Daytona Beach
Offering long sandy beaches and bucketloads of family-friendly fun, holidays to St Pete Beach mix laidback downtime with splash-based thrills.
Sitting pretty on Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast, St Pete Beach is known as the Sun Capital of America thanks to its almost constant rays. It's an ideal place to lap up the American beach lifestyle. And Mickey and pals are just over 90 minutes' drive away at Orlando's theme parks.
St Pete Beach does a nice line in casual shopping and dining. Lively Corey Avenue draws in visitors looking to update their beachwear wardrobes or tuck in to classic American grub. Sunday's the best day to stock up on souvenirs, as that’s when the lively local market takes over the streets.
Lapped by sapphire-blue waters and stretching for nearly 50 kilometres, the dreamy, palm-flanked beaches here merge to form a nearly never-ending belt of bleach-white sand. Head for the less busy sands of Egmont Key State Park if a hush-hush paddle's more your thing.
An hour's drive south past the magnificent Sunshine Skyway Bridge takes you to Sarasota – one of the state's cultural capitals. You'll also be a 50-minute drive away from Busch Gardens, and under two hours' hop from Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
Beach lovers, rejoice – the sandy shores here are super-long. Inflatables, watersports and an array of kid-friendly distractions make the main beach, St Pete, a top destination with families. Watching the sunset from Pass-a-Grille Beach is pretty special, as is spotting dolphins playing just off the shore.
Though families flock here in droves, St Pete's main beach is so big it never feels too busy. With everything from pedalos and hire boats to jet-skis and inflatable slides standing by, there's plenty to keep everyone entertained.
The fact that Egmont Key State Park's fine beach can only be reached by boat ensures crowds are in short supply. Gently swaying palms and peaceful enclaves are the chief attractions here – perhaps that's why shy tortoises like to rock up from time to time. Bring a picnic, as there are no cafés here.
The delightful Sunday market's the place to go for a bargain or two. Soaking up the laidback vibe is just as much fun as perusing the handmade jewellery, knick-knacks and local artworks – so go ahead and take your time. Just try to resist the smell of barbecued ribs from a popular stall.
Head to the Tyrone Square Mall for some air-conditioned respite from the sun. It's a one-stop-shop for high street favourites, and there's a multiscreen cinema to keep the whole family entertained. When you need to refuel, hit up the food court for all-American fast food.
From St Pete Beach, it's a 30-minute drive to Ellenton Premium Outlets®. Here, you can browse over 100 designer and brand outlet stores set among tropical landscaping and water fountains.
If you’re looking for a relaxed evening out, scoot to the main Gulf Boulevard and look up. Rooftop bars are popular here, with many along The Miracle Mile – expect pool tables, old-school arcade games and live music in casual, unpretentious surroundings.
For the main clubbing scene, you'll have to travel to neighbouring St Petersburg – the big clubs and trendy bars are worth dressing up for. The last Friday of each month is the best time to throw some shapes, when an epic block party descends upon a large part of the downtown area.
It’s creamy and it’s moreish and punters can’t get enough of it. Once you taste clam chowder, you’ll never eat shellfish any other way. Ever.
Immerse yourself in Florida's Hispanic heritage by grabbing some tasty tacos or quesadillas and dousing them in hot salsa. Tequila's optional, but highly recommended.
If you fancy a taste of the high life, pop in to a swish steakhouse where the menu's a luxe list of fillet steak and lobster.
A meal's nothing without a pudding. Popular sweet treats here include salted caramel ice-cream and molten lava cake. Try a chocolate-cream-pie martini and you’ll be hooked for life.
Super-fresh seafood's always on the menu in St Pete. Along with the catch of the day, choose from succulent plates like shrimp sautee and Chilean sea bass.
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