Warm Wishes Love Letter to St. Pete

By Sarah Miller Freelance Writer

Meeting St. Pete Beach was not love at first sight. We’d never met, so it was a blind date. I was hesitant–should I choose neighboring Clearwater? St. Pete had the reputation of being more laid back while Clearwater was a bustling beach with high rises. In the end, I couldn’t resist the five story, flamingo-hued Hilton Garden Inn property directly on the gulf (plus I had reward points).

We arrived at night passing some unappealing strip malls before arriving at the hotel. Inside the lobby, a group of men reeked of alcohol and the neighboring motel was playing loud music. Clearly, this was not going to be a match.

After a poor first impression, I woke up the next morning to blue-green, Caribbean like water that shimmered with diamonds under the warm Florida sunshine. The room was immaculate and the breeze was gentle. Downstairs in the lobby, smiling families and couples set off for breakfast and the beach. Maybe I’d rushed to conclusions about St. Pete. This Valentine/birthday stay might just be the perfect match. After all, the prospects in Ohio were looking pretty bleak this time of year with their endless dull gray days and icy reception. Turns out my extended weekend getaway was a love match.

Matchmaker, Finding Love

As a travel writer, I fashion myself a bit of a matchmaker. I like to introduce people to bright, new experiences that enliven their zest for life. That often means exhaustive research before I even get to my destination. I read countless reviews, make numerous calls, and surf on the web so much that I can hardly wait to see real-live surf!

The thing about St. Pete is that there is plenty to fall in love with. Sure, he’s not perfect–but pretty close to it. What’s more, St. Pete offers something for nature lovers, foodies, culture seekers, adventurers, and yes of course, miles of endless beautiful beach.

Resorts on St. Pete Beach

What’s special about St. Pete Beach is its walkability. You can easily spend the day exploring nearby resorts. Each one has a distinct personality with activities and restaurants that make them worth a visit. Our Hilton was cozy, beachy, and bright. Most of all, the reviews all commented on cleanliness, ranking highest on my list for choosing a place to stay.

The RumFish Beach Resort is next door to the Hilton and is a destination in itself. One of my best moments of the trip happened here– a birthday dinner inside The RumFish Grill. This intimate restaurant is surrounded by a 33,500 gallon aquarium. Make sure to watch Animal Planet’s TANKED before visiting to better appreciate the size and scope of the aquarium. There’s something both calming and joyful about dining amongst stingrays and tropical fish. Choose from locally-sourced seafood and other specialty entrees. If you don’t care about carbs, then the warm basket of rolls is pure comfort. The hotel’s art is worth checking out too. Marine-inspired paintings and murals by Florida’s famous artist, Thomas Krause celebrate manatees, dolphins, and other native wildlife.

The Tradewinds operates

The RumFish Beach Resort and the sister property a short stroll away, the Island Grand. The exterior has palms, lush landscaping, and lagoons interspersed with restaurants and gift shops. Here you can have a fruity drink tucked away in a lagoon and watch white ibis. Waterways twist throughout the property, and the people watching is fun–spy resort guests paddle boating under bridges and families playing a round of mini golf.

Farther down the beach is St. Pete’s “Pink Palace,” The Don CeSar. This opulent pastel beauty opened in 1928. Thomas Rowe built the resort for his lost love, quite a romantic gesture. The Don oozes romance and elegance with a world-class spa and highend dining. For me, The Don symbolized a giant pink birthday cake surrounded by delicious, sugar-white sands. Although a day of swimming and walking did not leave me looking presentable to dine at The Don, I did savor a scoop of complimentary birthday ice cream as the sun melted behind the ocean.

St. Petersburg vs. St. Pete Beach

The first few days were all about the beach. Before leaving, we had to head to St. Petersburg the city (not to be confused with St. Pete Beach). The two are on opposite sides and quite different. Depending on traffic, it’s about a 20 minute drive from the beach to the city. The focal point is the St. Pete Pier that reaches out to Tampa Bay. The modern architecture fits the vibe of the city. Live music pulses from the rooftop bar with tikis. Five-levels fit in a marine education center, dining, and retail in this angular beauty with massive windows and overlooks.

I timed my visit with the local farmer’s market. Sadly, they were packing up by the time I made it there. There was still time to do a quick walk around to get a feel for the market. Every inch of St. Petersburg was buzzing. That Saturday brought a regatta festival and a marine biology expo for kids. We only had time to breeze past The Dali (Salvador Dali Museum), only so much time on an extended President’s Day weekend).

Fond Farewell

Now, I look back fondly on my brief time with St. Pete Beach. Ah, the long walks with bare feet on sugar-soft sand. The way the blue-green waters sparkled. The way the sun kissed my face. The sherbert-colored sunsets. I’ll never forget the 72 hours we spent together. Until we meet again, warmest wishes and love, St. Pete Beach.