At first glance, St. Petersburg, Florida, is easily recognizable for its gleaming sand beaches and crystal clear shores. However, you shouldn’t just pass off the “Sunshine City” as an ideal tourist attraction. There’s so much more to it than that!
Key Takeaways
- Explore the lush Sunken Gardens
- Step back into the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
- Stroll past the murals and street art
- Check out the Salvador Dali Museum
- Visit the Florida Holocaust Museum
- Enter the Morean Arts Center and check out the Chihuly Collection
- Explore the Fort De Soto Park
Whether you call Florida your forever home or you’re merely looking to enjoy a serene vacation here, there is plenty to do and see in the city of St. Petersburg. All you need is some free time, a thirst for adventure, and plenty of sunscreen!
Keep reading, and we’ll let you in on seven of St. Petersburg’s best places to visit that you should take the time to explore.
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#1. The Sunken Gardens
Florida is known for being an amazing tourist destination and for its proximity to nature. Almost anywhere in the state, you’ll be right next to the best side of Mother Nature.
In the pleasant and bustling city of St. Petersburg, there are countless ways to get closer to nature. This city is located on Florida’s gulf coast and is part of the Tampa Bay area. From lush greenery to crystal beaches to artistic hotspots, this town has it all!
A One-Way Ticket To All Nature Has To Offer
If you’re looking for a secret gem that is both gorgeously green and tucked away, you should take a trip to St. Petersburg’s Sunken Gardens.
This tropical oasis sits in the center of St. Petersburg and is open every day of the week. It’s a great place to visit for individuals and families, regardless of age.
What makes this place so unique is its profound collection of tropical plants, exotic species, and lush landscapes all nestled together. It’s been standing for over 100 years after a local plumber in the 1900s utilized the rich and fertile soil to create a stunning botanical collection.
However, this tropical paradise is anything but your grandma’s garden. This elegant oasis contains some of the most spectacular plants, flowers, and grasses and is home to over 50,000 different species!
From pink flamingos to splashing waterfalls, you won’t cease to be amazed when you step foot in this place. It’s a place you truly need to venture to if you happen to find yourself in St. Petersburg!
Making St. Petersburg, Florida, Your Forever Home
You don’t need to condense your itinerary of sights to see in St. Petersburg to one weekend. If you’re looking to make this city your forever home, all you need is the right moving company at your side to do so!
With The Movers Moving and Storage helping you, your upcoming move will be as effortless and easy as spending the day on the beach. From packing to transporting all your personal belongings, we can take care of every and anything you need us to.
#2. The Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
St. Petersburg has no shortage of connections to nature. It truly knows how to network with Mother Nature!
In addition to the Sunken Gardens, this city boasts another stunning gem. The Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is located just a few miles south of the heart of downtown St. Petersburg and sits along the shores of Lake Maggiore.
Plus, it’s the site of the Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Centre, where people can come and learn more about the marvels of this botanical preserve.
Spend A Day Here, Or Make It Two
Whether you’re looking to hike along its many trails or spend a few days camping, this place has it all. The Terry Tomalin Campground allows visitors to enjoy some primitive camping and also has plenty of bike tours and nature camps for youngsters.
This preserve spans across 245-acres and has no shortage of wildlife and stunning views. If you’re looking to get a little closer to the wilderness of Florida, this is the place to do it!
#3. Murals And Street Art
If you truly want to connect with the wonders of St. Petersburg, Florida, you need to go deeper than the places with a set address and hours of operation.
Florida is known for its diverse culture and artistic attractions. And in St. Petersburg, you’ll be able to get a hearty taste of it all.
Instead of taking a trip to any of the renowned galleries, theaters, or museums in St. Petersburg, try indulging in something a bit more raw.
An Authentic Look At St. Petersburg’s Art
This city is home to some of the most fascinating, gorgeous, and stunning street art and murals in the United States. So, if you’re looking to hit your daily step goal, try strolling the streets and see what sort of interesting murals you can find!
Plus, if you’re truly looking for any of St. Petersburg’s hidden gems, this is the way to do so.
Especially after 2014, St. Petersburg, FL, truly started to embrace its artistic side. And now, every year, the two-week-long Shine festival is held in October and allows plenty of local and even international artists to paint stunning murals in its streets.
Regardless of what may pique your interest, there’s something for everyone. From retro to portrait pieces, the murals and street art in St. Petersburg will give you a chance to wander in creativity while enjoying this unique city.
Bonus: How To Get Rid Of Unwanted Items Before Moving
#4. Salvador Dali Museum
Salvador Dali is known as one of the most famous and brilliant artists of the 20th century. His robust personality was perhaps only topped by his iconic mustache, and he is well-known for his contributions to art through painting, sculpture, and even film.
Born in Spain, Dali went on to revolutionize the world of art with his surrealist artwork and his unique persona. And now, the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg is home to countless pieces from this amazing artist and figure.
Exploring Amazing Art From Another Time
Outside of Europe, this museum actually holds the largest Salvador Dali collection. From oil paintings to a lobster telephone, the museum contains over 2,000 works and includes eight of Dali’s masterworks.
Even though this museum only opened in 2011, it’s established itself as a creative marvel. So, if you’re interested in fine arts or just looking to be amazed, it’s well worth your time to take a trip to the Salvador Dali Museum.
However, what’s inside isn’t all this place has to offer. The museum itself is a spectacular piece of art and features a unique glass dome roof and a spiral staircase leading visitors to the roof.
It contains gardens, a cafe, exhibition areas, and a waterfront gallery, truly making this museum a must-visit for anyone in St. Petersburg, Florida.
#5. Florida Holocaust Museum
Looking back on history isn’t always an easy thing to do. But remembering and honoring it is still important for many reasons.
St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to the Florida Holocaust Museum, a place that holds exhibitions and collections that honors the many brave souls who lost their lives in the Holocaust. One of the many goals of this museum is to enlighten visitors on the importance of human life.
Its mission statement is ‘to empower people to make positive changes in the world.’
Creating A Place Full Of Remembrance
In 1992, philanthropist Walter Loebenberg founded the Florida Holocaust Museum after escaping Germany in 1939 and then serving in the US Army during World War II. This museum has even been accredited with helping pass the Florida legislature that allowed for Holocaust history to be taught in schools in 1994.
The exhibitions at the museum even hold one of the few remaining boxcars that were used to transport Jews and political prisoners to the death camps of Auschwitz and Treblinka. There is also an archive of interviews with survivors of the Holocaust, which doubles as a memento for future generations.
Though remembering the Holocaust can be a somber affair, it remains an integral part of history, and it’s important to honor and remember those who lost their lives during that time.
#6. Morean Arts Center
St. Petersburg, Florida, truly is one of the best places in the United States to experience art. It oozes from the streets themselves, and there’s no shortage of unique museums and galleries to explore!
One such place you should visit is the Morean Arts Center on St. Petersburg’s Central Ave. It’s open every day and is free to the public, so you have no reason to turn it down.
The Morean Arts Center hosts plenty of art classes and events, so you’ll never be bored. From glassblowing classes to a hands-on clay demonstration, you’ll be able to indulge in fine arts while learning something new.
This arts center is truly one of the best places to visit in St. Pete. Come and see!
The Chihuly Collection
As you wander the Morean Arts Center, you’re likely to come across the Chihuly Collection. Here, the first permanent collection from American artist Dale Chihuly is reason enough to head to the Morean Arts Center.
When you walk in, you’ll instantly be greeted by a 20-foot sculpture made specifically for the site. Then, you’ll have a chance to look at the abstract and colorful works of Chihuly, including plenty of elaborate glass artworks and other glass constructions.
Even if you’re not an art fanatic, it’s well worth it to enter these creative walls.
#7. Fort De Soto Park
This is what you’re probably thinking of when Florida crosses your mind.
St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to some of the most amazing beaches and shorelines in the United States (scratch that, the world!), and your time here isn’t complete until you enjoy them.
Fort De Soto Park is the largest public park in Pinellas County and encompasses five entire islands. Over its 1,100 acres, there are plenty of wetlands, forests, and pristine beaches for you to indulge in!
So, if you want to spend a day sunbathing and soaking in that vitamin D, this is the place to do it. And if you’re not, there are plenty of other things to see and do!
For starters, you can sight the 328 different species of birds that have been documented in the park since the 1960s, spend a few nights under the stars at the campgrounds, or even hike the six miles of trails that reside here.
Wrapping Up
With a city as diverse and intriguing as St. Petersburg, it can be hard to cover all its hidden gems. However, exploring all the things St. Pete has to offer will help you truly enjoy life here!
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The Movers Moving & Storage has been a family-owned and operated moving company for 40 years and across three generations. Serving areas in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Spring Hill, Lakeland, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, and Clearwater in Florida, our simple approach to moving has not changed since the day we opened. We treat our customers like family and their belongings like our own. For more moving facts and information, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
