One of my favorite places in Florida apart from Orlando is St. Petersburg. In just under two hours you can be on one of the most beautiful beaches around, the sand is white and fine and the beaches seem to go on forever, a truly idyllic place to relax and soak up that wonderful Floridian sunshine.
As you drive into St. Petes (as it is commonly known by locals ) the first Hotel you will see is the Don Caesar, a huge hotel that is painted pink and well known, not just because it is painted pink but for it’s quality as a hotel and great restaurant.
Once past the famous Don Caesar you make a left turn and drive to a little place called Passe Grille, no it’s not another restaurant it is the name of the place.
There is a road that runs along the beach with parking meters , park up for a few hours and cross the little walkway bridges straight onto the beach. There is not much there at this part of St. Petes but miles of white sugar sand beach , blue calm sea, a brilliant place to spend a few hours watching the tiny fish in the crystal clear waters , an occasional Dolphin , wind surfers and the odd speed boat. The waters are safe here as there is not much surf and you can walk out quite a long way. Or just relax and sunbathe with only the sounds of the lapping sea and the gulls overhead.
The only things that are at Passe Grille is a little beachside café with the usual American fare of burgers fries, sandwiches etc, joining a shop that sells beach towels swimwear. Toilets and outside showers which are brilliant to wash off the sand before you travel back in the car.
Opposite the beachside café there is a small bar / restaurant that has an open-air roof terrace, if you are there until the evening it is a great place to watch the magnificent sunset over the ocean a sight that is truly breathtaking.
If you are not one for the quiet part of St. Petes, you need to head for the Pier, there is lots to do there including a boat ride out to see the Dolphins, and the Pier itself which houses no less than four different restaurants , several shops and is generally busier . The restaurants specialize in different menus, the seafood one comes highly recommended, I tried the mahi mahi with a tropical dressing and it was delicious.