St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is located on the Gulf Coast, across the bay from Tampa. Although Tampa and St. Petersburg are in very close proximity to each other, St. Petersburg is definitely a city in its own right.
St. Petersburg used to have a reputation of being a retirement city, but St. Pete (as this city is called for short) overhauled its image and now attracts people from all walks of life. The culture has boomed in this city, and the new people fuel the burgeoning culture, and the new culture attracts more visitors. It is a delightful circle that is working to St. Pete’s advantage. Proof of the cultural advancements consist of seven world class museums, including the St. Petersburg Museum of History, which hosts a 3,000 year old Egyptian mummy on display. The Museum of Fine Arts display works from 18th – 19th century artists, and there is a far amount of modern art to be seen as well. There is a great collection of Asian, African, and South American art, and an outdoor sculpture garden.
The Salvador Dali Museum is located in St. Petersburg, and it is amazing. This is the world’s biggest collection of Dali’s art – over 90 oils, 100 watercolors and drawings, and about 1,500 graphics from the gifted artists career are the highlights at this museum. Many museums around the world offer a few of works of Dali in their museums, but this is a rare chance to learn and focus solely on one artist. Dali’s strange history is reveled throughout the museum; he was an artistic genius, sure, but he was also a touch mad, and this provides excellent fodder for a colorful biography. Two of the most famous artworks here are the, “Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory” and “Hallucinogenic Toreador”. Also located in St. Petersburg, there is the Tampa Bay Holocaust Memorial Museum – and this thought provoking, sobering museum follows the “history of hate”, tracing anti-Semitism from the Middle Ages through Hitler’s Third Reich. It is an informative museums with many displays; although it is not on the same level as the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C, St. Pete’s version comes in a close second.
The artistic community is not solely limited to the confines of museums. The city of St. Petersburg recently underwent cosmetic changes, so the actual appearance of the city is clean, fresh, and pleasing to the eye. The beaches were always gorgeous here, (may we recommend visiting Madeira Beach, Pass-a-Grille, and Treasure Island) and that hasn’t changed, but now the streets bordering the beaches have a vibrant attitude and feature many boutiques and restaurants. Although there is a strong elderly population here, younger people have been flocking to this “Sunshine City” (it averages 360 days of sunshine every year) in droves; thanks to these recent transplants, St. Petersburg is back on the upswing.
The LGBT community is very accepted in St. Petersburg. The Grand Central District, located right in the heart of St. Pete, is very gay and lesbian friendly and hosts the Winter Pr!ide Festival every year (more info on that here). This section of St. Petersburg also has many cafes, galleries, shops, boutiques, restaurants and bars. It could very well be the most happening part of the entire city! The community in St. Petersburg is very large and diverse…and growing! St. Petersburg is on track to becoming one of the gay-friendliest destinations in America, and it is definitely the most LGBT friendly city on the Gulf Coast.
As to be expected from a seaside city, there are many lodging options to fit your style and budget. Almost every hotel offers free parking, air conditioning, and a pool. The restaurants are equally diverse, and new dining establishments are springing up all the time. On our “Things to Do”, “Places to Eat”, and “Places to Stay” options located on our homepage, we have many establishments and activities listed to make your trip to St. Petersburg a great vacation.
Florida Tourists Guide
