The latest news from the sun-drenched peninsula on Florida's west coast, situated between the Gulf Coast and Tampa Bay.
For the more information on upcoming events & activities in St. Pete-Clearwater, visit VisitSPC.com.

STILL BEACHING THE BEST

Once again in 2024, Clearwater Beach has stood out as a top beach destination in the state of Florida, around the USA, and across the globe! The destination 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.

Recent accolades for America's Favorite Beaches:

Clearwater Beach:

• Travel + Leisure Top 15 Best White-Sand Beaches in the World
• Travel + Leisure 20 Best Beaches in Florida
• Travel + Leisure 9 Best Beach Towns in Florida
• USA Today - Best Beach in the South
• US News and World Report Best Beaches in America
• Ranked among Tripadvisor Best Beaches

Caladesi Island

• Dr. Beach Best Beaches in the U.S.

St. Petersburg

• Southern Living Best Places for a Weekend Getaway

& BEYOND...

St. Pete-Clearwater is where you find the answer to “...and what else?”. Featuring 35 miles of world-class award-winning beaches and tranquil clear Gulf waters, it's features most destinations, were they so blessed, would likely talk about and nothing else. St. Pete-Clearwater is not most destinations. It is far more. Idyllic days & electric nights. Here, the contrasts never end, but they all complement each other beautifully. In St. Pete-Clearwater, find just what you're looking for & then some.

ANY TREND, ANY TIME, IN ST. PETE-CLEARWATER

• The destination dupe you need to check out is in Tarpon Springs. This small waterfront village is home to the largest percentage of Greek Americans in one city in the U.S. Immerse yourself in the heritage and authentic cuisine. Stop by in January for the annual diving for the cross Epiphany celebration.
• DETOURism: Head off the beaten path. Leave your beach wear behind as you explore the quaint city of Dunedin and dive into their Scottish heritage or explore the waterside community of Safety Harbor with phenomenal flavors and a colorful pallette.
• “The bachelorette parties have taken over St. Petersburg,” according to the Tampa Bay Times. Beach cabanas by day and nearby esquisite cuisine and cocktails once the sun goes down gives bride tribes everything they're looking for.

NEW FLAVORS

Perfect plates are now being served at Juno & The Peacock, the newest and hottest addition to the destination's restaurant lineup in downtown St. Pete. Dine in Floridian elegance with a nod to mission nouveau and the roaring '60's with dishes composed of locally sourced ingredients prepared in-house.

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NEW EXPERIENCES

The popular Edge District along Central Ave. in downtown St. Pete has welcomed its first rooftop experience with Sparrow, atop the chic Moxy hotel. A rotating selection of creative plates made with seasonal ingredients, and award-winning cocktail, culinary, and nightlife experience stands out in heart of the city.

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NEW ADDITIONS

Coming later this spring, Elliott Aster is the new concept in the Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, helmed by Chef Lee Wolen with Boka Restaurant Group, who has won numerous awards and has maintained a Michelin star since 2011.

OLD...

The Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, an Autograph Collection, in downtown St. Pete is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. The recent renovations ensure the property - which appears on the National Register of Historic Places - remains pink, proud, and perfectly preserved. The Vinoy reflects the architectural influences of the Mediterranean coast, capturing its essence down to every detail delivering thoughtfully curated and inspiring experiences.

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NEW...

Opening in February, the Opal Sol is redefining the beachside luxury accomodation. Situated on Clearwater's Beach Walk promenade, the airy sanctuary delivers modern luxury with unobstructed Gulf views from every room. The seaside-chic suites are designed to serve as the ultimate home away from home with 10 restaurant options, a full-service luxury spa, three pools, and direct access to the white sugar sand beach.

ART EVERYWHERE

St. Pete-Clearwater's arts scene looks like the inside of a kaleidoscope – vividly colored and full of possibilities! Nearly 20 museums are scattered throughout the destination, including 7 walkable museums in downtown St. Pete alone. Explore unique features such as the Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement or the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art. Become engossed in the world of glass art at the Imagine Museum or the permanent Chihuly Collection with 18 works by the world famous artist. Tour the art of the world waterside at the Museum of Fine Arts with magnificent rotating exhibits such as Ansel Adams this spring.

This and too many art galleries to count await the adventurous explorer, in addition to these hands on experiences:

& Glass blowing at Morean Arts Center or Zen Glass - creating unique ornaments or wine glasses to take home to your family
& Candlemaking at the Candle Pour - define your scent and share it with the world
& Jewelry making at Brass Dagger - craft a special ring for that special someone
& Pottery at Morean Arts Center for Clay - recreate the Ghost scene or try to improve on that one bowl you made in 2nd grade
& Don't miss The Shine Mural Festival, a weeklong celebration of street art and live mural paintings each October - tour the more than 500 murals any time of the year!

FIND YOUR FIRST

St. Pete-Clearwater is recognized as the:

• Birthplace of commercial flight (St. Pete)
• Home of the first Florida Grapefruit (Safety Harbor)
• Home of Florida's first golf course (Belleair)
• Home of Florida's first microbrewery, Dunedin Brewery, which remains in operation today. (Dunedin)

ST. PETE IS CAN'T MISS

• With a burgeoning food scene, a recent study printed in Travel + Leisure propped up St. Pete, Fla., as the best spot in America for food-focused people, stating “foodies can be assured there are plenty of great options to choose from.”
• Tripadvisor listed St. Pete 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, a recognition that fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's listings receive.

 

CATCH

Situated between the laid back shores of Madeira Beach and Treasure Island lies John's Pass, home of Hubbard's Marina which is nearing 100 years of service and was just selected as the Best Fishing Charter in America by USA Today for the third straight year. Not only will the experienced captains help you catch your dinner, they'll help you prepare it as soon as you step off the boat at the Friendly Fisherman restaurant next door to the dock.

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RELEASE

Release all your stress just down the road at Shell Key with the Get Up and Go Clear Bottom Kayak tour. The experience is so good it received a 2024 Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice Award and rated as one of the Top 10 activities in the United States as a Best of the Best Things to Do.

SMALL PLACES & BIG FLAVORS - AN ELEVATED COASTAL CUISINE

The St. Pete-Clearwater community ensures diners have an exclusive, intimate experience with their plates packing a big punch! Going small is the trend, with the best bites in town taking place at restaurants with 30 seats or fewer and chefs attentive to every detail.

• Chef Alex Rodríguez includes travels to some of his favorite spots around the globe to prepare select courses with exclusive wine pairings at Lolitas Chef's Table in St. Pete.
• Bin 6 South has a dining area that can accommodate 12 guests at a time. This upscale wine bar and restaurant has six seats at a communal table and six seats at the bar. The close quarters create an intimate environment that shines more focus on the unique and cutting-edge dishes being served fresh.
• Barbouni, St. Pete's tinned fish restaurant, offers nine countertop seats for guests, upscaling the Florida diner experience.
• The globally-inspired neighborhood restaurant Calida is the largest of the lot with room for 25 diners. The petite spot closely resembles a European wine bar than a traditional restaurant drawing inspiration from partners Ian Florence (chef) and Dayna Bennett's (owner) treks around the world.
• Tucked away inside Try Wine Company in downtown St. Pete is Helyx, an intimate, food & wine experience incorporating avant-garde gastronomy - a merger of traditional old world culinary techniques with a globally inspired blending of new innovative food science and creative experimental thinking.
• The Black Pearl is nestled in Dunedin, featuring a handful of white tablecloth tables, an expansive wine selection and award-winning French/New American fine dining.
• Hidden in the secret City of Safety Harbor is The Tides Seafood Market and Provisions serving up the freshest premium quality seafood and all-natural meats along with sustainably grown produce poised to expand your relationship with food and local purveyors.

THE DALI MUSEUM EXPANDING & COOKING UP ARTISTIC CUISINES

St. Pete is home to The Dalí Museum, which houses the preeminent collection of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí's works outside of Spain and is THE place to learn about his life's work. With interactive displays - such as the Ask Dalí AI exhibit - once can journey through the artist's mind and creative process. The facility is set to begin expansion on a new multi-level addition for education, conferences, events, galleries, and a restaurant and terrace overlooking the downtown yacht basin.

For 2025, The Dalí Museum has launched their very own cookbook to accompany your artistic quest for excellence on the pallatte and plate. “The Dalí Museum Café Gala Cookbook” is a 200-page celebration of Spanish-inspired cuisine and artistry. Curated by Café Gala's celebrated Chef Chuck Bandel, the 55 meticulously crafted recipes capture the essence of Catalan and Spanish flavors. Through his own photography and watercolor illustrations, Chef Bandel brings to life the textures, flavors and cultural landscapes that inspire his cuisine, beautifully complemented by select works by Dalí himself.

CREATIVE SIPS

Choose your evening cocktail adventure in St. Pete-Clearwater:

• NYC to SPC: Slim Charmer is an intimate, 26-seat cocktail lounge hidden on Central Ave. in downtown St. Pete. This cozy 800-square-foot space offers personalized service in a stylish atmosphere inspired by New York City's metropolitan energy. Martini-focused cocktails and elevated seasonal small plates deliver unexpected flavors not found elsewhere.
• 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 includes private seating areas that look like tents.
• CHECK IN, MIX DRINK: Gulfport's newest accommodation, Peninsula Bed & Cocktails, boasts 16 rooms each inspired by cocktails. Each room is designed and named after the alcoholic concoctions, complete with fanciful wallpaper that reflects where the drink originated with artwork detailing the drink and how to make it along with a built-in bar.
• STEMS GALORE: What do you get when you combine an array of floral decor and sumptuous sips - The Pistil House. This renovated bungalow serves up ice cold beverages and beautiful bouquets in St. Pete's Grand Central District.

ST. PETE SELECTED AS HOME TO ELIE WIESEL ARTIFACTS

This spring, the Florida Holocaust Museum will re-open after a massive renovation. The centerpiece of the exeprience will highlight FHM 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 – most of which have never been seen!

St. Pete's own Webb's City Cellars was a 2024 James Beard Award nominee for Outstanding Bar. They were the only Tampa Bay Area establishment included in this year's nominees and the only Florida bar among nominees for the prestigious awards.

2025 MAJOR EVENTS

SPRING

• Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Feb. 28-Mar. 1). “The Monaco of IndyCar.”
• PGA Valspar Championship (Mar. 20-23), Innisbrook Resort. The tour's “most colorful tournament”.
• Sugar Sand Festival (Apr. 11-27), Clearwater Beach. Can't-miss sand sculpting from artists across the globe.

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SUMMER

• St. Pete Pride (June 27-29). One of the largest Pride parades in the country.
• St. Pete Pier 5th Anniversary (July). Each weekend features drones, water light show and concerts.

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FALL

• Clearwater Offshore Nationals (Sep. 26-28). High speed action along the shores.
• LPGA Annika Tournament (Nov.) at The Pelican Golf Club in Belleair hits the links.

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 trail 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!

 

Media Contacts: Jason Latimer (Jason.Latimer@VisitSPC.com, 727-386-3783) / Eddie Delgado (Eddie.Delgado@VisitSPC.com, 727-415-1337)