Raahe Guide Raahen Esittely
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County in the Tampa Bay Area, Florida. With roughly 258,000 inhabitants it is the fifth largest city in Florida in terms of population. It is snuggled between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on the Pinellas Peninsula. Locals often use the shortened version of the city’s name, ” St. Pete”. This is also the official name of a neighboring beach, St. Pete Beach.
Another common name for St. Petersburg is “The Sunshine City”. This is due to its exposure to sunshine almost all year round. It even has a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine. The stunning streak of 768 sunny days lasted from 1967 to 1969. Due to good weather and high average annual water temperature (24°C), St. Petersburg has always been a popular destination with beachgoers and retreat seekers.
History of St. Petersburg
Like other regions of the United States, Tampa Bay was initially inhabited by indigenous tribes. Calusa peoples are said to be the original inhabitants of this area. White people came here in the 1500s with the Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez (1528) being the first European to step foot on the peninsula. St. Pete began to take shape in the 1830s and 1840s when large numbers of people moved to the area, building houses, setting up farms, planting crops and raising animals. More settlers came in after the Civil War.
While the first homesteads were established in the 1830s, the city officially dates from 1975 when John C. Williams of Detroit bought 2,500 acres of land near the waterfront. Together with an exiled Russian aristocrat Peter Demens, who built a railroad to the city in 1888, they founded St. Petersburg.
The name refers to the birthplace of Demens in Russia. On his side, Williams named the first hotel after his birthplace, Detroit. St. Petersburg was granted the title of city in 1903 when it only had several hundred inhabitants. The city quickly developed thanks to its warm weather and perfect location for railroad trade. It turned into a cherished seaside resort and a railroad hub for seafood transportation, which helped its economy grow at a rapid pace.
In 1914, St. Pete celebrated the first passenger flight that linked it to Tampa. In 1924, the two cities were connected by a bridge, which facilitated the ground transportation of goods and people. In the 1950s, St. Petersburg promoted actively the idea of residentism, encouraging former tourists to settle down in the city during their retirement years.
St. Petersburg Florida in Depth City Tour
Tourism in St. Petersburg
Tourism remains one of the most important branches of St. Petersburg’s economy. The city is a sought-after destination for beach enthusiasts and retired people looking for a peaceful retreat. Other vital areas include hi-tech industries, manufacturing, fishing and services. The city is packed full of hotels, cafés, restaurants, museums, and shopping facilities that make tourists’ experience more comfortable and exciting. Several bridges connect St. Pete to a string of sandy beaches in the Gulf of Mexico.
Top Attractions in St. Petersburg
St. Pete Beach
St. Pete Beach is one of the most popular attractions of St. Petersburg. Located a 20-minute drive from the city downtown, the vibrant seaside community has many things to see and do. Aside from lazing on the soft white sand soaking up the sun, beachgoers can enjoy jet skiing, parasailing and fishing. Kids will love building sandcastles and swimming in the warm emerald water.
The town has a wide choice of accommodation including old-school hotels, condos, and opulent resorts. The main street is lined with inviting restaurants and cafés, most of which have outdoor terraces with great views, where you can have a lunch or a refreshing drink.
For more connection with nature, consider exploring Shell Key Preserve. It is located on an island off St. Pete Beach and can be accessed only by boat or ferry. If you are in good physical condition, you can reach it on a kayak. The island has sand bars where you can set up a campsite under soaring palm trees. Hiking trails are available for those who want to explore the island’s rich flora and fauna. You can rent a kayak or a jet ski to get a pleasure ride around the island and watch the marine life, which flocks near the docks.
Aside from exploring the nature at St. Pete Beach, you can also get a glimpse of history by visiting the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum. With permanent and rotating exhibits, it presents the legacy of Florida’s Gulf Coast Beaches throughout centuries.
The Dali Museum
St. Petersburg has several museums that are worth a visit. One of them is the Salvador Dali Museum that showcases a vast collection of paintings by the Surrealist artist. The collection covers Dali’s entire career with early masterpieces in Impressionism and Cubism and later works in Classicism.
You will see oil paintings, original drawings, photographs, and watercolors used by Dali. Under the same roof are the Dali Museum Library and Center for the Avant-garde, which house precious books, magazines and documents related to Dali, Surrealism, and Avant-garde movements.
New St. Pete Pier
The New St. Pete Pier is 26 acres of land extending into the ocean, offering a variety of recreation activities. The long path is perfect for a leisure stroll during which you can enjoy stunning ocean views as well as public works of art.
The pier is lined with fine-dining restaurants, chill cafés, and casual bistros with delicious food and beautiful vistas. On a hot day, you can walk to one end of the pier and take a tram ride back to prevent prolonged exposure to sunlight. Fishing enthusiasts can throw bait at the platform located at the very end of the pier.
The Sunken Garden
The Sunken Gardens originated from the hobby of a plumber named George Turner. The area evolved into an idyllic tropical garden spanning six acres, attracting lots of visitors, which led the owner to charge an admission fee. Turner and his family took care of the gardens until 1999 when it was purchased by the city.
Today the site is open to the public and everybody can walk the beautiful paths and admire the rare flora, waterfalls and footbridges. Visitors can see species of tropical plants from all over the world and even some resident flamingos.
Fort De Soto Park
Fort De Soto Park is the largest park in Pinellas County. Here you can enjoy beaches and multiple nature trails that offer an ideal ambience for hiking, biking, roller boarding, and birdwatching. Two piers are available for fishing. The park was named after the fort built during the Spanish American War.
Some remains of the fort are still in place and can be visited on a self-guided tour. Birdwatchers are invited here to watch at least 328 species of birds. Moreover, there are many camping sites equipped with electricity, water, restrooms, washers and playgrounds.
Chihuly Glass Collection
In St. Petersburg you will find the Chihuly Glass Collection spreading out over 10,000 square feet and housing some of the finest pieces of artist Dale Chihuly including Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier, Macchia, and Tumbleweeds. You will be stunned by the explosion of colors and shapes. There is also an Arts Center Hot Shop on the site that shows you how these unique pieces are formed.
Gulf Coast Beaches
St. Pete Beach is not the only beach in St. Petersburg’s neighborhood. A short drive from the city are many other sand stretches that offer fantastic vistas and relaxing sunbathing along with food and active recreation. Madeira Beach stretches out for 2,5 miles and gives you plenty of space to lie in the lounge and read a book or play volleyball with your friends.
The small and quite Pass-a-Grille Beach offers a laid-back Floridian experience where you can sunbathe with locals and watch the breathtaking sunset while sipping a cool drink. Behind the beach is a small town with boutiques and waterfront restaurants where you can enjoy local seafood. The beach has a lot of parking space and is not crowded, which makes it a perfect choice if you look for a peaceful rest area.
St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market
Apart from lovely beaches, St. Petersburg is famous for its Saturday Morning Market where local vendors gather and sell fresh produce such as meat, cheese, vegetables and sweets. Also, there are stalls with ready-to-eat food and handmade crafts. Local bands and musicians create a relaxing and friendly atmosphere with their live music. The market is open from 9AM until 2 PM and changes its location depending on the time of the year.
Waterfront Arts District
A popular tourist hotspot is the Waterfront Arts District which is home to the city’s main museums and art galleries. Being within walking distance of each other, it’s easy to visit them in one day. Aside from cultural institutions, the district has public parks with paved trails shaded by majestic old trees where you can rest and relax. In addition, the area abounds in cafés and restaurants with shady patios and shops selling souvenirs, clothes and other stuff.
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
For those looking for a peaceful retreat in nature, there is Boyd Hill Nature Preserve with its extensive network of walking trails that take you to varied ecosystems. The park is also a favorite destination for birdwatchers, being part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. You can get guided tours will local rangers to enjoy the birds and other wildlife.
On top of that, the park offers camping and picnic facilities with shelters and playgrounds. You can explore the area on foot or take a tram ride through the park’s most iconic places. A guide will be there to tell you about the flora and fauna and other curious facts about the preserve.
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Serving as a getaway to Tampa Bay, The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is one of the most beautiful attractions in St. Petersburg. The spectacular cable-stayed bridge has a length of 12 miles, catching everyone’s attention with its dramatic appearance. You can admire it from a distance or take a car ride across it to see the large vessels passing below it.
In windy weather, make a stop at the northern Skyway Rest Exit to watch the kiteboarders exploring the ocean with their colorful kites. The views of the bridge are even more eye-catching at night when it is illuminated.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
If you are a marine life enthusiast, pay a visit to this large aquarium that is home to dolphins, turtles, pelicans, otters, sharks, and a variety of other fish. You can attend one of the regular shows and take a behind-the-scenes tour where you will see how animals are taken care of. In addition, you can take a guided boat tour where you will learn about the ecology of Clearwater Bay.
