St. Pete Beach Activities
We all know the beach is one of the main draws of southern Florida, and for good reason! The beaches on St. Pete Beach are some of Florida’s best. Read my full guide here. But if you need a break from the beach, I’ve got you covered. There are so many things to do in the St. Petersburg area, and I’m going to share my top 3.
I have a family member that has a condo in St Pete beach, and you bet I'm going to take advantage of it. I've been lucky enough to have the ability to travel to Florida at least once a year, usually twice a year. The main draw for me is the beach and the pool and the general nice weather, but there's a whole world of things to do that aren't water related.
Here's your guide on what to do in St. Pete if you're beached out.
Florida Orange Groves Winery
One of my favorite things to do in St. Pete is stopping by the Florida Orange Groves Winery. This is definitely an almost literal hidden gem. It is one of those places that really only make sense in Florida. True to its name, Florida Orange Grove Winery is a tropical fruit wine winery. I know what you're thinking Moira Rose, and I am here to tell you - get over your preconceived notions. You will have a blast!
The inside is set up like a tiki bar - with very old school 70s vibes. As you enter, you’ll notice the gift shop and wines for purchase on the right, and the tasting room on the left. The tasting bar is a wooden bar with neon signs behind it. A perfect spot to taste some fruit wine.
The back of the winery is an open bar/ restraunt. You can drink whatever they have on tap at the moment with some light food options. Being honest- don't expect much from the food options. This is more about the total sensory experience than the food. And the wine. The wine is actually pretty good. Definitely on the sweet side, but still pretty tasty.
To get the full experience you have to do the wine tasting. I mean really, how else can you judge the quality of the wines without tasting a few! The last time I was there it was Halloween; the entire team was dressed up and the wine options were fall themed. We did a tasting of 6 wines varying from citrus to tropical fruit to blackcurrant slushy.
This is truly one of my favorite spots to check out every time I visit - sometimes you need a break from the sun and sand - why not pair it with fun festive wines?
St Pete Pier
Coming from Chicago I know a tourist trap when I see one. (re: Navy Pier) Truthfully when I first went to the St. Pete pier that's what I thought I was getting myself in to - mass produced junk with carnival rides. Boy was I wrong. The recently updated pier has everything from scenic walkways - to local vendors - to ocean front views and environmental education. They have splash pads for kids, shady places to sit for adults - really, they have it all.
There's not a ton of shade so I wouldn't go in the summer mid-day but it's prime location in downtown St. Petersburg makes it a great spot for locals and tourists alike.
Check out the Local Fests
St. Pete is a growing city with historical roots. It's weirdly both a beach town with a downtown city vibe. As you get closer to downtown St. Pete, you quickly realize this is not your average beach town. As a result, there are always a ton of festivals going on in the city. When I was visiting in the fall, there was a Halloween Street fest that was just as much for the kids as it was for the adults.
Halloween on Central is dubbed as a street carnival that spanned over 20 blocks. There were food and drink vendors, artists and local vendors. People were dressed up for the occasion and the kids could trick or treat at each vendor tent for candy. There was a pet parade - carnival games - photo booths you name it, it was there.
If you're planning a trip to the burg, I suggest looking up local fests, they always have something going on!
