Twin-Centre Trips: Why a St. Pete-Clearwater Holiday Is a Nature Lover’s Paradise 

What could be better than a trip to paradise? Well, how about 35 miles of sugar-sand beaches, where sunny days come with culture, adventure, and plenty to see and do. Discover a getaway where bucket lists are rewritten, on a St. Pete-Clearwater escape. 

Set along Florida’s stunning Gulf Coast, St. Pete-Clearwater brings together laid-back beach towns, buzzing street art, wildlife encounters and a food scene worth travelling for. In other words, there’s plenty to keep you busy between beach days, and here are a few reasons to add it to your holiday list…

USA’s Best Beaches and Endless Sunshine

There are sunny beach destinations, and then there’s St. Pete-Clearwater. With over 350 days of sunshine each year, there’s plenty of reason to make the Gulf Coast your next escape. In recent years, the USA’s Number One Beach has been an accolade simply swapped between St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach. Currently, Clearwater Beach ranks as USA's Number Two Beach in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards, so you know you’re in for some seriously good sand. There are, however, different atmospheres on offer…

St. Pete Beach provides a laid-back, artsy vibe, and lies just a 10-minute drive from downtown St. Pete - famously known as the Sunshine City with a Guinness World Record for the longest run of sunshine days, at 768 uninterrupted! And when the calm emerald waters of the Gulf lap against powder-white sands, it’s simply the ideal spot for pure beach bliss. 

Then there’s Clearwater Beach, located 30 minutes drive north. These white sands move to a festival atmosphere provided by music and pier performers – including nightly sunset celebrations at Pier 60. 

That’s why a twin-centre option leaves you with the best of both worlds. Whether you’re looking to laze the day away, get out on the water, or grab a cocktail from the abundance of beach bars, there’s a beach day for everyone. 

Adventure Awaits 

While being lounge-bound for the day is an option, others may prefer to get the adrenaline going with one of the many water sports on offer at St. Pete-Clearwater.

Whatever sport you choose, you can move at your pace – from top gear excitement on a jet ski to leisurely exploring mysterious mangrove tunnels by kayak. For paddleboarding or snorkelling, the glass-like waters of the Gulf are ideal and can be found in the destination’s best nature reserves, islands & parks - such as the untouched haven of Caladesi Island State Park or Fort De Soto Park, where can even spot manatees.



Plus, at just 90 minutes from Orlando, you may want to combine sugar-white shorelines with rollercoaster skylines. To help get you to Walt Disney World Resort and co., we also offer competitive rates on car hire. 

If you're flying into Tampa International Airport, you’ll be on the beach in St. Pete-Clearwater in around 30 minutes. The airport also offers nonstop flights from London with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
 

Year-Round Entertainment

There’s always something happening in St. Pete-Clearwater, with more than 1,000 events taking place throughout the year. Expect live music, art, food and plenty of reasons to celebrate, from the reggae beats of Reggae Rise Up and the soulful sounds of the Tampa Bay Blues Festival to the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, St. Petersburg Fine Art Festival and SHINE St. Pete Mural Festival. From music and murals to food and art, there’s always something worth adding to your St. Pete-Clearwater plans.
 

Deliciously Local

All that exploring is bound to work up an appetite, and luckily, St. Pete-Clearwater’s food scene is every bit as varied as its coastline. From fresh Gulf seafood to Greek, Italian and Cuban favourites, plus Michelin-recognised fine dining, there’s plenty to tuck into. Six local restaurants feature in the Michelin Guide, giving foodies another reason to put St. Pete-Clearwater on the menu.



From Elliott Aster’s homemade pasta dishes to the Tokyo-style izakaya experience at In Between Days and seasonal Italian favourites at Il Ritorno, there’s plenty to tempt your taste buds. For something more casual, head to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grille on Clearwater Beach for its famous Grouper Sandwich, served just steps from the sand.

And don’t forget to explore the Gulp Coast, home to more than 45 local microbreweries. Try a pint from 3 Daughters, Green Bench or Dunedin Brewery, and discover why craft beer is such a big part of the local scene.
 

Art per Square Foot

For a destination famous for its beaches, St. Pete-Clearwater has a seriously impressive cultural side. St. Pete is home to more than 600 murals and an exceptional collection of museums, making it easy to pair time on the sand with world-class art.

At the Chihuly Collection, admire the striking, intricate glasswork up close, then explore over 2,500 pieces of art at The Dali Museum, home to the largest collection of Salvador Dali’s work outside of Spain. For something a little different, FloridaRAMA brings together colourful, quirky works by more than 50 Florida artists, while the Imagine Museum showcases contemporary glass art from artists worldwide.

And then there’s the street art – with more than 600 murals dotted around St. Pete, you never know what you’ll find around the next corner.
 

24 Destinations in One

While Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach are two of the best-known places, there’s a whole collection of coastal communities waiting to be discovered. In fact, 24 of them. Some highlights include wandering the sponge docks and Greek heritage of Tarpon Springs, enjoying the laid-back beach-town feel of Madeira Beach and Treasure Island, or heading to Pass-a-Grille Beach for a quieter taste of old Florida.



Dunedin brings a lively downtown and local craft breweries, while Indian Shores offers uncrowded beaches and a slower pace. With so many different places packed into one stretch of coastline, you can easily see a different side of St. Pete-Clearwater each day.
 

Wondrous Wildlife 

A St. Pete-Clearwater holiday is a haven for all wildlife enthusiasts, yet especially for dolphin experiences. You can take a dolphin-watching cruise, where you’ll likely see pods of beautiful bottlenose dolphins. 

Then head over to Clearwater Marine Aquarium to learn more about the local wildlife and the vital animal welfare provided by the aquarium. These efforts included treating Florida’s most famous dolphin, Winter, who learnt to swim with a prosthetic tail and became the star of the Dolphin Tale film series. 



Beyond dolphins, your underwater exploration in St. Pete-Clearwater could uncover the likes of puffer fish, stingrays, and sea turtles. Outside of the sea, keen bird watchers will want to head to Brooker Creek Preserve, where species such as osprey, bald eagles, and owls call home. 

Stunning Sunsets 

Sunsets don’t come much more magical than at St. Pete-Clearwater, where you can watch the sky become awash with colour from several standout vantage points. Matter of fact, St. Pete Beach holds the title of the Sunset Capital of Florida...



At The Hurricane Seafood Restaurant, you can take to the rooftop deck to watch the sunset as you sip on a refreshing cocktail. Or how about watching the sun sinking while fabulous live music plays in the background at the Crabby's Beachside Pavilion? Even better, why not set sail during this magical moment? With Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, you can admire this natural phenomenon while you channel your inner Jack Sparrow.

Although this coastline provides many opportunities to end the day in style, one that shouldn’t be missed is the Pier 60 Sunset Celebration. The famed ritual on Clearwater Beach has everything you could want, from live music to street performers and craft makers, and even dazzling fire eaters. And best of all, it won’t cost you a penny. This free family-friendly event is the perfect way to watch the sun descend into the Gulf.

Amazing Green Spaces 

In July 2020, the highly anticipated St. Pete Pier opened in the Downtown St. Pete’s bayfront. There's plenty of open green lawn space, observation decks, interactive exhibits about the local marine life, artwork and installations from local artists, a vendor and artisan marketplace, a fishing deck, and a variety of restaurants and bars, surrounded by 360-degree views. 

You will also be spoilt for choice at the many parks and lakes to be found at St. Pete-Clearwater. Visit Fort De Soto Park. Located in southern St. Pete, you can choose from several trails where you can explore coastal habitats and learn about the flora and fauna of the Gulf Coast. Another St. Pete favourite is Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. Once a zoo, it now serves as three miles of trails through natural habitats on the shores of Lake Maggiore.



When you’ve worked up enough of a sweat hiking, there's also plenty of parks with a more relaxed feel. Moccasin Lake Nature Park is a must-see, featuring boardwalks across ponds and creeks, an array of wildlife, and even educational camps and classes for kids. But be sure to also check out the beauty of Cliff Stephens Park. This Creekside green space offers a variety of activities, including cycling, and fishing, and is even home to a disc golf course. And when lunchtime calls, there are many stunning picnic spots to take advantage of.


Ready to find your happy place? Get in touch with our Travel Specialists for a personalised holiday package.