Attractions
Museums
Ready to go to paradise?
St. Pete/Clearwater is home to no fewer than seven art museums! From the mind-bending works at the Salvador Dalí Museum to the extensive art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts and gorgeous glass art at the Imagine Museum, you'll find amazing art experiences at every turn. Check out one of the newest museums, the Fairgrounds St. Pete for an authentically Florida experience.
Waterfront Attractions
With miles of coastline comes tons of must-see waterfront attractions. The new St. Pete Pier offers hours of fun for all ages, including a splash pad, playground, walking paths, an open-air market, a nature discovery center, Spa Beach, and tons of dining options. Situated right on Tampa Bay, the Pier has been a destination for sunseekers for more than a century – even if the attraction itself has changed greatly over the years. This exciting new iteration (which opened in the summer 2020) was recently named the #2 new attraction in the country by USA Today.
Situated on the Intracoastal Waterway in Madeira Beach, John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk is a rustic collection of fun shops, restaurants, and bars that embrace their coastal roots – from fresh seafood to beachy fashions. This is a great place to find jet-ski rentals, sunset cruises, dolphin-watching tours, and a pirate-themed cruise the kids will love.
A jewel in Clearwater Beach’s crown, Pier 60 is where performers, craftspeople, food vendors and beachgoers gather each night for an awesome sunset celebration. Just across the street is Clearwater Marina, lined with boats that will take you out on the Gulf of Mexico for any number of sightseeing and wildlife-watching cruises. Across the causeway, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a marine research facility where you’ll find an animal hospital that cares for injured dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, otters and more.
Dining
New dining spots come on the scene frequently in St. Pete/Clearwater. One of the newest spots in St. Pete is the much-anticipated Lingr, the Nordic- and Asian-inspired brainchild of Jeffrey Jew, a “Top Chef” alumnus and former executive chef at BellaBrava. Other new St. Pete restaurants include Wild Child (a neighborhood bistro and cocktail bar) and The Nosh Pit (a New York-style “Jew-ish” deli).
In Dunedin, the new sports bar Jack Pallino’s Pizza serves up yummy Neapolitan-style pizzas and gelato. Sea Worthy Fish + Bar in Tierra Verde offers fresh approaches to seafood from the owners of St. Pete’s much-loved Brick & Mortar.
Alongside hot new dining spots are the time-tested restaurants that St. Pete/Clearwater is known for. Foodies flock to the rustic-chic Brick & Mortar on Central Ave. in St. Pete and crave the ever-changing menu at The Restorative in Dunedin. Romantics and others in search of a special-occasion dinner head to Maritana at the Don CeSar on St. Pete Beach. And locals and visitors alike know you can’t go wrong at our local institutions, including Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish in St. Pete (a family-owned joint dating to 1951), Skyway Jack’s Restaurant in St. Pete (homey diner with all-day breakfasts) and Mykonos (traditional Greek specialties) in Tarpon Springs.
Boating and Watersports
With the Gulf of Mexico, the Intracoastal Waterway, Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay, and others as scenic backdrops for your adventure on the water, you can’t go wrong. Beautiful weather year-round means getting out on the water here is a breeze.
Guided nature tours by boat will help you see local birds and animals. Learn about the dolphin population in Clearwater Bay on a dolphin and wildlife boat tour from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and see how scientists collect data to help protect local sea life. If you're near the St. Pete Pier, the Tampa Bay Discovery Center also offers nature tours. If you’re a seashell collector, head south to Pass-a-Grille Beach to catch a boat tour to Shell Key Preserve where you can spend a few peaceful hours on an unspoiled barrier island.
Catch the ferry to Egmont Key State Park to explore the remains of Spanish American War-era Fort Dade in this pristine wildlife refuge set in the mouth of Tampa Bay. The captain will point out wildlife such as dolphins, manatees and ospreys during the short ferry ride. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays and crabs as you swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear water around the island.
Drive north to Tarpon Springs to take a boat tour around this Greek enclave, with narration about the town’s historic sponge trade. Afterwards, stop in for a meal at one of the many Greek restaurants along the sponge docks.
Head to Hubbard’s Marina at John’s Pass to join a sunset sail into the Gulf and toast the end of a perfect vacation day. You can even catch a ride on a floating tiki at sunset from John's Pass - a truly awesome experience! Sail out of Clearwater Beach Marina on the Schooner Clearwater for a relaxing, romantic sunset cruise. Feel like having a night out on the town – on a boat? Reserve a spot on the StarLite Majesty for a dinner cruise on the 115-foot yacht that sails out of either Clearwater Beach or St. Pete Beach.
Set sail on the Pirate Ship Royal Conquest out of John’s Pass or Captain Memo’s Original Pirate Cruise from Clearwater Marina. These pirate-themed ships offer all the treasure hunts, face painting, water gun battles, and pirate stories your kids can handle.
The Sea Screamer is an awesome choice, billing itself as “the world’s largest speedboat.” Hold onto your hat as this sleek 72-foot boat speeds along the beaches, and watch for the dolphins that leap in the boat’s wake.
Our waters are shallow and calm - perfect for exploring by kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Check out the Pinellas County Blueways paddling trail, which is divided into sections and includes points of interest along the way. Paddle a kayak through dense mangrove tunnels at Weedon Island Preserve on the shore of Tampa Bay (tip: look for mangrove crabs and roseate spoonbills). Rent a kayak on the Dunedin Causeway to paddle over to pristine Caladesi Island State Park (or take the ferry over, then rent a kayak once you land at the marina there) – you’ll have access to gorgeous beaches as well as a three-mile mangrove trail. In Tierra Verde, take a guided tour in a clear kayak from Get Up and Go Kayaking. In Madeira Beach, try an LED-lit glass-bottom kayak tour from Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours for an unforgettable nighttime experience.
Paddleboarding has become super-popular, and you can rent a board almost anywhere you can rent a kayak or other water sports equipment in the area.