The Sunshine City is where everyone wants to be… and rightly so! From real estate to restaurants and events it’s tough to find a place with more to offer than St. Petersburg. When we decided to make this list we had to narrow down what to include in it. That’s not the case with most places but then… St. Petersburg is nothing like most places!
Ask anyone who has lived here more than 10 years and they’ll tell you what kind of transformation St. Petersburg has encountered. From God’s Waiting Room to one of the most trendy, hip, and artsy places you’ll ever visit – St. Petersburg is reinventing itself into a modern city with something to offer everyone who calls it home.
1.) The Sunshine City Lives Up to Its Name
It’s always sunny in St. Petersburg! In fact, we hold the world record for having the most sunny days in a row. 768 days of sunshine were recorded from February 9, 1967 to March 17, 1969. While this was an extreme dose of UV, we typically get more than our fair share of amazing weather. Our amazing weather is just one of many reasons we’re getting nationwide publicity. In the last two years, according to the City of St. Pete, we’ve topped six lists for everything from Most Beautiful City in the USA to the #1 Town in America for Craft Lovers. Speaking of great craft beer… check out our can’t miss list here!
- #2 Most Beautiful City in the USA (The Culture Trip, 2015)
- #1 Best City for Millennial Job Seekers (NerdWallet, 2015)
- #12 in the Nation for Small Businesses (Biz2Credit, 2014)
- One of the “Most Outstanding Places” (Forbes Travel Guide, 2014)
- #6 Most Underrated City in the US (BuzzFeed, 2015)
- #1 Town in America for Craft Lovers (American Craft Week, 2015)
2.) There’s Always Something To Do
If there is one thing you’ll never be in St. Petersburg, it’s bored. There is so much to do here! Almost every weekend you can indulge in one of hundreds of festivals and celebrations that take place every year. On November 13-15 you can indulge in some of the most mouth watering ribs you’ve ever tasted while listening to some great live bands during Rib Fest. This year’s line up includes Bret Michaels, The Cadillac Three, Michael Ray and many more. Click on the video below for a look at 2014’s Rib Fest.
3.) Attractions for the Whole Family
There’s just as much fun in St. Petersburg for children as there is for adults. The Great Explorations Children’s Museum offers kids a chance to get hands on with all kinds of careers. They can be a veterinarian for the day or perhaps they want to try on a firefighter’s uniform. Kids can sit behind the news desk at Bay News 9 or make their favorite pizza pie at the Bella Brava pizza kitchen. Publix has a grocery store that’s just for the kids with shopping carts and real cash registers. Imaginations are dared to run wild at the museum.
Sunken Gardens is located right next door to Great Explorations. It’s one of the most beautiful places to take a stroll with the family. You’ll see flamingos, exotic birds, plants, trees, and hundreds of flowers. The gardens have been cared for and grown with love since 1903. Originally private property purchased for a hobby, the gardens are now owned by the city and is open to visitors seven days a week weather permitting. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children. C
These are just a few of the attractions for children in St. Pete. There’s North Shore Aquatic Center, tons of parks, and lovely paths throughout the city for families to enjoy.
4.) The Rays Play Here
St. Petersburg has a Major League Baseball team and they’re quite good. Tickets are reasonable and you can walk to the stadium from downtown. Oh… and we can’t forget to mention Raymond! He might just be the best mascot we’ve ever met.
5.) Craft Beer Calls St. Pete Home Too
The craft beer scene alone is enough justification for St. Pete to be one of the best places to live. In the last few years several hometown breweries have popped up and are serving some of the best beer you’ve ever tasted. It’ll take you weeks or even months to get through all of the different styles and just when you do they switch it up. Don’t forget to check out our blog dedicated to the amazing craft breweries in Tampa Bay.
6.) Fresh Food from the Farmer’s Market
Every Saturday from 9-2 you can enjoy one of the best farmer’s markets in the country at the Saturday Morning Market. Now in its 15 season, the market has become a staple of downtown St. Petersburg. Real farms sell produce (a lot of it is organic) and there’s live music and lots of beautiful crafts. The market is one of the top places St. Pete residents bring their out-of-town guests. It’s a lovely display of why St. Petersburg is one of the very best places to call home. There are more than 200 vendors to visit and about 10,000 Burgers hit the market each Saturday.
7.) Amazing Restaurants & Bars
When it’s time for a night out, St. Pete has you covered. In fact, there’s so many places to try it’s no wonder people make such a big deal about “crossing the bridge”. There’s always something new opening up in St. Pete. Some of the world’s best chefs call St. Pete home and you’ll love trying their delicious dishes. Many of the restaurants and bars have outdoor patios that are pet friendly. (Click here for more on that) Whether you want a laid back beach bar or perhaps a little jazz for your evening out you can find it all in St. Petersburg. The best part is that all of the restaurants and bars enjoy one of the most lovely settings you can imagine. Warm gulf breezes and views of the bay will add unparalleled ambiance to your evening experience.
8.) Friendly Folks Live Here
That’s right… we’re nice. You’ll find plenty of people who grew up in this beautiful city but you’ll also find tons of people who come from somewhere else for many of the reasons you’ve read here. Kindness goes a long way to helping make you feel right at home and you’ll find it in aces in St. Pete. It’s hard not to be happy when you live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
9.) St. Pete is Passionate About the Arts
From Dale Chihuly to Salvador Dali the arts are alive and well in St. Petersburg. In fact, a new $70 million dollar Arts and Crafts Museum is currently under construction in downtown St. Petersburg. The Morean Arts Center offers educational opportunities, workshops, and classes for all ages who are interested in the arts. You’ll find murals on the sides of buildings, art festivals, and studios throughout the city dedicated to celebrating the arts. The people of St. Petersburg are extremely proud of the rich art history in St. Petersburg.
10.) Beaches Anyone?
Living in St. Pete has about 10,000,000 perks but our location on the Gulf of Mexico offers us golden sunrises over Tampa Bay and we’re only minutes away from some of America’s best beaches. Fort De Soto park offers patrons a truly remote beach experience. If you want to see more people take the trolley down Central Avenue to St. Pete Beach or head up to Clearwater Beach or Honeymoon Island. Really… we’re on vacation every day (when we don’t have to work of course). People pay thousands of dollars to visit our beautiful city every year – and we just step outside!
What’s your reason for living in St. Petersburg? We’d love to hear it. Leave a comment below.
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