St. Pete was originally developed as a retirement community, but with its warm and moderate climate, miles of beaches, and abundance of leisure activities, St. Pete is a paradise for the Young and the "Young at Heart". Being a Peninsula, St. Petersburg is surrounded by water (The Gulf of Mexico on the West Coast and Tampa Bay on the East Coast) which gives plenty of opportunity for boating, skiing, sailing, fishing, diving and more.

We have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, right here in our backyard. Fort DeSoto Park, home to the historic fort (open to the public), is a natural wildlife preserve. Its pristine beaches, teeming with sea life and birds- as well as indigenous trees and plant life, offer a day of discovery and relaxation in the sun for the entire family. The Bike Path stretches all the way to the end of North Beach in Fort DeSoto, so bring your bicycles and roller blades! Fort DeSoto often has Kayak rentals, so you can explore the intercoastal areas of the preserve. There is also a camping area for those who like to "rough it" in the wilderness.

St. Pete Beach is home to the nationally renowned Don CeSar Resort. This historic Pink hotel on the Gulf of Mexico has hosted presidents and movie stars, and been the backdrop for numerous motion pictures. Its luxurious accommodations delight visitors and locals alike. The Don CeSar features shopping, fine dining, a salon and spa. The Don CeSar has become a popular choice for wedding receptions and other gala events.

On the other side of town is the Renaissance Vinoy Hotel, located on Tampa Bay. This hotel was completely refurbished several years ago, and has become a showplace of architectural design and interior decorating.

Downtown St. Pete has quite a lot to offer, while still retaining its quaint small town charm. If you like visiting museums, you're in luck. Downtown St. Pete alone houses over 5 major museums, including: The Salvador Dali Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts, The Florida International Museum, The Florida Holocaust Museum, and Great Explorations Hands-on Children's Museum.

The St. Pete Pier features an Aquarium, shopping, casual dining, entertainment, The Columbia Cuban Restaurant, and Cha Cha Coconuts rooftop Bar and Club, not to mention breathtaking views.

Just a few blocks away is BayWalk, St. Pete's newest edition to the downtown area. BayWalk is a mall of shops and restaurants (including Too Jay's Kosher Deli, a 50's style Burger Joint and Malt Shop, and more). BayWalk also features nightclubs (Dan Marino's Town Tavern) and live entertainment, as well as Muvico 20 Movie Theaters, and a Starbucks coffee shop.

If you like Coffee, there are several coffee houses in downtown St. Pete. The Globe Coffee House is a casual "Friends" type hangout with couches and chairs, music, books and games- and they're open LATE for all you nightowl caffeine fiends.

There are a variety of Restaurants all in the downtown area, including The Garden Mediterranean Cuisine with outdoor terrace dining and live entertainment.

For a day in the park, visit Demen's Landing. Demen's landing is nestled in the downtown waterfront area between Bayfront Marina, the Pier, and Albert Whitted airport (for small private planes). Demen's Landing not only has great views of the Tampa Bay area, but has a playground for the kids and every year hosts The American Stage Company's "Shakespeare in the Park".

If you like Theater, American Stage's main stage theater is merely blocks away- as well as Bayfront Center's Mahaffey Theater where you can enjoy Broadway stage plays as well as symphonies performed by our very own Florida Orchestra.

Speaking of Music... St. Pete has concerts in various genres in a variety of locations, from the State Theater to Jannus Landing courtyard. There are often moderately priced and even free shows performed in the waterfront parks downtown. The parks also serve as the setting for Art Shows and other community functions or holiday events.

For all you Sports Fans.... St. Petersburg now has it's own professional sports team! The Tampa Bay Devil Rays home field is at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. We also have several other professional sports teams in the Tampa Bay area, including Superbowl Champions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Storm, and the Tampa Bay Lightning.