St Pete Florida In Winter- 10 Things You Don’t Want To Miss!

 Best Things To Do In St Pete Beach Florida In December

1. Explore St Pete Beaches

St. Pete Beach is the perfect spot in the winter for rest and fun.

Lounging on the beach, with its soft sands and gentle waves, is the epitome of relaxation.

Crack open your favorite beach read, stroll along the sand, or breathe deep into the salty air while the sun trails into the ocean.

Dig your toes into the white sands, enjoy great water sports, or play a rousing game of beach volleyball.

You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards, go windsurfing, build sandcastles, collect shells, or go parasailing.

Parking and restrooms are nearby, including a sprayer for rinsing your feet.

The best beaches in St. Pete include:

Upham Beach Park

Pass-A-Grille Beach

St Pete County Beach

And we’ll be covering more in the area so read on! 

2. Dine At St Pete Restaurants

If you’re looking for the best restaurants in St Pete, there are plenty to choose from, offering everything from fresh seafood to tacos.

Although there are too many great spots to mention here, a few to check out include Bavaro’s Pizza and the Gratzzi Italian Grille.

The Red Mesa Cantina, with its full liquor bar, is perfect for Latin American cuisine.

For seafood, Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro and PJs Oyster Bar are great choices.

3. Visit The St Pete Pier

If you haven’t already, put visiting the St. Petersburg Pier on your list of things to do in the area.

Not only is it a pedestrian pier, but there is also a children’s playground nearby plus places to picnic, shop, and eat.

Park in a nearby garage and stroll over to the pier. Walk or take the tram to the end, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy views of Tampa Bay.

Street performers, artwork, live music, and the drifting aroma of cinnamon buns make this place a sensory delight.

👉 Check the event calendar here.

4. Explore Downtown St Petersburg

Murals painted by local artists, mouth-watering food, live entertainment, and great shopping opportunities make the main streets of downtown St. Petersburg a humming place.

Explore the shops along Central Avenue, stop at the Dali Museum on Bayshore Drive, and pop into a park to enjoy the vibrant greenery of downtown St. Petersburg.

5. Go To The Museums

If you spend any time sauntering downtown in the winter, the Salvador Dali Museum is sure to catch your eye.

This geodesic glass structure houses a huge collection of Dali’s surrealist works, plus various traveling exhibitions.

But museum lovers have plenty more options, including the St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, The Florida Holocaust Museum, and the Chihuly Collection, which displays striking Dale Chihuly glass and offers glass-blowing demonstrations.

Enjoy art and escape-room-style puzzles at the Fairgrounds St. Pete, visit the St. Petersburg Museum of History, or head to the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum.

The Morean Arts Center is another cool spot to check out.

6. John’s Pass

John’s Pass Village is a major tourist attraction in the St. Pete area.

A pirate-studded history, tasty seafood eateries, key lime pie, fun shops, and sweeping ocean breezes make this a great place to visit.

It got its name when a hurricane tore a passage through the barrier island, punching a hole through the Gulf of Mexico to Boca Ciega Bay.

The first pirate to brave the pass was John Levique, thus the name “John’s Pass.”

Treasure hunt for beach-themed souvenirs, t-shirts that change color in the sun, and hand-crafted beads.

7. Madeira Beach And Treasure Island

Two other top destinations are Madeira Beach and Treasure Island.

If you visit John’s Pass, you’ll already be in Madeira Beach and can enjoy its long stretches of shoreline, unique shops, and tasty eats.

Take your kids to the Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center, play a few rounds at Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, or feast on coconut shrimp or a cool ranch wrap at Caddy’s Madeira Beach.

Further down the coast, you’ll find Treasure Island, a beach and town with a wide beach, a Sunday evening drum circle, and fun mom ‘n pop hotels.

8. Pass A Grille

At the tip of Long Key, you’ll find Pass-a-Grille, an eclectic beach town that’s perfect for exploring on foot.

The area probably got its name because fishermen would camp on the beach and grill their dinners.

As early as 1857, tourists would come here from Tampa, making it one of the oldest resort areas on the west coast of Florida.

Today, it’s a fun place packed with fishing piers, ice cream shops, restaurants, rooftop bars, outdoor markets, and boutique shops. 

And of course, you can enjoy the gorgeous beach here.  There’s also a dog-friendly section of beach as you reach the southern tip. 

9. Get On The Water

Part of the reason St. Pete is such a perfect place for a vacation is its turquoise waters.

Why not get out on the waves and enjoy a more complete experience? 

There are plenty of options, including the popular dolphin tours and sunset cruises.

However, you can also splurge on deck boat or jet ski rentals and explore Honeymoon Island or take the Intracoastal Waterway from Long Key up toward Clearwater.

10. Enjoy Events At St Pete

Annual events add extra pizzazz to St. Pete. Plan your trip based on these happenings, or check the calendar for what might be scheduled during your upcoming trip.

• January:

Tarpon Springs Epiphany Celebration

• February:

St. Petersburg Fine Art Festival

• March:

Reggae Rise UP

• April:

Tampa Bay Blues Festival

Mainsail Art Festival

Dunedin Highland Games & Festival

• October:

Clearwater Jazz Holiday

SHINE Mural Festival

• November:

Sanding Ovations

• Year-round:

Sunsets at Pier 60

How To Get To St. Pete From The Airport?

Although there’s an airport in St. Pete, the St. Petersburg Airport (PIE), you may find better fares from the Tampa Airport (TPA).

To get from Tampa Airport to St. Pete, you can take an Uber or shuttle or the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s bus lines 300, 4, and SR.