LET'S BEACH AT THE BEST

Once again in 2024, Clearwater Beach stands out as a top beach destination in the state of Florida, around the USA, and across the globe! The perfect place for Orlando's Theme Park Therapy, St. Pete-Clearwater's shores feature white sugar sand beaches and stunning emerald green Gulf Coast waters. The beach is home to a number of family-friendly resorts that offer water sports, beach games, and live music as well as a beautiful spot to relax on the beach. Daily sunset celebrations take place at Clearwater's Pier 60, featuring local artists, street performers and games.

- Additional recent awards for America's Best Beaches: 
     o Clearwater Beach – Travel + Leisure Top 25 Best White-Sand Beaches in the World
     o Clearwater Beach – Travel + Leisure 20 Best Beaches in Florida
     o Clearwater Beach – Travel + Leisure 9 Best Beach Towns in Florida
     o Clearwater Beach – USA Today 10Best - Best Beach in the South
     o Clearwater Beach – Ranked among Tripadvisor Best Beaches
     o Clearwater Beach / St. Petersburg – U.S. News & World Report 27 Best Beaches in the U.S.
     o Caladesi Island – Dr. Beach Best Beaches in the U.S.  
     o St. Petersburg – Southern Living Best Places for a Weekend Getaway

ST. PETE ON TREND 

Tripadvisor listed St. Petersburg as a 2024 Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best winner for being a destination whose hotels, restaurants, and things to do received a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period. Fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings are awarded Best of the Best, signifying the highest level of excellence in travel.

Whether it's for your hush trip, bleisure travel, bizcation, or workcation - St. Pete is the best spot in Florida to sneak away while getting some work done remotely, according to recent report from CoworkingCafe.com. St. Pete is also the place to find happiness, verified by Outside Magazine and SmartAsset which rank the destination as the Happiest Town in Florida and among the happiest cities in America.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER 

It's always the dog days of Summer in St. Pete/Clearwater – one of America's most pup-friendly places.  Last year, St. Petersburg was named the 3rd-most Dog Friendly city in America by WalletHub and Pinellas Ale Works (PAW) was named the No. 1 pet-friendly brewery in America by Chewy. The destination boasts a plethora of dog-friendly accommodations, beaches and breweries, along with unique pup paradises in our slice of paradise. 

The aptly named Dog Bar features an off-leash dog park and a full-service bar in the popular Grand Central District of St. Petersburg. Just down the street is Mutts & Martinis – a real pet paradise – St Pete's 21 and up Sports Bar with the first and only doggy splash pad in the community! The just-opened Neighborhood BarK Bar & Boutique in the downtown district of Safety Harbor features an off-leash play area with organized meetups and movie nights, and adoption drives. Sage's Playground is a two-story dog-friendly, dog-themed coffee shop & café coming to downtown St. Pete this summer.

THE BEST PLACE TO LAND

Just 20 miles away from the beaches, Tampa International Airport (TPA) has been declared the No. 1 Large Airport for the second straight year in the most recent J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study. The facility was also ranked among the top large airports in the latest USA Today Readers' Choice Awards.

International access to St. Pete/Clearwater has never been easier. Just announced in 2024, Aeromexico will begin non-stop service in June from Mexico City to Tampa International Airport. Over the last 12 months, 17 new routes have been added to TPA's lineup, including five international direct flights. Additionally, last year, non-stop flights to Zurich and Frankfurt were added. Looking ahead, part of TPA's strategic plans include the goal to add non-stop service to Bogota, Sao Paola, and Lima. 

LOVE IS IN THE AIR IN ST. PETE/CLEARWATER 

The Knot, America's leader in wedding planning & prep, recently dubbed St. Pete/Clearwater as a “knockout combo of sun and fun” for your next bachelorette party.  When you're ready to tie the knot, check out the Postcard Inn on the Beach on St. Pete Beach, which just received a WeddingWire Couple's Choice Award for a top wedding venue. Additionally, the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, An Autograph Collection in downtown St. Petersburg was named one of America's top 25 most romantic hotels in 2024 by the highly respected Historic Hotels of America (HHA).

GULP COAST - YOUR PASSPORT TO SUDS IN THE SUN

In a sea of destinations offering quality craft beer, St. Pete/Clearwater is truly a stand-out. With more than 45 locally owned breweries, visitors continue to quench their thirst at our “Gulp Coast” – an incomparable vacation spot where you can sample the unique creations of a multitude of talented brewmasters. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater has relaunched our popular digital passport a free experience with rewards and prizes for sampling the areas finest pints - VisitStPeteClearwater.com/GulpCoast!

HOT NEW HOTEL OPENINGS 

- Set to open this Summer, a brand-new Moxy Hotel is coming to downtown St. Pete's Edge District – a lively community home to a range of eclectic, locally owned businesses. Located on bustling Central Ave. in the heart of the walkable downtown, the 163-room Marriott hotel is set to be cozy while still offering the patented Moxy social hub, perfect for those looking for entertainment in the heart of the action. 
- Beachside, another hotly anticipated opening is the Hiatus Curio Collection by Hilton has come online complete with rooftop bar and panoramic ocean views.
- The recent opening of the luxe JW Marriott Clearwater Beach compliments an incredible line up of high-end beachfront accommodations.
- On deck for 2025, the Opal Properties will add a new destination to their portfolio with the opening of the Opal Sol. Situated on Clearwater's Beach Walk promenade, the airy and inviting sanctuary mixes calming ocean-inspired decor with modern luxury. The hotel has everything guests could ask for in a Florida beach resort, including four restaurant outlets, a full–service luxury spa, three pools, and direct access to the white sugar sand beach. The seaside-chic suites are designed to serve as your ultimate home away from home all with unobstructed views of the Gulf.  
- Just announced in April, The Beachmaker Hotel, an Autograph Collection, will break ground this summer in Madeira Beach. The 161-key facility will feature 10 residential penthouse units and 30,000 square feet of retail space.

NEW DELICIOUS DISHES 

The St. Pete culinary menu steps up another notch with the addition of new elevated dining experiences in the destination along with some creative bites. 

- To start 2024, Pan-Asian experience Fortu restaurant and steakhouse has opened on the ground floor of the historic Ponce de Leon Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg. The concept combines a fusion experience of shareable plates with a deep list of high-end land and sea options.
- J. Fiore's Contemporary Steakhouse is taking over the historic Union Trust Bank Building on Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg as an upscale steak and seafood restaurant, set to open in mid-2024. In addition to outstanding art on the diner's plate, the look of the restaurant will add to the experience with an interior design inspired by Salvador Dali's iconic surrealist phase, found just down the street at the Dali Museum.  The Union Trust bank building was constructed in 1926 during the peak of St. Pete's first big real estate boom.
- The Huntsman, a new field-and-stream-to-table restaurant is coming to downtown St. Pete in 2024. The upscale casual concept focuses on foraged, hunted, and farmed ingredients - including elk, venison, and antelope - and is set to open in the Fall.
- Pour and Décor: This Grand Central District café is part coffee bar and part home décor boutique, with a small art & furniture gallery located in the back.  
- Olivia: From local renowned chef Chris Ponte, a modern Italian restaurant in downtown St. Pete.

CREATIVE SIPS

It's more than just the cocktails in St. Pete/Clearwater as establishments in the destination continue to reset the entire bar experience. 
- UNDER THE TENT: Inspired by camping, backyard cookouts, Fourth of July celebrations, and other summertime activities, Glamper's décor and layout on St. Pete's Central Avenue will include private seating areas that look like tents and a color scheme dominated by earth tones.
- TURN BACK THE CLOCK: Neon Lunchbox, a new “retro-themed” bar and restaurant is bringing all the fun, nostalgic vibes of the late-20th century memories to St. Pete's Central Avenue in Summer 2024 with a variety of themed craft cocktails, a casual food menu, local DJs and bands and tons of '80s and '90s pop culture-themed décor
- STRUM AND SIP: At Steven C Music and Coffee in the downtown St. Pete Arts Warehouse District, guests can select their new guitar or repair their axe, while also sipping on a locally roasted coffee or a locally crafted beer.  
- CHECK IN, MIX DRINK: Gulfport's newest accommodation addition, Peninsula Bed & Cocktails, boasts 16 rooms each inspired by the cocktails the lobby bar serves. Each room is designed and named after the alcoholic concoctions, complete with beautiful wallpaper that reflects where the drink originated with artwork detailing the drink and how to make it along with a built-in bar. Hotel guests can enjoy a free complimentary drink from the bar, which is open to the public Thursday through Sunday. 

PRIDE TIME SUMMER 

St. Pete-Clearwater is a destination that embraces diversity and prides itself on being welcoming and open to all. The walkable urban gayborhood of LGBTQ-owned businesses allows visitors to experience the incredible inclusiveness of our community. Beyond St. Petersburg annually hosting one of the largest pride parades in the country, our destination has been featured in publications and among many influencers for our inclusive and diverse atmosphere. - With its perennially perfect score for the last decade from the Human Rights Campaign's annual Municipal Equality Index, St. Pete neighborhoods stand out for being historically LGBTQ+ enclaves. These include the Grand Central District, which stretches along Central Avenue between 16th and 31st streets and is lined with fun boutiques, antiques shops, restaurants and bars – many of them LGBTQ+-owned. 

FLORIDA!!! - LET THE MUSIC MOVE YOU 

Other than the state being name dropped by Taylor Swift, the Tampa Bay area continue to draw some the hottest and most exclusive music acts to seek out the Tampa Bay region to perform. With two new waterfront music venues that further expand the music lineups in the destination, the St. Pete/Clearwater concert lineup is expanding rapidly. 
- The BayCare Sound at Coachman Park includes 4,000 covered seats plus an additional 5,000 lawn seats amidst a stunning acre park along the waterfront in Clearwater, hosting musical acts across all generations. The summer series will see the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival featuring Slash as well as the Avett Brothers.
- The Sunshine City's iconic St. Pete Pier into the quintessential waterfront concert destination with a series of shows nestled perfectly along the coastline to merge with the urban energy of Downtown St. Pete.

10 YEARS OF SHINE ON THE STREETS

Returning for its 10th year, downtown St. Pete's annual SHINE Mural Festival will add to the area's ever-growing mural scene and is set to be its best yet. The festival, which has received widespread international attention and participation, is an outdoor exhibit celebrating art and renowned urban artists from around the world creating incredible murals throughout the Sunshine City. During SHINE Mural Festival, which takes place in October, new murals are added to the city's art districts and surrounding neighborhoods, and art lovers can follow mural trails and watch the artists in action as they take their creativity to untouched corners of the city. 

ST. PETE SELECTED AS HOME TO ELIE WIESEL ARTIFACTS

Beginning this Fall, the Florida Holocaust Museum will serve as the permanent location for Elie Wiesel's entire personal collection, including his Nobel prize, contents of his personal office, unfinished manuscripts, letters from world leaders, and a variety of artworks, photographs, recordings – some of which have never been seen. The Wiesel Collection will be a cornerstone of the new permanent exhibition, which will be in place following a major expansion project currently underway.