Instead of one long vacation this summer, we chose several short trips to explore more places. We started with three nights in Charleston, SC, visited my parents in the Georgia mountains in July, and finished the season with a family getaway to St. Petersburg, Florida. Sherry and I had only briefly visited St. Pete during a 2008 beach trip, so we were excited to see more of the city with the kids.
Here’s a concise recap of where we stayed, what we saw, where we ate, and why we’ll be back.
Where Did We Stay In St. Petersburg?
St. Petersburg sits on Florida’s Gulf Coast across Tampa Bay from Tampa. While the area has many great beaches, we picked St. Pete for its city life and cultural scene—think a mid-sized artsy city with plenty of dining and walkable neighborhoods, a vibe similar to our former home of Richmond, Virginia.
We stayed in an Airbnb near the Grand Central District to be close to downtown attractions. The house was clean, well-stocked, and dog-friendly, but it was less walkable to the places we spent most of our time than we’d hoped. Next time we’d likely choose something a bit further east or, for a longer visit, closer to the beach and drive downtown when we want city-style activities. St. Pete isn’t a large city and traffic felt mild during our stay.
What We Did In St. Petersburg: The Pier
A must-see is The St. Pete Pier. It’s not a small fishing pier—it’s a large, multi-level public space filled with green areas, restaurants, public art, and family amenities. We spent part of our first morning there and could easily have stayed much longer if the heat and a surprise rain shower hadn’t shortened our visit.
Highlights for our family were the large, modern playground and the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. The discovery center is a compact nature center with interactive displays and live animals; admission was very reasonable (about $18 for the four of us) and dog-friendly. The playground surprised us with how well designed and shaded it was—our kids had a blast while we enjoyed sitting in the shade.
Before the rain moved us indoors, we also admired a massive tree outside the St. Petersburg Museum of History—a great photo stop if you want to capture scale and a bit of the area’s character.
We’d love to return for a weekend Marketplace event and to see the Bending Arc installation lit up after dark.
What We Did In St. Pete: The Salvador Dalí Museum
The Salvador Dalí Museum downtown was another highlight. Art museums aren’t always the obvious choice for families, but both of our kids enjoy art, and the museum did a nice job with kid-friendly offerings: interactive exhibits, a VR experience, and AI-generated videos that bring Dalí’s persona to life.
Seeing Dalí’s works up close is striking—the surreal details intrigued the kids and gave Sherry a chance to pull out some art history memories. We were disappointed to miss the museum’s outdoor “avant-garden” and the new immersive dome experience by a single day, but that just gives us another reason to go back.
We also hoped to visit The Fairgrounds, an immersive art venue, but it’s open only on weekends and our timing didn’t line up.
What We Did In St. Petersburg: Explore & Shop
Much of our trip was simply wandering the neighborhoods and strolling Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The area is full of restaurants, indie shops, colorful murals, and boutique storefronts—great for casual exploration and family-friendly discoveries.
We always seek out local bookstores and loved Tombolo Books—an inviting indie shop where we picked up a few reads. The city felt welcoming and inclusive, visible in rainbow crosswalks, window displays, and flags around town.
Murals and colorful storefronts are everywhere, offering plenty of photo opportunities. We especially liked the mural outside Pete’s Bagels, which turned out to be our favorite breakfast spot.
We also enjoyed silly photo stops—like a graffiti-covered bench that made us laugh—and neighborhood drives to admire local architecture. Between downtown and Snell Isle we discovered charming homes blending tropical landscaping and historic details. Driftwood Road offered a lush, almost jungle-like stretch of old Florida vegetation that felt worth a slow drive through if you enjoy atmospheric neighborhood scenes.
Where We Ate In St. Petersburg
We’re not self-described foodies—travel with kids and a dog often means choosing casual, family-friendly spots—but we found great options that satisfied everyone. Here are the places we enjoyed most.
Pacific Counter is a fast-casual spot for build-your-own sushi burritos and poke bowls—fun for kids and adults alike. I enjoyed a Hawaiian-style hot dog and the kids loved the complimentary pineapple whip they got that day.
Ceviche was where we sheltered during a rainstorm. Sharing several small plates worked well for the family; the kids liked the meatballs, croquetas, and pesto chicken.
Casita Taqueria offered relaxed, dog-friendly dining and reliably good tacos and quesadillas. For dessert, La Diperie was a memorable treat—pick a base (cone, donut, or cookie dough), dip it in flavored coatings, then add toppings. Delicious and fun.
We also popped into 2D Cafe for the vibe (they were out of bread that day) and visited two standout coffee shops: Bandit, where I loved a seasonal Bouquet Latte, and the art-deco–styled Paradeco.
One Last Stop: The Beach!
Although our trip focused on the city, we couldn’t resist a beach detour after checkout. We drove to Passe-A-Grille—only about 15–20 minutes away—and enjoyed the beachfront vibe and views of the iconic pink Don CeSar hotel.
We had a casual beachfront breakfast at Paradise Grille, which felt relaxed and perfectly placed right on the sand. Unlike some Gulf Coast dining that sits behind tall dunes, here you’re close to the water—an especially pleasant way to end the trip.
It was a relaxing finish and left us eager to return to explore more of downtown and the beaches.
Our Trip To St. Petersburg: A Summary
We’re already planning another visit to St. Pete. For convenience, here’s a quick list of the spots we mention in this post.
- Explore the St. Pete Pier
- Visit the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
- See The Salvador Dalí Museum
- Experience immersive art at The Fairgrounds (weekends)
- Shop and dine in the Grand Central District
- Browse Tombolo Books
- Grab breakfast at Pete’s Bagels
- Drive through the Driftwood neighborhood
- Indulge at La Diperie
- Drink coffee at Bandit and Paradeco
- Eat beachfront at Paradise Grille
Other Family Trips We’ve Taken
If you enjoy family travel recommendations, here are other trips we’ve written about: Charleston, Palm Springs, New Orleans, Costa Rica, and more—each with tips for traveling with kids and sometimes with a dog.
- A Weekend in Charleston, SC with Kids
- A Weekend in Palm Springs, CA with Kids
- A Weekend In New Orleans With Kids
- Spring Break Destination Ideas for Families
- Our Trip to Mexico with Kids… and a Dog!
- A Daddy-Daughter Trip to South Dakota
- A Nature-Centric Weekend in Serenbe, GA
- Costa Rica with Kids
- Hawaii with a Toddler
- A Guide to Cape Charles, Virginia
- Our Favorite Spots in Richmond, Virginia
- Celebrating Ten Years in Puerto Rico
- Our Favorite Spring Break Trip Yet