearwater: Plenty of water and views of Tampa Bay give this creative course a truly Floridian feel.

Lansbrook Golf Club, Palm Harbor: Lots of sand, lots of water and the occasional alligator make for another thoroughly Floridian golfing experience.

Dunedin Highland Games

The Pinellas Trail

Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club

Seminole Lake Country Club, Seminole: You might spot bald eagles at this neighborhood course, which features five tee boxes for golfers of all skill levels.

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club, Clearwater: This par-69 course supports and is staffed by the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation and Academy, as does its nearly 50-tee driving range.

Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis Club, St. Petersburg: Want to sneak in the quickest of rounds? This waterfront par-3 course near the beach is a great option.

SUNSETS AND DOLPHINS

...Always Complimentary

Holiday Inn & Suites is a fullHo service destination popular with se leisure and business travelers, leis le is and and is located directly in the heart Clearwater Beach. Our Duval of C lear le ar Conference Center on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico is popular with business groups, destination weddings, ceremonies and receptions. Water sports and activities happily arranged.

Jimmy’s Fish House restaurant “Ke Ke West” casual with live is “Key ente te entertainment 7 days a week on ou waterside deck. A popular our dini spot overlooking the Gulf di dining is conveniently attached to th hotel. Exceptional seating, the cl classic tropical beverages and sought-after cuisine.

Life is Better at the Edge! Surrounded by the e crystal blue waters of Clearwater Beach, Edge Hotel blends the natural beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast with premium comforts, social and business event space, and warm and personalized service. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the worldrenown sugar sands of Clearwater Beach, which are only a short stroll away. Or stay at ‘home’ sipping tropical cocktails at the Edge Pool Bar adjacent to our famous glass panel Edge Pool, followed by a memorable, Florida-inspired dinner on the terrace at the 505 at the Edge restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Our 10th ﬂoor rooftop bar and restaurant, Jimmy’s on the Edge, provides breathtaking views of Clearwater Beach Island, the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal waters. Enjoy your favorite beverage or savor one of our many culinary delights.

521 S Gulfview Blvd Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

505 S. Gulfview Blvd. Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

clearwaterbeachhi.com

edgehotelclearwaterbeach.com Email: info@ edgehotelclearwaterbeach.com

800-770-6461

Email: info@ClearwaterBeachHI.com

727-281- 3100

IT’S ALL ABOUT

the Sunsets! This Th is b beautiful utifififul ut ul ch Clearwater Beach Hotel features 107 spectacular guestt rooms and studios with uncompromised views. Located one block away from the sugar sands of Clearwater Beach, the Gulf of Mexico, Pier 60 and the Intercostal Waterway. Come experience the award-winning white sandy beaches of Clearwater Beach!

Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest is located on the 10th ﬂoor of the Pier House 60 Hotel on Clearwater Beach. Jimmy’s features great drinks, light dining and amazing views of the Gulf of Mexico, Downtown Clearwater Beach and the Intercostal Waterway. Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest is the most sought-after destination on Clearwater Beach to experience breathtaking, picture-quality sunsets.

101 Coronado Drive Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

727-683-0002 pierhouse60.com

Email: info@pierhouse60.com

Your view of

Paradise

Awaits...

17120 Gulf Boulevard • North Redington Beach, FL 33708 • 1-727-391-4000 • www.DoubleTreeBeachResort.com doubletreebeachresortbyhilton

doubletreebeach

doubletreebeachresort

discover the dalí museum Visit an unparalleled collection of works by renowned artist Salvador Dalí, from iconic melting clocks to imaginative visual illusions and avant-garde symbols. Explore the awe-inspiring building and distinctive gardens on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. Open 7 days a week. Tickets include free audio guides, public docent tours, children’s activities & more.

“Rated St. Petersburg’s #1 Attraction.”

– Trip Advisor

TheDali.org 727.823.3767 One Dalí Blvd. St. Petersburg FL 33701

V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 9 1

For some, it’s just not a vacation if you can’t bring along your four-legged friends, and choosing St. Pete/ Clearwater is a no-brainer.

pets VISITSPC.COM/PETS CHOW Beloved canines are immortalized in the “Dogedin” mural at casual Skip’s Bar and Grill in Dunedin, where dogs are welcome on the patio. You can also chill outside with your dog and enjoy local beers at Dunedin’s new Cueni Brewing. Your dog has its own menu at Sweet Sage Café in North Redington Beach, where you can enjoy brunch together on a garden patio. Enjoy seafood at the pet-friendly tables at Isabelle’s at the Historic Peninsula Inn in Gulfport, and if your dog has a birthday during your trip, order a customized canine cake or other treats at St. Petersburg’s One Lucky Dog. PLAY You have plenty of choices among the dozens of top-notch area dog parks, but some local favorites include Honeymoon Island State Park Dog Beach in Dunedin, North Shore Dog Park in St. Petersburg, the beautiful new dog park in Eagle Lake Park in Largo and Enterprise Dog Park in Clearwater, which offers eight dog fountains, an agility course and plenty of shade for pet parents. Another shady spot where dogs can work out is Tarpon Springs’ A.L Anderson Park.

Dog Bar

RELAX Your pup can enjoy a designated walkway, play area and pet café on-site at the luxurious TradeWinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach, and dog patrons get their own gift bags at the historic Don CeSar Hotel nearby. Dogs and declawed cats live it up at Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, and a dog park is a five-minute walk from the dog-friendly Historic Peninsula Inn in Gulfport.

Go dogs go! If you’ll be spending time on the water and plan on bringing your pooch, consider extra safety measures.

Not all dogs are good swimmers, so consider a Personal Flotation Device appropriate for your dog’s size. Dogs that love to roll around on their backs might benefit from a rash guard with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) to help protect it from sunburn, as well as abrasions it could get rolling on something sharp. Ruffwear’s K-9 Float Coat is a good bet. Shop around for some good-quality dog booties, too, which are advisable for protecting paw pads from scorching pavement, slips, cuts and stings or bites.

Tampa Bay ranked No. 1 on a 2017 list of most pet-friendly vacation destinations among 53 of the nation's largest metro areas.

ida r o l F

JCResorts Beachfront Vacation Rentals

Paradise, reputation and reliability since 1981.

800-535-7776 or 800-421-6663 JCRESORTS.US All beachfront properties, fantastic views and everything the Tampa Bay Area has to offer. Service is our specialty and we overlook nothing but the Gulf. Come and find your paradise.

Visit our website to select your favorite! 17200 Gulf Blvd., N. Redington Beach, FL 33708 VI SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 9 3

VINTAGE VISITSPC.COM/VINTAGE

St. P

From built otels shing h e t a fi orn s to a eam 0 2 9 1 in the t gained st e e tha villag e 1980s, th in th water r a e l te/C ds St. Pe rea aboun t a u jus o Y . y istor nd it. with h ve to go fi ha

E E G G A A T T N N I I r e t V V a w r a e l C ete

rg u b s r e t St. Pe Shuffleboard isn't just for Coney Island Grill grandpa anymore. You'll see this in the hipsters and that turned 90 in 2016. The Coliseum Ballroom is home to countless families who flock to the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, weddings and expos each year, from a holiday shopping which was built in 1923 and event to an antique book fair. The 1924 ballroom was once called the Palace of Pleasure, and it's still a fitting brought back to life by preservationists. The Ponce de Leon Hotel has been standing since name. Once an old movie house that featured the area’s first “floating screen,” the State Theatre is now a draw 1922 with eye-catching design by noted architect George Feltham. It’s currently attached to Ceviche, a hot spot for for national bands ranging from Bon Jovi to obscure Spanish-style dining and night life. punk acts. Old school fare abounds, from a burger staple of more The oldest greyhound track in the country is Derby Lane Greyhound Track, run by the same family since than 50 years, El Cap Restaurant; to the 1950s outpost 1925. Get in the 1920s mood at the track’s bar, The Biff Burger, replete with classic car shows. Or grab a dog and a shake at Coney Island Grill, a counter restaurant Prohibition.

Shuffleboard Club

History A BIT OF LOCAL

On the Beaches Anyone who has set foot on Treasure Island instantly recognizes the giant neon sign for the Thunderbird Beach Resort, a 1957 beachfront landmark with updated, modern room s. Historic Corey Avenue, dedicated in 1937, runs through the heart of St. Pete Beach and is still a popular draw for shopping and dining. Speaking of shopping strolls, it’s easy to forget that the 1980s now have throwback status, and Exhibit A is John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, a quaint fishi ng village of shops and restaurants, and an annual seafood festival that turned 35 this year. Learn all you need to know about the beaches at the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, in the historic district of Pass-a-Grille on St. Pete Beach. The museum, which features historic postcards, photos, newspaper clippings and more, celebrates its 100th year in 2017.

1842: Businessman Odet Philippe acquires what is now Safety Harbor. Years later, he’ll be buried in his former plantation, Philippe Park.

1884: The St. Petersburg Times, now known as the Tampa Bay Times, is established.

ter a w r a Cle and gs n i r p nS o p r a T

Anyone interested in Greek heritage should pay a visit to Tarpon Springs, where Greek sponge divers settled in the early 1900s. The Sponge-O-Rama Vintage Museum is a great spot to learn about the craft of sponge diving and pick up your own squishy souvenir. Tarpon Springs has a rich history outside the Sponge Docks as well, including a vibrant downtown. Make time to visit the Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society, a former train station that's been turned into a museum. In Clearwater, the Capitol Theatre has anchored the downtown area since 1921. The theater was on the verge of closing until a city partnership brought it back to life and it's now a hot destination for national touring acts.

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ino entine Gulfport Cas g the Learn the Arg moves at the in g rv in se sw es e nc m ing tango or so ith weekly da actual gambl deco gem w t no ar 's re an , he m T : gh ou g Ballroo in th y, m rr co a Inn, wel since 1934. So ric Peninsul at the community at the Histo nt your stay, dine ai g in qu it ur p D . ee 05 19 e here. K nc si n heart of tow , Isabelle’s. guests to the ida restaurant inn’s old Flor

1904: The Gasparilla Pirate Festival kicks off for the first time in Tampa, celebrating the legend of mythical pirate José Gaspar. 1914: The trip is only 23 minutes,

but it’s productive. Tony Jannus pilots the world’s first commercial flight out of St. Petersburg. Jannus’ name can be found throughout Tampa International Airport.

1926: One of the world’s most over-the-top movie palaces opens. The lavish Tampa Theatre was designed by theater architect John Eberson, and tickets cost 25 cents.

1951: Music to our ears: The St. Petersburg

Symphony Orchestra, which would become the Florida Orchestra, performs its first concert.

1982: The Salvador DalÍ Museum opens, featuring work that spans the artist’s entire career. 1990: The first

segment of the Pinellas Trail between Dunedin and Seminole opens.

1996: Dunedin

Brewery, Florida’s first craft brewery, gets approval to brew beer.

1998: We have a baseball team! The Tampa Bay Rays, known at the time as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, are born.

V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 95

Raymond James

ST. PETE/CLEARWATER >>>

USF St. Petersburg

Eckerd College

Perfect climate

FOR

BUSINESS

From HSN to Wikipedia, PolitiFact and more, business and creativity thrive on the Gulf Coast.

The climate is ripe St. Pete/Clearwater’s gorgeous weather is no secret. But what you might not know is the climate is just as friendly for business and higher education. Many famous companies got their start here and still call the area home; some of them might surprise you.

Pioneer territory Purchased last year by QVC, the pioneering teleshopping retailer HSN began and is headquartered in St. Petersburg. And in 1962, a St. Pete broker named Bob James started a company that has grown into investment powerhouse Raymond James Financial, with more than 7,600 financial advisors serving millions of clients worldwide.

Lockheed Martin

Wings and brains

The big picture

Wings lovers should know that Clearwater is the launching pad for Hooters, which debuted in 1983. Bolstered by a fresh-faced, short-shorted workforce and cheeky marketing, Hooters has grown into a multimillion dollar enterprise, with restaurants in 27 countries, giving men who should know better (and the women in their lives, good sports all) a great place to enjoy lunch or dinner with a pitcher of beer and a side of ogling. In more cerebral pursuits, online encyclopedia Wikipedia and fact-checking website PolitiFact both got their start in St. Pete and continue to offer curious minds information, or at the very least, the last word in an argument.

Our sugar-white beaches, vibrant art scene, craft breweries and foodie-magnet restaurants regularly attract new residents, particularly millennials. Being named by Forbes magazine this year as One of America’s Best Cities for Young Professionals can only help keep the trend going.

R&D for the win Thanks to a labor force that includes 100,000 veterans, plus the largest port in the state and two nearby international airports, St. Pete/Clearwater is a well-positioned home base for technology firms Tech Data and Jabil Circuit, while defense and aerospace-sector firms General Dynamics, GE Aviation, Honeywell International, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have divisions in the region as well. And with industry leaders Nielsen Media Research, Valpak and Catalina Marketing, the area is becoming a hub for big data.

Feel the learn St. Pete/Clearwater can boast of a number of respected higher-education institutions. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg and the USF College of Marine Science share a 58-acre waterfront campus in downtown St. Pete. USFSP ranks high in the state and nationally for its online MBA program. USFCMS has been instrumental in studying the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Across the street is nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies, which teaches about journalism in the digital age. The private Eckerd College, on Boca Ciega Bay, is one of only 40 colleges listed in the Colleges That Change Lives guide, and is known for its creative writing, management and international relations programs. Gulfport’s Stetson University College of Law, Florida’s oldest law school, is ranked first for trial advocacy by U.S. News & World Report. And at St. Petersburg College, students enjoy a lower cost of attendance, while graduates rank tops statewide in starting wages.

Stetson University College of Law

Tech Data

FISHING

Why mess around? If you want to catch the big ones, reserve your spot now on board Florida’s most productive fleet to the Gulf of Mexico. Bait, ice, gear & help available every trip. 5 hr. Half Day • 10 hr. Full Day • Private Charters Reservations:

HUBBARDSMARINA.COM 727.398.6577

DOLPHIN WATCH

Stay and play. Come stay in one of our spacious guest rooms equipped with microwaves, refrigerators and coffee makers. Amenities include heated pool, guest laundry, free guest parking and free guest Wi-Fi. Meeting and banquet facilities are available with attentive service by our friendly staff. Located on beautiful St. Pete Beach just south of Tampa International Airport.

• Complimentary Guest Wi-Fi • No Resort Fees • Hotel Located on 400 feet of Beach Frontage • Boca Sands Grille Restaurant • Flipper’s Beach Bar • Parasailing and Dolphin Watch Trips • On Trolley Route • Located across the boulevard from Dolphin Shopping Center.

You’ll see dolphin, manatee, ospreys and rare eagles on the area’s best narrated cruise. Your tour also takes you past stately area mansions. Sunset Cruise available with free beer & wine for adults. Reservations:

HUBBARDSMARINA.COM 727.398.6577

FT. DeSOTO FERRY TO BEAUTIFUL EGMONT KEY OR SHELL KEY

Snorkel the ruins of historic Ft. DeSoto and tour a working lighthouse. Walk the streets of a Spanish-American fort or go shelling on America’s #1 beach.

Reservations: HUBBARDSMARINA.COM 727.398.6577

PADDLEBOARDS AND KAYAKS

HubbardsMarina.com Find Us On:

WATER TAXI TO: JOHN’S PASS VILLIAGE

EXPERIENCE THE TAMPA BAY GULF BEACHES LIKE A LOCAL! For Tickets, Taxi Routes & Schedules

TampaBayFerry.com 727.398.6577

info@TampaBayFerry.com

4900 Gulf Blvd. • St. Pete Beach 727-360-7011 • 800-237-8916

For reservations, visit dolphinbeach.com or call 727-360-7011

TampaBayFerry.com V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 97

clearwater marine aquarium VISITSPC.COM/WINTER

The future looks bright for sea turtles, dolphins, manatees and other marine life thanks to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

98 AME R I C A’ S B E ST B E ACH ES

It's more than an aquarium: CMA is a marine rescue hospital where trained medical staff and volunteers work around the clock. A former water treatment plant, the aquarium is undergoing a major expansion which will include more pools for injured dolphins and a new pelican habitat.

Home to Winter and Hope, the stars of the Dolphin Tale movies, the aquarium’s work with sea turtles is more important than ever, says aquarium CEO and director David Yates. Record-breaking numbers of sea turtles have been nesting on local beaches in recent years. “Sea turtles are the primary recipients of care at the aquarium,”

says Yates. “Our volunteers patrol 26 miles of nesting beach from Caladesi Island to St. Pete Beach from early May through October.” In summer, adult sea turtles can be struck and injured by boats, or get snared in fishing line. In winter months, very cold water temperatures can cause “cold stun” in sea turtles, which can be fatal. So the

Follow the Dolp hin Trail Don’t be surpris

ed if you come fa ce-to-face with colorfully painte d 6-foot dolphins as you visit St. Pe Clearwater. Clos te/ e to 200 playfully decorated fibergla dolphins are part ss of the acclaimed Dolphin Trail. Spot them from the beaches and downtown Clearwater, north to Dunedin and south to downtown St. Pe tersburg. (Hint: Look for artful Festivo at th e DalÍ Museum). Following the Dol phin Trail is a fun way for all ages to explore the ar ea. See how man y you can find! Go to VisitSPC. com/DolphinTr ail for a trail map .

'Dolphin Tale' Winter and Hope, whose real-life stories are told in Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2, are residents at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The movies tell the inspirational story of Winter’s rescue and rehabilitation and how Hope came to the aquarium. Despite an amputated tail, Winter thrives today with the help of a first-of-its-kind prosthetic tail. Both movies were filmed at and around the aquarium. You can see movie clips, props and rebuilt sets at Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure in downtown Clearwater.

Picture Perfect Loads of sunshine, swaying palm trees, turquoise water and sugar-sand beaches make the area an attractive location for shooting films. Look for local locations in these movies:

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

aquarium is ready year-round to receive and treat injured sea turtles, and with a high-tech surgical suite and waiting holding pools, the facility is fully equipped to take on most sea turtle emergencies. But other marine animals also receive care. When two seahorses washed up on the beach last summer, aquarium staff jumped into action. The palm-size adult seahorses, named Cheeto and Funyun, were brought in within weeks of one another. They were treated, got stronger, and then were returned to their native habitat. Cheeto and Funyun join dozens of other sea animals who are rescued, rehabilitated and released every year. Only the animals that cannot survive on their own will stay at the aquarium. “We’re all about providing education and inspiration for people around the world,” Yates said. In addition to ongoing programs and eco-tours, “sometimes you can see surgeries going on live through the windows of the operating room … it’s totally amazing.”

Recordbreaking number of loggerhead turtle nests along local beaches reported by Clearwater Marine Aquarium in 2016.

Make A Wish Come True

The Infiltrator (2016) A U.S. Customs official uncovers a money laundering scheme involving Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and goes up against the biggest drug cartel in history. Spring Breakers (2013) Four college girls hold up a restaurant to fund their spring break vacation. With the excitement of it all, it soon becomes unclear how far they are willing to go. Magic Mike (2012) Matthew McConaughey plays a stripper who teaches a younger performer (Channing Tatum) how to make the most of his talents. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts are part of a sophisticated scheme to break into three Las Vegas casinos at the same time. Cocoon (1985) A group of trespassing seniors discovers a return to youthful vigor when they swim in a pool containing alien cocoons.

Turtle Release

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surf sand& fun

come with the territory

The Birchwood

Plaza Beach Hotel - Beachfront Resort❉ Voted “Best Hotel” on St Pete Beach in 2017

See why so many guest have Fallen in Love with our Hotel • Family owned and Operated since 1988 Make your reservations today at 1800-257-8998 or

PlazaBeachResorts.com

Intimate • Sophisticated 340 Beach Drive NE St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-896-1080

TheBirchwood.com

Island Paradise Cottages of Madeira Beach❉ Florida Charm

13215 2nd St. E., Madeira Beach 727-395-9751

IslandParadise.com

Bay Palms Waterfront Resort - Hotel & Marina❉ Charming • Dog Friendly

4237 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach 800-257-8998

PlazaBeachResorts.com

Cay Pointe Villa

Sunset Inn & Cottages ❉

514 Gulf Blvd. Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 727-596-2794

7925 West Gulf Blvd. Treasure Island, FL 33706 727-420-8788

Coastal Comfort

CayPointeVilla.com

Pet Friendly • Weddings

SunsetInnTI.com

Dip your toes into warm Gulf waters, relax on our sugar sand beaches, build

sandcastles with the kids or spend a romantic afternoon lounging by the pool. Whatever your idea of a perfect vacation, a Superior Small Lodging™ property has you covered. Choose from nearly 40 cottages, villas, inns, flats, small hotels, and bed & breakfasts.

www.ﬂoridassl.com

Choose from locations throughout the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area

family-friendly dog-friendly romantic getaways wedding destinations

Frenchy’s Oasis Motel❉

Parker Manor Resort❉

423 East Shore Dr. Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 727-446-6835

115 Brightwater Dr. Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 727-446-6562

Retro Boutique

FrenchysOasisMotel.com

Beach Haven

Authentic Florida

4980 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 727-367-8642

BeachHavenVillas.com

Friendly • Relaxing

ParkerManor.com

Coconut Inn❉

Authentic Florida

131 11th Avenue St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 727-367-1305

PagBeachInns.com

Page Terrace Beachfront Hotel❉

Palm Pavilion Inn❉

Sand GloVillas❉

Beachfront Dining on the Gulf

Beachfront Tranquility

PageTerrace.com

PalmPavilionInn.com

SandGlo.com

Havana Inn❉

Plaza Beach Hotel Beachfront Resort❉

Beachfront Sunsets

10500 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island 727-367-1997

Coastal Charm

1007 Gulfway St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 727-367-1305

PagBeachInns.com

18 Bay Esplanade Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 727-446-6777

Breathtaking Sunsets

4506 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach 800-257-8998

PlazaBeachResorts.com

19316 Gulf Blvd. Indian Shores, FL 33785 727-320-9720

Miramar Beach Resort Families

4200 Gulf Blvd St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 727-367-2311

MiramarBeachResort.com

Each has its own distinctive flavor. Among us, you’ll find properties with docks for fishing and boating enthusiasts, pet-friendly accommodations and perfect romantic getaways or wedding destinations. We’ll be happy to suggest places to see, dining experiences, unique shops and activities known only to the locals. Along the way, we’ll get to know you by name and you’ll become part of our family. Properties marked with an asterisk* are TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award winners. Independently owned and operated | Inspected annually by Superior Small Lodging™ | White Glove standards for quality and service

Beach

AwardWinning Boutique

Resorts

Exclusive, affordable, family owned and Trip Advisor Top Rated resorts: Why would you stay anywhere else? Experience personalized service with attention to detail. Choose from four boutique resorts located on Florida’s award-winning beaches: St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island. Discover completely renovated rooms and suites with full kitchens catering to couples, business travelers and families.

From deluxe hotel rooms to large family suites, Plaza Beach Resorts have what you are looking for.

PAGE TERRACE HOTEL

PLAZA BEACH HOTEL BEACHFRONT RESORT

4506 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach On the Gulf of Mexico, powder white sand, warm Gulf water, large pool, rooms with kitchens, balconies.

1-800-257-8998 • PlazaBeachResorts.com

10500 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island On the Gulf of Mexico, centrally located, large pool, spacious patio, rooms with kitchens.

1-800-532-6569 • PageTerrace.com

BAYVIEW PLAZA WATERFRONT RESORT

BAY PALMS WATERFRONT RESORT

1-800-257-8998 • PlazaBeachResorts.com

4321 Gulf Blvd. , St. Pete Beach On Boca Ciega Bay, fishing pier only 200 ft. from the beach, boats, watch dolphins and manatees.

4237 Gulf Blvd. , St. Pete Beach On Boca Ciega Bay, heated pool, great fishing, 1 or 2 bedroom apts., family reunions, pet friendly available.

Here is why you should stay with us:

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• Boutique exclusive resorts • Location, location, location • Amazing amenities • Exceptional services • Commitment to your experience • Affordable Prices • Not your typical cookie cutter resort

All of our properties are family owned and operated. The owners are on property daily to ensure you have a perfect vacation.

architecture

We built this city The Mediterranean Revival style, influenced by structures in France and Spain, is reflected in Florida's oldest landmarks. Sleek mid-century structures stand alongside bold and contemporary designs. Familiar American colonial influences are evident, brought by the area's northern and midwestern transplants.

SNELL ARCADE An excellent example of Mediterranean Revival architecture that is reflected in several significant buildings in the St. Pete/ Clearwater region. Located in downtown St. Pete, it was built in 1928.

DALÍ MUSEUM Designed by architect Yann Weymouth of HOK, it combines the fantastical with the practical. A simple rectangle with 18-inchthick hurricane-proof walls out of which bursts a large freeform geodesic glass bubble known as the “enigma.” SPANISH MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL The 1920s brought notable architecture to affluent residential neighborhoods throughout the lower Gulf coast. ST. MARY OUR LADY OF GRACE CATHOLIC CHURCH Byzantine in style with Romanesque features, the church was built on the pattern of the ancient basilica of San Stefano in Rome.

AVALON A hip deco hotel and lounge in St. Pete, sporting sleek lines and an artful use of neon, with a retro-chic interior.

CLASSIC CRAFTSMAN It's distinguished by low-pitched rooflines, deep overhanging eaves, exposed rafters and a front porch beneath the extension of the main roof. Classic handcrafted stone and woodwork uses mixed materials throughout, making it a fixture in the St. Pete/Clearwater area.

THE VINOY Built in 1925, St. Pete's stunning waterfront resort was restored after decades of neglect in the 1990s to its current incarnation. The timeless Mediterranean Revival-style hotel is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

SECURITY FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING Built in 1961, this striking seven-story building in St. Petersburg was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

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CONDO SIZE SUITES & RESORT AMENITIES UNDER ONE ROOF! VISIT WINTER THE DOLPHIN, STAR OF DOLPHIN TALE MOVIES SEE RESCUED DOLPHINS, SEA TURTLES, OTTERS AND MORE.

The perfect family beachfront resort! Offering 154 two and three bedroom suites with living/dining rooms, full size kitchen with washer and dryer, private balcony facing the beach, free business and fitness center, free reserved parking, free Wi-fi and newspaper, heated pool and whirlpools, walk to John’s Pass Village, shopping and dining!

WORKING ANIMAL HOSPITAL BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS

• On-site, 24-hour front desk • On-site restaurant and tiki bar • No resort fees • No cleaning fees

INTERACTIVE BOAT TOURS

RESCUE. REHAB. RELEASE 12000 Gulf Blvd. Treasure Island, FL 33706 866.597.1600, 727.360.1600 SunsetVistas.com

Plan your visit at SeeWinter.com 249 WINDWARD PASSAGE, CLEARWATER FL 33767 727-441-1790

1 0 4 AM E R I C A’ S B E ST B EAC H E S

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YOUR TICKET TO

EMBRACE YOUR ADVENTUROUS SIDE IN TAMPA BAY

Take your time, and take it all in. Experience the best attractions Tampa Bay has to offer, handpicked and wrapped up for you in an easy-to-use ticket booklet — all at a huge savings.

DISCOVER THE PLACE THE LOCALS GO. Fall in love with an elegant waterfront resort, just steps from museums and St. Petersburg style. World class dining. Fred’s Cellar, an underground speakeasy straight out of the 20’s. Championship golf and tennis. Rejuvenating day spa. Two pools. 74-slip marina. And every modern amenity - all yours, at The Vinoy® Renaissance Resort & Golf Club.

Reservations: 888.303.4430 or VisitVinoy.com

SAVE 50%

1 BOOKLET 5 ADMISSION TICKETS — BUY HERE —

501 5th Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701 t: 727.894.1000

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay

The Florida Aquarium Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo Clearwater Marine Aquarium Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) Chihuly Collection presented by the Morean Arts Center SKIP MOST TICKET LINES

Penthouse suite perfect for

98% RECOMMEND CityPASS VALID 9 DAYS

weddings & small groups! Chart House Suites & Marina is a boutique hotel located on Clearwater Beach, and features the closest marina to Clearwater Pass. It is walking distance to Clearwater Beach, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife.

Suites on Clearwater Bay

• 25 Spacious Studios and Suites • Balconies and Patio • Refrigerator

• Microwave & Coffeemaker • Free Parking & Internet Access • Heated Pool Boat Slips available

citypass.com

Advertised savings valid through February 2018. Visit citypass.com for current savings.

850 Bayway Blvd., Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 • 727-449-8007 www.ChartHouseSuites.com V I SI TSTP ETECLEARWATER.COM 1 05

events UP-TO-DATE LIST @ VISITSPC.COM/EVENTS Fun and diverse celebrations abound year-round in St. Pete/Clearwater.

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Recapturing Old Florida kissed a Gator. rode a jet ski.

GULFSIDE RESORTS

More to Eat, Drink, See & Do

810 GULFSIDE & SARAH’S SEASIDE

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FLORIDA

than anywhere else on the Gulf Beaches

www.johnspassvi

A premier enclave of secluded beachfront cottages and suites recapturing “Old Florida’’ in Indian Rocks Beach. Charm and sophistication await with a heated pool, sea kayaks, beach cabanas, butterfly gardens, bicycles and high-speed internet. Celebrating 25 years of family ownership.

810 Gulf Blvd. • Indian Rocks Beach, FL • 727-596-8063 For reservations, visit GulfsideResorts.com or call 800-597-8063

C L E A R W A T E R

B E A C H ,

F L O R I D A

In Celebration of Our 92nd Year

Growing up there was only one thing better than spending the day at the beach...going to the Palm Pavilion. Since its earliest day, The Palm has been a special place where family and friends come and create memories to last a lifetime. Join us for a meal, an appetizer, dessert, drinks and a sunset. There’s live music every day, as long as we can ﬁnd the extension cord. Happy hour: Monday - Friday 4-7 p.m. Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar

10 Bay Esplanade • North Clearwater Beach • 727-446-2642 • www.palmpavilion.com

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Legend

Rediscover the

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World Famous Grouper Sandwich!

TRS VACATION RENTALS • 400 Rentals to Choose From • 4 Staffed Resorts / 5 Offices • Resort-like Ammenities • Heated Swimming Pools • Studio, 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms

Madeira Bay Resort

(727) 342-7800

www.MadeiraBayResort.com

• Full Kitchens • Many with Private Balconies, Washers & Dryers, and Free Wifi

UNIQUE RESTAURANTS

Real R eal GROUPER. Reel FRESH.

• Pet-Friendly Units Available • Handicapped Accessible Units Available • Phones Answered 24/7 • Full Maintenance & Housekeeping Staff TRS-Travel Resort Services has been in business on Tampa Bay’s Beaches for over 30 years

Caprice Resort (727) 360-6199

41 Baymont St.

419 Poinsettia Ave.

351 S. Gulfview Blvd.

466 Causeway Blvd.

727-446-3607

727-461-6295

www.CapriceStPeteBeach.com

www.trsinc.com (800) 237-6586 (727) 393-2534

727-441-9991

FrenchysOnline.com Gulf Strand Resort (727) 367-2878

www.GulfStrand.com

13030 Gulf Boulevard, Madeira Beach, Florida 33708

1 0 8 A M E R I C A’ S B E ST B EAC H E S

727-286-6139 39

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7 Rockaway St.

727-446-4844

TREASURE ISLAND, FLORIDA

GetAway, GetItAll. Unwind. Relax. Escape. The Bilmar Beach Resort is Treasure Island’s Landmark Resort with luxurious accommodations and so much more! Built on Florida’s scenic Gulf Coast, the Bilmar’s picturesque locations offers the best in recreation, with a complete selection of accommodations and amenities – one of the best values on the island.

S u i t e V i e w s . Tr e a s u r e d T i m e .

YO U R N E W B E AC H F R O N T G E TAWAY

10800 GULF BLVD. TREASURE ISLAND, FLORIDA

855.660.6566 | TreasureIslandBeachResort.com

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COMFORT & CONVENIENCE

Comfort, convenience and familiarity — these elements reflect the simple yet elegant values of Innisbrook Resort’s southern way of living. Bringing families and friends together with the comforts of home all while experiencing resort living. Home to four award-winning golf courses and PGA TOUR events, this is one of Florida’s best spots to tee off. With the addition of a spa and fitness center, an array of dining concepts and family on-site activities, Innisbrook is the perfect place for a Florida vacation.

888.794.8624 | VISITINNISBROOK.COM 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North | Palm Harbor, FL 34684

1 1 0 AM E R I C A’ S B E ST B E AC H E S

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5300 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, Florida sirata.com • (866) 340-9444

#CelebrateTheExperience

The sun sets on your visit, but the love affair has just begun. The sugar-white sand, the welcoming waters, the friendly locals, the flavorful food, the lively culture – they will always beckon. So as you close the book on your visit here, remember: this is not “Goodbye.” It’s only “See you again soon.”

St. Pete Beach

Live It.

THE AMERICAN TROPICS ARE HERE

What’s here? The warm, emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, 35 miles of white sand, and whispering palm trees. In St. Pete, the streets are lined with art, and the museums boast masters such as Dalí and Chihuly. Time to live the vibe.