It's always sunny in St. Petersburg

Sandy beaches, sunny days, calm waters and ice cream every night. This was our St. Petersburg vacation in a nutshell.

A perfect Spring break getaway, this town is my new favorite Florida destination any season. It was fun for the kiddos but also a relaxing time for us the parents, which says a lot.

While we spent 80% of the time in the water – a given after another rough Chicago winter – there are plenty of things to do in and around St. Petersburg. Let’s start with the obvious.

The Ocean

Would you agree this is the main reason to visit Florida? In the case of St. Pete, it’s actually the Gulf side of Florida, which partially explains the relative calmness of the water. Watching the kids jump the big waves can be thrilling or terrifying. The Gulf seems more calm than the Atlantic, so it made for a more peaceful time for the parents, with high enough waves to make the kids happy.

The beach here is a beautiful ivory-toned sand, sprinkled with palms, tossed with seashells and adorned with a long line of hotels. We loved our stay at Grand Plaza hotel with its revolving rooftop restaurant and easy access to the beach. The one hotel that really impressed us was the historic Don Cesar with its candy pink exterior and unique history dating back to the Gatsby-era 20s. It is definitely worth checking out with all its historic opulence. Don’t forget the amazing Uncle Andy’s ice cream shop on the ground floor!

Beach activities were a big draw in St. Pete. One of the most popular – parasailing. Though it needs to be reserved a day or more in advance, as the schedule fills up, it is hours spent well worth it. Dolphin cruises and ‘booze’ cruises are very popular as well. Some hotels offer inflatables and lots of fun beach toys to play with but often just relaxing on the beach or collecting seashells is what the kids need.

Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Mini Golf

What can be more relaxing than mini golf on a nice breezy day? What can be more frightening than a collection of alligators? I thought we hit the jackpot with this unique attraction located in Madeira-Redington, just a 20-30 min drive from St. Petersburg.

I will warn you that alligators are in one spot – by the first hole of this mini-golf. They are fairly sedate. You could buy the food and rods to feed them, but so can numerous other visitors, so the gators lounge happily on their little fenced island. We got a few of them to come to the food but most were in their lazy, careless mood. It’s still a hoot to watch alligators napping and leisurely swimming. I am sure alligators are the big draw of this mini-golf, as there are other courses in the area.

The Smuggler’s Cove Adventure mini golf course is beautifully designed, with elevations, water features, caves and plenty of shady areas. There are benches along the way, in case it gets crowded. I also liked the fact that it was an educational experience – we got tips on how to improve the game at each hole. We’ve been to our share of miniature golf locations and this one is definitely worth it. This is not just because of the alligators, though they add a unique touch to this location

The Dali Museum

Unique in construction, as in style, The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg is a gem visible from the water and in turn has the most beautiful views. Start outside with a walk around the uniquely shaped, glass-domed building.

After the visit, cool down in the garden with Dali-like molten clock benches and unique pieces that would put a smile on your face.

The museum holds not only the largest collection of Dali work outside Spain but also a splurge-worthy gift shop and an upscale cafe. We visited with tween kids, so they were modestly entertained. I would caution that this museum is better for adults and the artwork, the cafe and the appeal is really more for an over 21 crowd. First floor houses the gift shop and the cafe. My kids were fascinated by how easily Dali’s famous paintings translated into unique gifts, and not just for others, things you just had to have.

A curving staircase will take you to the 2nd floor housing the collection. Each gallery goes into detail on each of Dali’s periods. You can definitely see the influence of his beloved wife Gala, especially in the largest piece that you have to see from 15 feet away. And yes, many of the images are too adult for kids but they will definitely enjoy Dali’s creativity. There are always special exhibits. While we were there, there was a dual gallery of Dali and his friend, artist Magritte. It was fascinating to see the influence of their vision and technique on each other.

Take advantage of the tours, as they will shed some more light on Dali’s unique work. Another must – a recorder with narration (you pick up on the 1st floor) that will bring a lot of interesting facts to life. Narration is by gallery and painting, so you can choose where to go, if you bypass the tour.

Also on the 2nd level, is the small movie theater that shows the story of Dali and his Gala, from pre-war, life in New York and his later years. It was beautiful to witness the story and see the real works of this whimsical and daring Spanish artist.

Clearwater Aquarium

Clearwater is at least a 30 minute drive from St. Petersburg but it’s worth the drive to see the town alone. Clearwater, both downtown and the beach, has a very different look and feel from St. Petersburg. While St. Pete feels more like old Florida, Clearwater has a crisp new look about it. You will still see the coral Florida hues everywhere and the beach is a similar sugary sand but everything is a little more updated and modern.

Before you head for the Aquarium, purchase the tickets in advance, online, so you can skip the long lines once you get there. If your kids are old/patient enough, get one of the boat excursions – they are both educational and relaxing. Clearwater Aquarium is smaller than the one in Tampa but the big draw here is the celebrity marine squad that was featured in the movie “Dolphin Tale”.
In fact, the Aquarium doesn’t shy from putting the movie into the spotlight. There is an entertaining pelican exhibit, complete with the images from the film, and you can watch pelicans feed and hear about their favorites. Their wingspan is amazing!

Of course, there are quite a few dolphins, and you can see them both in an outdoor show (with beautiful views of the Clearwater marina) and inside. The staff at Clearwater Aquarium is really knowledgeable about the recovery process. All the marine life in the Aquarium came as rescues and there is a lot being done at the marine hospital at the Aquarium, which you can learn about in a walk-through.

My kids enjoyed petting the baby sharks and stingrays, and there were plenty of turtles on display, of all sizes. Seals were fun to watch. All in all, especially if you add the water excursions, you can spend a big chunk of the day there. Fast food is available for purchase, so if you want a healthier option, bring it with you and enjoy your lunch by the water.

Tampa Bay Auto Museum

If you are traveling to this part of Florida with a car buff, consider taking a trek to Tampa, to see the Tampa Bay Auto Museum. It’s fairly close to the Tampa airport, so an easy detour. The museum is not large but it has a nice collection of vintage vehicles that stand out for their creativity. You will see unique front wheel drive cars of the 20s and 30s, a lot of foreign cars, and even some early vehicles that reminded us of medieval times.

The museum has a nice balance of muscle and creativity, there are videos that go along with some, and lots of unique details that would make you spend at least an hour here. This is definitely worth a stop and, perhaps, these pictures will explain.