Instead of taking one long vacation this summer, we chose several short trips to explore more places. We started with a three-night stay 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 back in 2008, so we were excited to return and show our kids the city.
Here’s a concise recap of what we did, where we ate, and why we’re already planning a return trip.
Where Did We Stay In St. Petersburg?
St. Petersburg sits on Florida’s Gulf Coast across Tampa Bay from Tampa. While the area boasts many beaches, we picked St. Pete for its city and cultural vibe. We were drawn to its mid-size, artsy atmosphere and good food scene—characteristics we loved about our former hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
We stayed near downtown, just outside the Grand Central District, in an Airbnb that was clean, well-stocked, and dog-friendly. The house wasn’t quite as walkable to our favorite spots as we’d hoped, so we won’t link it here. Next time we’d likely choose a place a little further east or possibly closer to the beach for more variety, since downtown is only a short drive away and traffic is mild.
What We Did In St. Petersburg: The Pier
The centerpiece of downtown is the St. Pete Pier, so we headed there first. If you expect a modest fishing pier, think again—this pier is large and lively, with green spaces, restaurants, art pieces, and plenty of family-friendly attractions. We nearly spent the whole day there if not for the heat and an afternoon rain shower.
The pier’s three-level restaurant building provides great downtown views. Our favorite features were the well-designed playground and the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. The Discovery Center is a compact nature museum that’s both affordable and dog-friendly; we ducked in for the air conditioning and ended up staying about 45 minutes exploring exhibits and marine displays.
The playground was surprisingly modern and expansive, entertaining kids who are starting to outgrow typical play areas. Before the rain moved us indoors, we also admired a massive tree outside the St. Petersburg Museum of History—a great reminder that the pier area is full of pleasant surprises.
We’d love to return for a weekend vendor market or an evening visit when the Bending Arc art installation is lit up. There’s plenty to explore across multiple visits.
What We Did In St. Pete: The Salvador Dalí Museum
On our second day we visited the Salvador Dalí Museum downtown. While art museums aren’t always considered kid-friendly, this one does a great job welcoming young visitors with interactive exhibits, a VR experience, and AI-generated videos that bring Dalí’s personality to life. Our kids, who enjoy art, were captivated by the surreal details in his work, and Sherry enjoyed reconnecting with her art history background.
We were disappointed that a sudden rainstorm kept us from exploring the museum’s outdoor “avant-garden.” We also just missed the opening of the new dome for the immersive Dalí Alive 360° experience by one day—but it was exciting to see the museum expanding its offerings.
We also wished The Fairgrounds immersive art venue had been open during our visit; it’s a weekend-only attraction and our schedule didn’t line up this time.
What We Did In St. Petersburg: Explore & Shop
Outside those major sites, we spent a lot of time simply walking and discovering. Central Avenue and the Grand Central District are full of restaurants, shops, and colorful storefronts. We especially enjoyed finding Tombolo Books, a cozy independent bookstore—one of our favorite types of stops in any new city.
St. Pete felt warm and inclusive, visible in rainbow crosswalks, shop signs, and flags. The city is covered in murals and colorful facades that make wandering the streets visually rewarding—like the bright mural outside Pete’s Bagels, which quickly became our favorite breakfast spot.
We enjoyed lighthearted photo ops too, like a graffiti-covered bench with cheeky lettering. Afternoons were often spent driving through neighborhoods between downtown and Snell Isle, admiring a mix of tropical and historic homes. We also explored Driftwood Road, a lush, jungle-like stretch that felt unexpectedly cinematic—definitely worth a slow drive.
Where We Ate In St. Petersburg
We’re not food critics—traveling with kids and a dog usually makes us favor casual, family-friendly places. Still, we found several standout spots worth mentioning:
Pacific Counter felt like a sushi-and-poke version of a build-your-own concept—fast-casual and delicious. We built bowls and sushi burritos, tried a Hawaiian hot dog, and the kids even scored free pineapple whip. Ceviche was our rainy-day refuge and a highlight for Sherry; sharing small plates let the kids try a variety of flavors. Casita Taqueria offered relaxed, dog-friendly vibes and dependable tacos and quesadillas.
For dessert, La Diperie was memorable: choose a base like soft-serve or a donut, pick a flavored dip, and top it off—delicious and fun. We also loved visiting 2D Cafe for its striking interior, even though they happened to be out of bread when we stopped in. Coffee lovers will appreciate Bandit, known for imaginative seasonal drinks like a Bouquet Latte, and Paradeco, an art-deco–inspired spot with strong coffee and atmosphere.
One Last Stop: The Beach!
Although we went for the city, we couldn’t resist visiting a beach after checkout. We drove to Passe-A-Grille, a short trip away, passing the iconic pink Don CeSar hotel. We ate breakfast at Paradise Grille, a casual beachfront spot that feels right on the sand instead of sitting above tall dunes—perfect for a relaxed end to the trip.
It was a calm, simple way to finish our visit and left us eager to explore more of both downtown and the beaches on our next trip.
Our Trip To St. Petersburg: A Summary
We can’t wait to return to St. Pete. For convenience, here are the main places we visited and enjoyed during our stay:
- 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
- Coffee at Bandit and Paradeco
- Eat beachfront at Paradise Grille
Other Family Trips We’ve Taken
If you enjoy family travel stories, we’ve written about other trips that might inspire your next outing, including Charleston, Palm Springs, New Orleans, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and several other family-friendly destinations.