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St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach

St. Petersburg Basics

Communities

   While the Pier has become the quintessential icon of St. Petersburg, with its inverted glass pyramid serving as a favorite postcard image, the city encompasses many more assets and diverse sectors. Derby Lane greyhound racetrack sits at the opposite end of town and was featured in the 2001 film "Ocean's Eleven." Albert Whitted Municipal Airport was one of the country's first commercial airports, and plans are in motion to renovate and expand it into a waterfront airpark. The central location of the airport ensures busy executives and day trippers quick access to corporate jets and smaller personal aircraft. These attractions combined with the high quality of life in the Tampa Bay area are drawing new residents at a rate of nearly 33,000 per year.
   St. Petersburg is comprised of nearly 70 neighborhoods, each with its own style and charm. Perhaps the best known of these is historic Old Northeast, with its Colonial Williamsburg and Mediterranean-style homes along oak-lined brick streets. The area does, indeed, characterize a juxtaposition between Northern and Southern flavors, from the pelicans perched on chimneys jutting out from steeply pitched roofs to the maple trees shading backyard swimming pools. This stately neighborhood is bordered by private docks along the bay on Coffee Pot Boulevard, and to the east by expansive North Shore Park. It's a mere bicycle ride into downtown, and is adjacent to upscale Snell Isle, a narrow strip of land connected to rest of St. Petersburg by bridges.
   Snell Isle is nicely self-contained, featuring an excellent market and shopping center; a recently restored Women's Club; the golf course and clubhouse of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort; and two private schools and their churches. The Snell Isle Bridge leads to the waterfront mansions along Brightwaters Boulevard and the lushly landscaped homes along Snell Isle Boulevard itself. The neighborhood is famous for the lion and panther statuary marking street names as well as the elaborate Christmas light displays held every winter.
   Downtown itself is the prime location for the social butterfly, as there's always something going on. Those wishing to live in the center of the action can select between apartments over shopfronts or the luxurious town homes in one of several newly constructed high-rise towers. These towers offer a spectacular view of the Bay, and many lease office space as well. Downtown is an eclectic mix of new construction and charming remnants of 1920s architecture, much of it restored. Several “courtyard developments" have also recently been built and consist of a collection of two-story townhouses houses facing one another across a pedestrian street.
   Roser Park, the city's first historic district, features lovely Booker Creek and the same Augusta brick streets and hex-block sidewalks that are found in Old Northeast. Home to the old Studebaker factory, a Ronald McDonald House and the original homes of many of the area's early settlers, Roser Park is as awash in history as it is in beautiful, varied architecture and a lush mix of indigenous and northern foliage. Many of the homes have been set into gracefully sloping hills, and the architecture ranges from Mediterranean to Colonial to bungalow.
   Kenwood, another historical neighborhood, is marked by its enterprising spirit and active neighborhood association, which sponsors block parties and works to both beautify the area and lessen crime. Many of the area's attractive 1920s Craftsman bungalows were in desperate need of repair until a few years ago, when younger couples began moving into the area and renovating. Most came to love the friendly neighbors and central location so much that they didn't sell as they'd originally intended, and now the area is among the hottest real estate markets in the city, which is outstanding considering that it's not located on the water. Many two-bedroom homes begin well below $100,000, and there are still a number of original condition homes waiting for energetic investors to return them to their former charm.
   Tanglewood, Shore Acres and Venetian Isles share winding Bayou Grande Boulevard and waterfront properties as their common thread.  When first developed, the area consisted mainly of single-story block homes on expansive lots.  During the 1980s, many homes were upgraded or entirely demolished and rebuilt, many in the Key West stilt-style, and lots were subdivided to fill the increasing demand for waterfront property.  Natural offshore islands and sandbars protect most of the waterfront in these areas, and Venetian Isles is an entirely man-made island featuring deep-water canals.
   Two landlocked yet elegant neighborhoods include Allendale Terrace and Crescent Lake, both of which feature outstanding public parks.  Allendale Terrace is located on the highest bit of land in Pinellas County, making it the envy of all during hurricane season. The brick streets and stately old-growth oaks frame expansive stone and Tudor manses. Though the neighborhood itself is very quiet, it's located near the busy Fourth Street business district and its many groceries, banks and shops.
   Crescent Lake prides itself in what is possibly the finest inland park in Pinellas, Crescent Lake Park. The 56-acre park encircles a glittering cat-tail bordered lake and features a large playground, expansive grass area for picnicking and games, an enclosed dog park complete with fire hydrant, and a stand of massive banyan trees. Homes in Crescent Lake run the gamut from traditional to Art Deco and minimalist, and many have garage lost apartments owners can rent for added income or reserve as guest houses.
   While this is but a sampling of the neighborhoods within St. Petersburg, visitors and those relocating are certain to find the one area out of nearly 70 that suits their personality and goals the best. The entire city is undergoing a major renovation trend, and each community is working to ensure that it meets the standard of the whole. Trees have been planted and streets repaired citywide, and there are many plans currently in committee to continue these improvements.

Real Estate

   With 234 miles of waterfront property in St. Petersburg alone, the area offers spectacular opportunities for living out your seaside dream. In 2003, the average cost of a home in St. Petersburg was between $90,000 and $110,000, and with the national average currently hovering above $250,000 in large metropolitan areas, real estate in the bay area is a steal.  Waterfront homes with “deep water” or sailboat access are currently valued between $170,000 to $1.5 million, with many homes in the $225,000 to $250,000 price range.
   St. Pete Beach offers another 26 miles of waterfront plus 4.5 miles of public beachfront. Because the city spans only 2.2 square miles and a high percentage of the homes are on the water, the average home cost is a bit higher.

Sports and Recreation

   Tampa Bay is a sports enthusiast's dream, whether they prefer watching or participating. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the 2004 Stanley Cup champions; the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII; and the Storm are a formidable arena football team. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have taken up residence in the renovated Tropicana Field, and the New York Yankees spend their winters warming up in Tampa. St. Petersburg has recently joined the auto racing circuit and is now home of the St. Pete Grand Prix.
   Active individuals must first decide between water and land sports. Those preferring a sea spray on a warm day will enjoy canoeing, kayaking, swimming, jet skiing and sailing. Sport fishing in the Bay Area is a lively activity, as schools of sailfish, tarpon, snook, wahoo, kingfish and barracuda swarm through the waters seasonally. Popular destinations for the boating set, Shell Island and Egmont Key State Park are the perfect places to have a picnic or a glass of wine as the sun sets into the bay.
   There's plenty of marina space for your boat if you don't live on the water, and deep-sea fishing boats and private charters are available for hire. Ladies will enjoy lunch or dinner cruises at a relaxing pace, gamers the casino boats, adventurers the scuba diving charters. Yearly regattas test the seamanship of those aboard all manner of sailboats; tag along if you can for a breathtaking jaunt to the Florida Keys or the Tortugas.  The St. Petersburg waterfront is a frequent stop on the offshore power boating circuit and affords a thunderous weekend of entertainment.  Whatever your ideal escape, the appropriate vessel is sure to be afloat somewhere in the bay.
   Beaches include resort haven St. Petersburg Beach, quaint Pass-a-Grille and Gulfport, natural Fort DeSoto, and beautiful Clearwater Beach.  Stretch out on the miles of white sand and watch the dolphins, or wade in the gentle surf and glean for sand dollars. Send some shells to relatives and friends up north to brighten their day; if you don't find the perfect conch shell on the sand, the beach shops are sure to please. All beaches are public, and ample parking is available.
   Outdoorsmen can select from 102 city parks on 2,400 acres for their football, baseball or Frisbee game. The seven-mile waterfront downtown is perfect for jogging, as is the 34-mile Pinellas Trail, also popular with bicyclists and skaters. Many parks feature public tennis, racquetball, handball and basketball courts, and most have jungle gyms. Eight public pools help cool you down after a day at a municipal golf course, one of which is among the top 50 in the United States.
   Visitors to Boyd Hill nature preserve can wander raised boardwalks through a tangle of trees, exploring alligator-infested swampland from a safe vantage. Weedon Island and Sawgrass Lake present natural Florida mangrove estuaries and are popular with naturalists and biologists.  Several notable city parks include Crescent Lake, surrounded by magnificent banyan trees, and Vinoy and Straub Parks along the downtown coastline. Annual festivals such as Taste of Pinellas, Mainsail Art Festival and the Cajun & Zydeco Crawfish Festival are held in these parks, as are outdoor concerts. Demens Landing hosts an annual run of American Stage's Shakespeare in the Park; bring a blanket and some wine, and prepare for an evening of enchantment by the works of the bard. Six leash-free dog-friendly fenced areas enliven selected parks across Pinellas County, including one at Fort DeSoto for seashore canine adventures.

Arts

   St. Petersburg plays host to a number of award winning museums, first among them the Salvador Dali Museum, which displays the world's largest collection of the surrealist artist's works. The Museum of Fine Arts features oil paintings from Monet, Morisot and Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as Roman sculpture and other antiquities. The museum itself is a beautiful neoclassical edifice on Beach Drive, adjacent to the Pier and the historical Vinoy Resort. The Museum of Natural History features aviation relics and a preserved mummy, and the Florida Holocaust Museum catalogues the travails of the Jewish people during World War II. The Florida International Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and hosts exhibitions ranging from JFK to the Titanic to Russian treasures. Children will love the Great Explorations Hands-On Museum, which offers interactive exhibits and overnight camps. The Ringling Museum in Sarasota is definitely worth a trip across the famous Sunshine Skyway Bridge, as the massive building houses an expansive collection of classical paintings, including several by Rubens. A walk through a resplendent rose garden brings guests to the fantastic Mediterranean-style Ca D’Zan, the Ringling winter home which, before extensive restoration, served as the set for the 1998 film version of "Great Expectations."
   Theatergoers can choose among the Palladium, American Stage, the Mahaffey Theatre for the Performing Arts, and various high school and college productions.
   Smaller live music venues include the vine-strewn courtyard of Jannus Landing downtown, the Coliseum and the State Theatre. Larger tours stop at the St. Petersburg Times Arena, Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, or the Ford Amphitheater or USF Sun Dome in Tampa.
   Cultural opportunities expand even further when one ventures across the bay to Tampa. There you'll find the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, and the historical and architecturally intricate Tampa Theater, which hosts stage productions and shows art-house and classic films. The Tampa Museum of Art, the Henry B. Plant Museum and the Museum of African American Art all boast engaging collections well worth the quick trip.

Dining and Entertainment

   There's no better way to appreciate living seaside after the sun goes down than by dining on St. Petersburg’s local cuisine. Native seafood includes grouper, mullet, red snapper, gulf shrimp and stone crab, and the Key lobster are nearly as good as their northern brethren. Citrus abounds, as do strawberries and watermelons in season. Laid-back Floridian cuisine predominates, but there are plenty of more exotic eateries in case you're in the mood for Thai noodles or Cuban sandwiches.
   If you don't mind relying on the breeze to keep you cool, there are plenty of excellent waterfront restaurants where you can sip umbrella drinks and dine on scallops. The Hurricane on Pass-a-Grille Beach is a three-story affair that serves exceptional grouper dishes and has an open-air nightclub and tiki bar on its top level. Be sure not to miss the sunset from the balcony. Gators Café serves up casual dishes and University of Florida pride on Treasure Island. The high-class Don CeSar resort is the highlight of St. Pete Beach, and St. Petersburg itself has the equally resplendent Vinoy resort. The British colonial tavern Moon Under Water isn't on the water, but it's close, and a branch of the famous Tampa restaurant the Columbia overlooks all of downtown St. Petersburg and its port from atop the Pier.
   Nightlife in the area is as exciting or as laid-back as your mood dictates. On the Beach, stop at the Undertow, the tiki bar with a stream running through the top of the counter, or grab a seat at Coconuts Comedy Club and get ready to giggle. Downtown, you can dance and mingle at Baywalk, join the locals at Mastry’s on Central Avenue, or sip cocktails and listen to the jazz quartet at The Garden’s courtyard. Night cruises offer another escape from the ordinary and depart from the Pier.
   Shopping in St. Petersburg is a diverse experience, especially for those browsing along the downtown end of Central Avenue. Antiques shops are sandwiched between jewelers and tattoo parlors, art galleries between fine furnishing studios and coffee shops. Galleries including the P. Buckley Moss Gallery, the Glass Canvas, The Arts Center, the Florida Craftsmen Gallery and others provide an abundance of choices for the art-lover. ArtSpace, an artists' cooperative of studios on Central Avenue, and most other galleries participate in the “Second Saturday Gallery Walks,” allowing patrons to browse, purchase and perhaps commission an individual piece while sipping complimentary wine. Baywalk, a two-story shopping and dining plaza erected on Second Avenue North, promotes a leisurely pace and self-indulgence. Several local auction houses provide a lively evening of estate and antique bidding.
   International Plaza, a recently built mall in Tampa, is home to Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton and many other upscale shops. Hyde Park is another fine shopping destination in Tampa, as is Cuban-influenced and artsy Ybor City.
   Tampa’s primary attraction is Busch Gardens theme park and its heart-stopping roller coasters, water rides, exotic animal exhibits and stage shows. Next door, Adventure Island provides hours of water park excitement, even for those who prefer to relax in the slow current of the moat that encircles the action. The highlight of Lowry Park Zoo is a spectacular aquarium exhibit of the manatees that have graduated its ongoing rehabilitation program. You'll also find the usual suspects, and the zoo just unveiled a new six-acre “Safari Africa” sector. For those with an interest in botany, St. Petersburg has Sunken Gardens and Sarasota has the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, both of which abound with lush greenery and informative guides.
   Educational attractions include the Bishop Planetarium in Sarasota, several marine mammal and bird sanctuaries, and the impressive Florida Aquarium. Children and adults alike enjoy the hands-on explanations and demonstrations at The Museum of Science & Industry, including the “hurricane wind” room and high-wire bicycles. Florida’s only domed IMAX theater plays beautifully filmed and written educational films at the museum.

Education

   Local public schools are all part of a single countywide district, Pinellas County Schools, and participate in Choice, a student assignment program that allows parents to select the nearest school best suited to their child's learning and artistic abilities. More than 90 private schools offer college prep, arts-intensive and curricula with military or religious objectives.
   Degree-seeking students in St. Petersburg can choose among the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Eckerd College, Stetson University College of Law, the Poynter Institute for Media Studies and St. Petersburg College. The Poynter Institute, which is affiliated with the highly lauded St. Petersburg Times newspaper, is a world-renowned center for journalistic training and ethics. Acclaimed marine science schools include the Florida Institute of Oceanography at USF; the U.S. Geological Survey's Center for Coastal Geology; and the Florida Marine Research Institute, part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Across the bay is the University of Tampa, USF Tampa, the International Academy of Art & Design, and Hillsborough Community College.

Employment

   Tampa Bay is among the fastest-growing job markets in the technology sector, and Newsweek magazine named it the “No. 10 market for projected job growth” overall. More than 20 corporations have relocated to St. Petersburg’s downtown in the past eight years, bringing nearly 10,000 new jobs. The job growth rate for Tampa Bay is 4.8 percent, compared with the average of just 2.2 percent countrywide.

Maps of St. Petersburg

Written by Kelly Culbertson exclusively for CoastParadise.com.

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