St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida

Urban, natural, creative and relaxing: The St. Pete/Clearwater region is probably the most surprising destination in Florida.

When you think of a vacation in Florida, you usually think of sun, beach and sea. No wonder the south-easternmost state in the USA is also known as the "Sunshine State", with an average of 330 days of sunshine a year and beautiful sandy beaches. When you think of cities in Florida, Miami, Orlando or Key West usually come to mind.



In the last ten years , however, a destination has emerged that has nothing to hide from the classic hotspots in Florida and should definitely be on your travel list: St. Pete/Clearwater. The "Sunshine City" of St. Pete is the fourth largest city in Florida with just under 250,000 inhabitants. For over 50 years, it has held the world record for the most days of uninterrupted sunshine with 768 days in a row. Clearwater, with a population of around 108,000, is a little smaller in comparison and impresses its visitors with a rather cozy vacation flair. Both cities are located in the Tampa Bay Area.



Natural paradise without end. St. Pete/Clearwater is famous for its 56 kilometers of white beaches, which have been voted dream beaches several times in worldwide rankings. With their bays and waterways, they are ideal for a wide range of water sports activities. Inland, the region can be explored wonderfully by bike, for example in the natural paradise of Fort de Soto with its typical vegetation of beach plants, mangroves, palm groves, hardwoods and native plants or along the Pinellas Trail, a former railroad line that is now a cycle route and runs through the whole of St. Pete/Clearwater. For those who are good on foot, the many hiking trails through nature, for example on Honeymoon Island, in Brooker Creek or in the Weedon Island Preserve, are highly recommended.

On Honeymoon Island, with its untouched pine forests , you will encounter a variety of shorebirds. The park also has several nature trails and bird watching areas. The region has so much to offer in this direction that it is impossible to mention everything. However, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), which is known throughout the country as a rescue center for injured sea creatures, deserves a mention here. The CMA's most famous patient was Winter, a female dolphin with the world's first prosthetic tail fin. The heartwarming story was told in the 2011 Hollywood blockbuster "My Friend the Dolphin". Winter sadly passed away in November 2021 at an advanced age, but the CMA is still home to other dolphins that can no longer be released into the wild.

Art everywhere. St. Pete/Clearwater also has a lot to offer art and culture lovers, as the region impresses with a diverse art and museum landscape and frequently changing exhibitions. One highlight is the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Pete - with over 2,100 works by the Spanish surrealist, the museum has the largest Dalí collection outside of Europe. Another must-see is the Chihuly Collection, where you can marvel at the impressively colorful sculptures by glass artist Dale Chihuly. In addition to numerous museums, the Sunshine City has a vibrant street art scene: more than 90 so-called "urban murals" in downtown St. Pete and over 600 throughout the region contribute to the colorful and creative reputation of St. Pete/Clearwater.



Fast food? No, thanks! In culinary terms, St. Pete/Clearwater shows that American food culture is not just limited to steak and fast food. The Red Mesa Cantina in downtown St. Pete serves excellent Mexican cuisine, delicious fish dishes can be found at The Wharf restaurant in Pass-A-Grille Beach or at the fine-dining restaurant TEAK on the St. Pete Pier. The region is also home to over 35 microbreweries that impress with their innovative beer creations.

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