Day Trips from St. Petersburg

This state park sits on an island you can only reach by boat, at the mouth of Tampa Bay. You'll find old Fort Dade ruins being reclaimed by the jungle, a historic lighthouse you can sometimes tour, and beaches that are much quieter than those on the mainland. The boat ride itself is part of the appeal, offering views of the Sunshine Skyway and a good chance to spot dolphins. It feels remote for being so close to St. Petersburg.

One of Florida's oldest and largest state parks, Myakka has a raw look at the prairie and wetland landscape that once covered this part of the state. The river is the centerpiece, and you can explore it by rented canoe, join a guided airboat tour on the large lake, or hike trails where you might see everything from wild hogs to roseate spoonbills. The canopy walkway, a suspended bridge through the treetops, is impressive.

This pocket of Greek culture north of St. Petersburg grew up around the sponge diving industry. The historic docks area still feels like a working waterfront, with sponge boats coming and going, but it's also lined with bakeries selling baklava and restaurants serving octopus and fried calamari. A boat tour out to see a sponge diving demonstration is the main event. But just wandering and eating is a good way to spend the day.

While technically part of Pinellas County, this massive park at the southern tip of the county feels a world away from downtown St. Petersburg. It's a collection of five interconnected islands with miles of beach, a historic fort, and great kayak launches. The North Beach area is often listed among the best in the country, with calm, shallow water. It's the kind of place where you can easily fill a day with biking, swimming, and exploring the old artillery batteries.

A day in Sarasota has a mix of high culture and outstanding beaches. The Ringling Museum complex, the former estate of the circus magnate, is a full-day attraction on its own with an art museum, a circus museum, and beautiful gardens. Afterwards, you can head to Siesta Key, known for its quartz-sand beach that stays cool underfoot. The downtown area along Main Street has a different, more polished vibe than St. Petersburg's.

This classic, quirky Florida roadside attraction is now a state park. The main draw is the live mermaid show performed in a natural spring, where performers swim in an underwater theater. You can also take a riverboat cruise on the crystal-clear Weeki Wachee River or rent a kayak and paddle downstream, spotting manatees in the cooler months. It's gloriously old-school and fun in a way that feels specific to this part of the world.

This barrier island has a slower, more low-key beach day compared to some of the busier Gulf Coast spots. The towns of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach each have their own character, with piers, small local shops, and a strict absence of high-rises. You can rent a golf cart to get around, eat fresh grouper sandwiches at a pier-side restaurant, and find a quiet spot of sand that feels all your own.