A Cultural Winter Getaway in St. Pete

There’s nothing like a trip to the Sunshine State to send winter blues packing, but there’s more to experience than just Miami beach parties and Disney World. St. Petersburg – St. Pete, for short – is located just outside of Tampa on Florida’s beautiful gulf coast.

This quaint beach town boasts a more laid-back atmosphere than the crowds of Miami and is also right by the popular Clearwater Beach. Just a short plane trip from anywhere on the East Coast, St. Pete was the perfect spot for us to ditch the frigid NYC winter, if only for a few days.

For this trip, we really wanted to focus on all of St Pete’s local and cultural offerings. We loved seeing the area come alive with creativity and color on the mural tour, ooh-ing and aah-ing over street art of all shapes and sizes. Many additions came from October’s annual mural festival, SHINE, so it was a treat to see these brand-new pieces. St. Petersburg Arts Alliance hosts guided art walking tours, or you can also venture out on your own and discover something new!

One of our absolute favorite art pieces was by Dasia Fernandez. This piece portrayed a woman holding her arms open to receive raindrops, but the vividly colored raindrops almost look like they are dripping up toward the sky.

Another favorite of ours was by Portuguese artist, Pantonio. Wrapping all the way around the building, the enormous mural (bigger than a car) depicted fish swimming in shades of blue and green.

Speaking of art, it may feel random that St. Pete is home to the Dalí Museum, but the community’s connection to Salvador Dalí’s work actually dates all the way back to a singular family’s collection in the 1940’s. This incredible museum features works from Dalí’s entire career and frequently hosts traveling exhibits. We were lucky enough to catch the limited engagement of The Shape of Dreams, which demonstrates how artists have depicted dreams throughout human history. One of the coolest features was the Dream Tapestry where we were able to see our own dreams transform into works of art. This exhibit runs through April 2023 and is a can’t-miss!

St. Pete has an extraordinarily artsy community, and we loved getting a taste of each spot’s unique personality. St. Pete Pier, the Southeast’s largest waterfront playground, is a popular destination among locals and tourists alike. Their website hails the venue as not just a pier, but an “exPIERience,” and is it ever! This $92 million, all-encompassing space has something for everyone.

Another fun local area we had to visit was the Edge District. This award-winning Florida Main Street features eclectic shopping, dining, and cultural experiences. History runs deep here, and the overall vibe is a perfect blend of modern and historic Florida. We had a great time supporting all the local businesses, but our favorite has to be Atlas Body and Home, a men’s lifestyle boutique. The owners, Tony Loeffler and Michael Griffin, know fashion. Interior designers by trade, the pair had planned to open a home furnishing shop, but instead decided to focus on an under-served category – men’s fashion. It became evident that they were really connected with the community as they seem to know each customer that walked into the store.

“St Pete is an extremely welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Tony. “Our city is filled with artists and creators, which always fosters a vibrant community.”

Another fun local area we had to visit was the Edge District. This award-winning Florida Main Street features eclectic shopping, dining, and cultural experiences. History runs deep here, and the overall vibe is a perfect blend of modern and historic Florida. We had a great time supporting all the local businesses, but our favorite has to be Atlas Body and Home, a men’s lifestyle boutique. The owners, Tony Loeffler and Michael Griffin, know fashion. Interior designers by trade, the pair had planned to open a home furnishing shop, but instead decided to focus on an under-served category – men’s fashion. It became evident that they were really connected with the community as they seem to know each customer that walked into the store.

“St Pete is an extremely welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Tony. “Our city is filled with artists and creators, which always fosters a vibrant community.”

On Central Avenue, there’s actually a gay complex that is home to quite a few gay-owned businesses. Among the most popular are The Wet Spot, a new and exclusive private pool bar, and The Saint, an unassuming cocktail bar that invites you in to confess life’s darkest sins while enjoying fine cocktails and even finer company. This speakeasy was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip. First off, the drink menu included a cocktail for each of the seven deadly sins! The drink presentations were also on point – their “Sloth” cocktail was finished off with a smoke bubble and “Wrath” was served with a sparkling flame on top.

The perfect ending to our vacation was enjoying the gorgeous sunset on the gayest beach in town, which is aptly named, Sunset Beach. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxing, but every Sunday the local gays host an informal beach gathering on the southern part of the beach. It was heartwarming to see a community that can come together in this slice of paradise in Florida.

From soft, white sands and jewel-colored waters under the sun, to beautiful parks, mind-opening museums, and an amazing local culinary scene, St. Pete is a not-to-be-missed gem of the Florida coast. Seemingly unassuming, this town is packed with rich culture, art, and local businesses that make us want to return again and again!