Let's take you there...

Warmth soaks into your sunburnt cheeks and travels all the way down through the bottom of your feet. The setting sun is still glowing strong and the sand between your toes carries the heat of the day. It shifts and parts beneath your weight as you make your way to the water. Gentle waves meet your toasted toes and the cool breeze of the ocean bounces off the waves to greet you. The ocean is glittering in the golden light. Couples are hugging around you. Friends are picnicking. Lovers are kissing in the sunset hues. The air is salty, your hair is tangled, your skin is glowing, and your soul is happy.

When I'm looking for a place to take a beach vacation the first thought I have is white sand followed shortly by turtles. I'd love to see a sea turtle, so visiting a place with clean beaches and sea-life sightings is a must. I didn't get to see my sea turtles but I did get to see plenty of ocean friends during my days at St. Pete. If beautiful sand, clean water, seashell hunting, delicious water-side restaurants, and hanging with ocean critters is your forte for a beach day- St. Pete is the perfect place for you.

Where to Stay

If you're ballin' on a budget like we were and care more about spending time at the beach than in your room- Postcard Inn On the Beach is an amazing place to rest at night. Don't get me wrong- it's a nice hotel, but it's surrounded by much more upscale and boujee options. The room was plenty big enough for 2 women with large suitcases. It was clean, cozy, and we had everything we needed without spending a fortune. The inn itself has a beach bar and beach service with the option to rent umbrellas (2 chairs a day + 2 towels are included with your stay!). It's also a prime location to walk to Dunkin, Larry's Ice Cream and Gelato, and multiple sea-view restaurants with delicious food.

Must-Have Bites

Larry's Ice Cream and Gelatos is an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor offering way more than just scoops. They've got cones decked out in chocolate and sprinkles, donuts, a gazillion (80) ice cream flavors, gelato, and sundaes. If you're feeling something a little more savory check out their burgers and hot dogs. This is a retro-style parlor that's adorable for content (if you'd like to take some) and all the employees were really sweet and patient with us while we decided what we wanted to try (everything looked too good). When you see the old-fashioned yellow car out front you'll know you're in the right place! Come prepared to stand or take your treat to the beach- there isn't a lot of seating.

The Toasted Monkey is a vibey brunch or lunch spot with a dish that will please every palette. I don't know if I've ever seen such a wide assortment of food on one menu. There's covered, indoor, and outdoor seating available. If you want to eat somewhere that feels like the beach this is your spot. It feels very Florida sitting along the bay eating under brightly painted ceilings while enjoying fresh air. All the food is made fresh in house, the drinks are cold, and there's daily live music for extra entertainment.

Crabby Bill's Seafood = fresh seafood with a gorgeous view. There's indoor climate controlled seating but we chose to have our meal on the second story balcony overlooking the ocean during sunset. There are daily specials to help you get more bang for your buck and the restaurant prides itself on "no-frill" seafood, meaning they focus on making it delicious instead of fancy. This is a family-owned business with a few locations that's been around for over 40 years so it's safe to say they know what they're doing when it comes to cooking good food.

Jimmy B's Beach Bar is what I'd recommend if you're close to it. It's more of a beach hangout than a restaurant but that's the point, it's right on the beach. You can walk up the peer straight out of the water with sand on your feet and be served cold drinks and beach bites. There's live music, space to dance, and ample outdoor seating. Their dishes feature locally grown produce and fresh seafood, which explains why my salad was so crispy and delicious. We didn't try any of the Headliners on the menu but they did look quite savory. You'll just have to try it for yourself!

Things to Do

Listen. I don't fabricate stories for views so this is going to be a short section. I didn't do a dang thang at the beach except lay in the sun, get beat up by the waves, collect seashells, take long walks, and watch dolphins swim by. My most rigorous activity was climbing the rocks out into the water to get a better view of the dolphins. I think water activities are great. At the Postcard Inn there's a launch spot for jet-skis and a banana boat. I watched parasailers float through the sky and kayakers paddle past. But I participated in zero of those things. I go to the beach to be a bum and that's exactly what I did for two and a half days.

That being said- this is the perfect place to relax. It's quite, it's clean, and it's beautiful. If you're staying at the Postcard you can order food and drinks right to your beach chair. Seagulls will try to steal your food (and rip your bags open to get your donuts, fyi) but that's pretty much all the action there is here. Dolphins did swim by very close to the shore and people- that was really neat. You can catch the sunset every night and even picnic on the shore- we did, and it was my favorite picnic experience ever.

Even at night the beach is peaceful. So book your trip and come be a bum at the best place to do it. Certain times of the year this place does turn into more of a party scene so be mindful and plan your trip accordingly.

Final Opinion

I'd love to spend more time in St. Pete. It's a prime location right on the shore with beautiful water, relaxing beaches, and sea-life that isn't afraid to get up close and say hello. Tampa and the airport are a very short drive away which is perfect for getting here and for those who want to enjoy some city-scenery while they're visiting. You really can't go wrong with a visit to this area on the coast.