The biggest challenge you’ll face in tapping into the city’s food scene is deciding where to start. Pete has rapidly emerged as one of Florida’s most exciting culinary hubs. With access to fresh-caught seafood, a climate in which just about every type of produce thrives, and a growing population of devoted farm-to-fork foodies, St. 7), and where you’ll a wealth of fun diversions, including nightly entertainment and a crafts market at Pier 60. Another gem in the area is Clearwater Beach, a stunning stretch of sand that TripAdvisor travelers voted the No. Wherever you set down your towel in this part of the world, you’re apt to encounter eye-popping views, powdery soft sand, and abundant wildlife sightings. Nearby Shell and Egmont keys are also stunning: both require a short boat ride to reach, making them a true island experience. LGBT folks maintain a notable presence at several of them, in particular Sunset Beach, a swath of sugary sand at the southern tip of Treasure Island that cultivates a lively scene (alcohol is permitted), especially on weekends-also a great time to book a cabana or picnic table on the sand at Caddy’s Waterfront, a rollicking bar and grill with colorful frozen drinks and great seafood-driven comfort fare.įamilies also gravitate toward the tip of laid-back Pass-A-Grille Beach and to 1,236-acre Fort De Soto Park, a breathtaking stretch of largely undeveloped keys at the very southern tip of Pinellas County.
You’ll discover 35 miles of beaches in “Sunshine City,” including some that are regularly ranked among the best in the country in various magazine and web reader polls, strung like jewels along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands.