Visit St. Petersburg, Fla., one of three ways: on a budget, spending a bit more, or when the getaway calls for a splurge.
Trip tips: Parents magazine has named St. Pete Beach one of America's Top 10 Best Beach Towns for 2013. This Gulf of Mexico barrier island also takes the No. 1 spot on TripAdvisor.com's Traveler's Choice Awards. Nearby Fort De Soto Park, the 1,100-acre Pinellas County park, is ranked as No. 4 Best Beach in the U.S. and No. 20 Best Beach in the World.
Getting there: Atlanta to St. Pete is 475 miles, or about a seven-hour drive. Frequent one-way sale rates to Tampa from $118-$148; nonstop, AirTran or Delta.
BUDGET
Stay: Shoreline Island Resort is for guests of age 21 and older. Rates from $89 for garden-view rooms; $109-$119 for a Gulf front studio. One- and two-bedroom Gulf front apartments from $139-$159. Rates include complimentary Wi-Fi and continental breakfast. Located in the island town of Madeira Beach with continuous sidewalks to restaurants, churches and shops. 14200 Gulf Blvd. 727-397-6641, www.shorelineislandresort.com.
Eat: Jimmy B's Beach Bar & Grille (visitor-rated No. 2 Florida Beach Bar 2013) is the place for live entertainment day and night, beach volleyball, and free Sunset Shooters at sundown to celebrate another day in paradise. Appetizers, salads, wraps, sandwiches to fresh fish platters from $7-$14. 6200 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 727-367-1902, www.beachcomberflorida.com.
Experience: Hop on the Suncoast Beach Trolley to explore unique beach communities from Pier 60 (free sunset celebration with street performers, artists and musicians) in Clearwater Beach (chosen by readers to be USA Today's 2013 "Best Beach Town in Florida") to Pass-a-Grille. The trolley runs every 20-30 minutes, 5 a.m.-10 p.m. (to midnight Friday, Saturday). An Unlimited Daily GO Card is $4.50 (available on board; exact fare required; www.psta.net/beachtrolley.php). Stops include the Clearwater Marine Aquarium ($19.95, www.seewinter.com); John's Pass Village and Boardwalk, a quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village (www.johnspass.com); the Loews Don CeSar Hotel, an opulent pink palatial resort opened in 1928, and the beach town of Pass-a-Grille, a National Historic District and a spot to book dolphin watching cruises (www.visitpassagrille.com). Connector routes also run between the coast and downtown St. Petersburg.
MODERATE
Stay: Walk to St. Pete Beach, shops, restaurants and cultural centers from Pasa Tiempo situated along Boca Ciega Bay. This gated oasis offers Tropical Courtyard Suites from $170; waterfront rooms from $200-$250. Each suite features a living room, kitchen and dining area. Through Sept. 1, arrive Sunday-Thursday for the "Twice as Nice" promo, which gets you two nights for the price of one. 7141 Bay St. 727-367-9907, www.pasa-tiempo.com.
Eat: Family-owned and -operated Gratzzi Italian Grille in downtown St. Pete offers fine dining with a bistro-style atmosphere. Pasta and sauces are freshly homemade daily. Antipasti $6-$12 with chef's selection and other entrees $12-$31. 211 Second St. 727-623-9037, www.gratzzigrille.com.
Experience: Visit the world's most comprehensive collection of works by the late Spanish surrealist at the Dali Museum. The building is made up of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass resembling free-form glass bubbles and stands 75 feet at its tallest point; $21. 1 Dali Blvd. 727-823-3767, www.thedali.org. For a day out, head north to Tarpon Springs, home to a Greek sponge diving fleet (based on 2,500-year-old design) and cafes and restaurants serving up Greek specialties (try Dimitri's on the Water). Take a guided Island Adventure Cruise ($20) down the Anclote River and across Tarpon Bayou while learning about Florida's delicate estuaries and unique coastal architecture. Watch for dolphins and manatees. The cruise includes a stop for a swim at Anclote Key, an undeveloped nature paradise. 776 Dodecanese Blvd. 727-944-4468, www.sunlinecruises.net. The Jolley Trolley's Coastal Route runs Friday-Sunday between Clearwater Beach, downtown Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs; $4.50 for an unlimited day pass. www.clearwaterjolleytrolley.com.
SPLURGE
Stay: Opened in 1925, the downtown waterfront Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club features an 18-hole golf course exclusively for resort guests and club members, a 12-court tennis complex, five restaurants, fitness center, recently renovated guest rooms and a shuttle to St. Pete Beach. Rates from $229. 501 Fifth Ave. 727-894-1000, www.marriott.com.
Eat: The casually chic Maritana Grille is the signature restaurant of the Loews Don CeSar Hotel. Patrons are surrounded by 1,500 gallons of saltwater aquariums filled with colorful, native Florida fish. Dine on the freshest local seafood prepared with locally sourced ingredients. This establishment was voted one of the Top 10 seafood restaurants in the states (Gayot Guide), and has received AAA's 4-Diamond Rating for the past 15 years. A six-course chef's tasting menu is $85 or $120 with wine pairing. A la carte entrees $26-$44. 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 727-360-1882, www.loewshotels.com/en/restaurants/the-maritana-grille.
Experience: Get away from it all aboard a four-hour snorkeling cruise out to historic Egmont Key. Located at the mouth of Tampa Bay and southwest of Fort De Soto Park, this state park is primarily a wildlife refuge and lures with secluded, pristine beaches and a dense forest in the interior for quiet walks. Explore the remains of Fort Dade, built in 1898; $50 includes snorkel gear. 5500 Gulf Blvd. 727-423-4247, www.adventurecruise.net.
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