We All Deserve a Beach Vacation!
St. Pete Beach has been our favorite beach destination and this is why.
*NOTE: This was written prior to the hurricanes that passed through Florida recently. However, our view point remains the same.
The Destination: It’s not just about the journey, right?
St Pete Beach was the first trip my wife and I took together. My wife had been coming here since she was a kid. We just graduated from college and her Grandma let us go to her condo for a week. I think she was using it as a test, if this young man loves St Pete Beach as much as we do, then he is a keeper! White sandy beaches, fresh seafood and warm weather. It didn’t take a lot of convincing for me. Fifteen years later, three kiddos and we still love the beach as much as ever.
The Crew: Who Made the Cut (and Who Got Left Behind)?
St Pete Beach is perfect for everyone – we came when we were the young college grads, in-love newlyweds, as young adults with couple friends, with newborns, toddlers, you name it. Oh and my wife’s 92 year old grandma still makes the trip, so invite anyone!
The Quest: How many “Are we there yet?’s” does it take to actually get there?
Non-stop airfare into Tampa (TPA) is easy to find and only a 30 mins uber/lyft ride. You could certainly fly into St. Petersburg (PIE) which is 13 miles away, Sarasota/Bradenton (SQR) which is 26 miles away, or Orlando (MCO) which is 100 miles away. We rarely rent a car when we come to St. Pete Beach because there are super convenient ways to get around and everything we like doing is fairly close. Our favorite is the Freebee Shuttle | St. Pete Beach, FL (stpetebeach.org). Think of it as your personalized, electric, golf cart taxi. It seats 5 plus the driver so it is perfect for our family. When we had an infant car seat, we strapped that right in. Your freebee driver can sometimes provide a booster seat if you don’t want to lug yours around. You simply download the freebee app and order just like you would an uber or Lyft. Best part – just like the name promotes – it is FREE. Bring cash to tip your driver, or get their Venmo, they certainly appreciate it.
Freebee Shuttle Cart
The Trolley is another great option. Kiddos five and younger travel free, otherwise it is $2.25 for a single fare. You can purchase unlimited fairs for 3, 5, 7 or 31 days which might come in handy if you plan to use it a lot. The Trolley travels all down the coast so we’ve taken it on longer adventures, including down to the pier. Plan ahead as you will need to make 1 bus transfer if you plan on going from Gulf Blvd to the Pier/downtown St. Petersburg. Ride the Beach Trolley | Visit St Petersburg Clearwater Florida (visitstpeteclearwater.com)
The Budget – Did this trip break the bank or was it a killer sale?
We are fortunate to use a family condo in St. Pete Beach at a discounted rate, so mix that with cheaper flights to Tampa and we have a very reasonable price tag on our vacation. Overall, Tampa can be very reasonable to fly into depending on when you go. However, even if we did budget and spend more money to stay somewhere else, the fun and memories would still be the same. Part of our motto has always been that we do not regret spending money when on vacation, within reason of course.
GG405 Bay View 2BR 2BA | St Pete Beach, FL | Gulf Gate Resort (gulfgateresortfl.com)
The Cuisine – on a scale from ‘Happy Meal’ to ‘Gourmet Feast,’ how did the local grub stack up?
There are two breakfast stops that are an absolute must:
· Paradise Grill: Start your morning off right with a walk down the beach and you will find Paradise Grille on both ends of St Pete Beach. Our freebee driver recommended the blackened ship omelet which was great but the girls devoured the blueberry pancakes and crispy waffles. HOME | Paradise Grille
· Café Soleil: Alright, it doesn’t get any more legit than the pastries from Cafe Soleil (cafesoleilbakery.com) like straight out of France, good! Get more than one, you will thank me later. It’s quick to stop in and right back to the beach
As long as the weather is good, we stay at the ocean and pool all day long and have lunch outside. The convenience of a condo with a kitchen is that you can quickly run up and make sandwiches.
· Bongos: If we catch ourselves going for a mid-day stroll, we pop by Bongos for some quick eats – and bonus, the kids don’t have to stop playing in the sand. Bongos Beach Bar & Grille - St Pete Beach FL Oceanfront Bar & Restaurant
Onto dinner because we are all starving after jumping back and forth between the pool and beach.
· The Wharf: It’s our tradition to always swing into the Wharf on our first night of vacation. The laid-back atmosphere, right on the water, puts everyone into vacation mode. And you can’t beat the price of peel and eat shrimp – always a must The Wharf Restaurant & Sports Bar - Pass-A-Grille, St. Pete Beach, FL (wharfpag.com)
· Buoys: Our oldest daughters discovered the crème Brule French toast so Buoys is her pick for dinner. As long as we get there before 5, we are in the clear (brunch is served 11-5) Buoys Waterfront St Pete Beach scratch kitchen- boat docks Buoy's Waterfront Bar & Grill - St Pete Beach (buoyswaterfrontbar.com)
· 1200 Chophouse & Spinners: If you are looking for a great, but spendy dinner, don’t skip https://www.1200chophouse.com/ and Spinners Rooftop Grille™ | Dine Beachfront at The Bellwether in St. Pete, FL
· Level 11: Last, but not least, the all-time best spot for a drink and sunset is Level 11 Rooftop Bar & Lounge - Dine Beachfront at The Bellwether - Best Rooftop Bar St. Pete Beach (bellwetherbeachresort.com)
The Hiccups – What were the mishaps/misfortunes or plot twists? Because, not everything can be rainbows and butterflies, right?
Sunburn – If you find yourself forgetting to reapply sunscreen and you’re at the beach all day, you might feel a little crispy at night. The best thing we’ve come across is apple cider vinegar. Smells horrible but takes the heat and sting away quicker than anything we have tried.
The Ah-ha moment – With all the stress and planning that goes along with a trip, what was the core memory that made it all worth it?
Traveling with our youngest for some 1:1 time. This trip, I flew out with our youngest on Friday since the older two girls had a few weekend activities to finish up. Then they met us on Sunday night. The few days I had with just my youngest daughter will be days I cherish for years to come. Focusing all my attention on her was refreshing. She didn’t have to fight over who got the shovel to build the sandcastle or yell over other voices just to get my attention. We did what she wanted to and had great dinner conversations.
When my older two daughters came, they decided to go parasailing. Since my youngest was too short to go, my wife went with them. This gave me the opportunity to watch them from shore. It was incredible to see them high up in the air! Also, for a discounted rate, book your excursion before 11am.
The Dad Hacks – What it all boils down to?
1) Spend the money to stay on the beach, and get a place with a kitchen. You don’t want to truck all that stuff back and forth.
2) Beach musts: for all ages, a sunshade. For toddlers, bring along (or amazon prime) a blow up pool. Fill this with a little bit of ocean water and toys and your toddler will be entertained without getting a mouth full of salt water, or eating sand.
No need to rent a car. The beach has plenty of ways to get around and so much is within walking distance. Even though the airport is about 30 min away, a rideshare ride there and back is still way cheaper than renting a car.
