ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

St. Petersburg Florida is called St Pete by most natives of the Tampa Bay area. The population is about 262,167. 

St Pete is within the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Statistical area of about 2.9 million residents.  It is the largest city in Pinellas County.

St. Petersburg Pier at Night

St. Petersburg is on the western shore of Tampa Bay.  It's larger and older neighbor, Tampa, is on the eastern shore.

The city had two major founders: John C. Williams of Detroit, who bought the land that is now St Pete in 1876, and Peter Demens, a Russian who was instrumental in bringing the terminus of the railroad there in 1888.

St. Petersburg Railroad Station 1908

St Petersburg Florida was incorporated in 1892 with a population of only about 300 people.

Demens named it after his former hometown of St Petersburg Russia.

St Pete is located on a large peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The peninsula is surrounded by some of the prettiest waters in Florida.

St Petersburg Waterfront, the Early Days

This peninsular location somewhat isolated St Pete from the rest of Florida in its early days.

In the early 1900's a channel was dredged out into Tampa Bay and St Petersburg Florida became a significant port city.

The downtown waterfront became the focal point of the city.  That is still true today.

St. Petersburg Waterfront and Million Dollar Pier, Early 1900s

It was still a long way from anywhere by land, however. It was a winding 43 mile trip from St Pete to Tampa through Oldsmar on the north side of the bay.

The first commercial airline service was started in 1914 with a seaplane. It was known as the St Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line. The first pilot was Tony Jannus.

Jannus Landing, a local music and entertainment venue on Central Avenue in downtown St Pete is named in his honor.

Promoter George Gandy built the first bridge over Tampa Bay in 1924. At last, St Petersburg Florida was a convenient trip to and from Tampa.

The other bridge that connects St Pete to Tampa is the Howard Frankland Bridge that carries I-275 from North St Pete to west Tampa.

In the years after World War Two, St Pete became a mecca for retired people.  They flocked to the sunshine and lived in the many residential hotels in the downtown area.  

When I first moved to Florida in 1960, downtown St. Petersburg was widely derided around the state as "God's Waiting Room."

The city streets were lined with green park benches upon which sat thousands of elderly people socializing and watching the world go by.

The symbol of St Pete became old people sitting on the many green benches that dotted the sidewalks of the city.

Another interesting feature of St. Petersburg was the sailing ship that used to be near the old pier.

The Bounty II, a replica of HMS Bounty used in the 1962 MGM movie starring Marlon Brando was permanently docked near the old inverted Pyramid Pier for many years until the ship was sold in 1986.  

HMS Bounty at the Old St Pete Pyramid Pier

It used to come to St Pete for the winter, but no more:  it was lost in a storm off North Carolina during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Today's downtown St Petersburg Florida has marinas brimming with hundreds of sailboats and almost as many power boats. Tampa Bay is great sailing territory.

There is a significant marine industry in town. Unlike the rest of Florida, a few of the boatyards have not been converted to condominiums or marinas.

St Petersburg Florida has long been nicknamed The Sunshine City, and was a retirement location for northerners.

To paraphrase a popular car commercial of some years ago, this ain't your father's St Pete.

The old apartment and condo buildings of "God's Waiting Room" of 50 years ago have been either torn down or renovated. Old homes have been purchased and restored. 

Renaissance Vinoy Hotel

The entire downtown area is vibrant and alive, night and day. My favorite place to stay downtown is the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel, a beautifully restored structure on the National Register of Historic Places.

St Pete's downtown has many walkable attractions.

These include a children's museum, a museum of fine arts, a history museum, a Holocaust Museum, and the Salvador Dalí Museum.

The Dali Museum houses the largest collection of original Dalí's outside of Europe. There are links to some of these places further down this page.

Dali Museum

There are dozens of smaller art galleries, small entertainment clubs, theaters, and a massive waterfront park system that showcases the marinas.

The legendary St. Petersburg Pier, a popular Florida tourist attraction, is once again the centerpiece of the downtown district.

The Now Replaced St. Pete Pyramid Pier in 2010

The iconic old inverted pyramid pier was been demolished and the new St. Pete pier is a modern version that is now open for business. 

The BayWalk shopping complex is also downtown, with an IMAX Muvico 20 screen movie theater, as well as many chain restaurants and retail shops.

The University of South Florida St Petersburg Florida campus is also downtown.

Downtown St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg parks are well landscaped and nicely distributed throughout the large city.

Every Saturday morning, from October to May, the downtown area hosts a farmers market in the parking area of Al Lang Field (now also known as Progress Energy Park).

Local vendors sell produce, vegetables, fruit, arts and crafts in a festive atmosphere.

The Grand Central district, part of historic Kenwood, is due west of downtown St Pete on Central Avenue. It has a vibrant artistic community that contributes to the ambiance of downtown St Pete.

Tropicana Field

Tropicana Field, home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays is also located in the western part of downtown.

St Petersburg Florida is just a short drive from the Gulf beaches of St. Pete Beach, Pass-A-Grille and others. Fort Desoto State Park has a beach that Dr. Beach has ranked number one in the USA.

Fort Desoto Park Beach

South of St Pete, the peninsula is connected to the south side of Tampa Bay near Palmetto and Bradenton by the modern Sunshine Skyway Bridge that carries I-275. The view from this bridge is one of the most magnificent in Florida.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

MY FAVORITE ST. PETERSBURG HOTEL

Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, 501 5th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Tel: 727-894-1000. I stayed here several times and it is an amazing place.

To me it represents the epitome of a luxury hotel.

The resort includes a private marina, 18-hole golf course and 12-court tennis complex. The large hotel has been beautifully restored to its 1920's elegance.

It is a classic example of Mediterranean Revival architecture, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is within easy walking distance of all of downtown St. Pete's attractions.

It is a well maintained property with a knowledgeable and friendly staff.

Recommended St Petersburg Restaurant

CHATTAWAY

358 22nd Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33705
Tel:  727-823-1594

The Chattaway is an Old Florida restaurant in St. Petersburg, south of downtown and in a neighborhood not at all trendy. 

Chattaway, St. Petersburg, Florida

It has been operating as a business in one form or another for more than 90 years at this same location on the southeast corner of 4th Street South and 22nd Avenue South.

In fact you may drive by it for years and never think of going inside. That would be your loss. A great visual and dining experience is yours once you park your car and walk into this place.

Among all the great local restaurants, I enjoy this one for its laid back atmosphere.  It is one of the best places in the city to get a good hamburger.

Learn more about Chattaway.

THINGS TO DO IN ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

Cross Bay Ferry
Port of St. Pete, St. Petersburg. FL 33701

You can avoid the congested highways and travel to Tampa via the Cross Bay Ferry. They have reasonable rates, and it’s a relaxing trip.

In St Petersburg, the landing or boarding site is in the Port of St. Pete, adjacent to the University of South Florida – St. Petersburg Campus and The Dali Museum.

Sundial St. Pete, formerly Baywalk shopping complex
153 2nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | (727) 800-3201

As mentioned earlier, here is the contact information for you to use.

Fort De Soto Park
4500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715 | (727) 582-2100

Fort De Soto Park is a sprawling park across five interconnected islands. As discussed earlier, we enjoy exploring its beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and historic fort.

The park offers kayaking, biking, and bird watching opportunities, and it’s a perfect place for a family picnic or a day of fishing at the pier.

Sunken Gardens
1825 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704 | (727) 551-3102

Sunken Gardens is a four-acre botanical paradise that offers a tranquil escape from the city's hustle and bustle. We love wandering through the lush, tropical gardens that are home to cascading waterfalls, beautiful flowers, and exotic plants.

The gardens also host educational programs and guided tours, making it a great place to learn about horticulture and conservation. It’s been located in the Historic Old Northeast neighborhood of St. Petersburg for over a century.

Tropicana Field
1 Tropicana Dr, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 | (727) 825-3137

Catch a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game at Tropicana Field, discussed earlier, for an exciting sports experience. Here is the contact information for you.

We enjoy the energetic atmosphere and fan-friendly features of the stadium, including the Rays Touch Tank, where fans can interact with rays from Tampa Bay.

Morean Arts Center
719 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | (727) 822-7872

The Morean Arts Center is a community-focused art center that offers exhibitions, workshops, and classes in various media. Past exhibits include works by Jasper Johns, Duncan McClellan, Allison Massari, and Peter Max. They also offer art classes.

Our favorite feature is the glassblowing demonstrations at the Glass Studio & Hot Shop, where you can watch artists create incredible glass pieces right before your eyes.

The St. Petersburg Pier
800 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | (813) 464-1657

The newly redesigned St. Petersburg Pier discussed earlier provides stunning waterfront views, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

We enjoy walking along the pier, visiting the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, and dining at one of the many restaurants overlooking the bay.

The pier is open daily from a half hour before sunrise until 11pm. The marketplace is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm.

The Florida Holocaust Museum
55 5th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 | (727) 820-0100

The Florida Holocaust Museum mentioned earlier is dedicated to honoring the memory of millions of people who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The museum features impactful exhibits and educational programs.

We appreciate the thoughtful presentations and the lessons on tolerance and human rights that are essential for all ages.

Weedon Island Preserve
1800 Weedon Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 | (727) 453-6500

Weedon Island Preserve is a natural coastal area ideal for hiking, kayaking, and exploring the local flora and fauna.

We enjoy the archaeological sites and the cultural history center, which offers insights into the indigenous people of the region.

Great Explorations Children's Museum
1925 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704 | (727) 821-8992

Great Explorations Children's Museum is a hands-on museum where kids can engage in interactive learning and creative play.

We love the exhibits designed to stimulate curiosity and educational development, making it a fun and engaging place for children.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
1101 Country Club Way S, St. Pete, FL 33705 | (727) 893-7326

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is a stunning wildlife sanctuary on the shores of Lake Maggiore. We enjoy walking the trails, attending ranger-led tours, and participating in nature photography classes.

The preserve is a haven for bird watchers and nature lovers, offering a peaceful retreat into the area's natural ecosystems.

Lots of interesting things to do within 100 miles or so of St Petersburg.

Check Tampa Bay Day Trips on this website.