St. Pete Clearwater Shopping Areas

Well, you've hit the beach and cruised the waters, and now it's time for a little retail therapy.

Note: Article links refer to map points.

Where to go? Follow our expert picks for traditional and off-the-beaten-track adventures in shopping.

Downtown St. Petersburg
Shopping is scenic as well as fun just steps from the dynamic bayfront. Think of diamonds and pearls as you stroll along Beach Drive, which has one of the oldest jewelry stores in the area – and a couple of new ones. St. Petersburg's famous The Pier is more than just a photo op, it's also home to more than a dozen stores.

Moving inland, you won’t see any major department stores, but a diverse array of locally owned boutiques and specialty shops where you can buy everything from a beaded Vera Wang gown to a book on metaphysics. Meander up Central and First Avenues and discover vintage vinyl, hand-made soaps, exotic home furnishings and designer consignment shops. The historic Crislip Arcade, a renovated 1926 shopping arcade located on the 600 block of Central Avenue, is an open-air, covered hallway with a string of small retails shops on either side -- which was the style of the day. Now housing eight galleries, the arcade features Cuban floor tiles, tall ceilings decked with iron chandeliers, a huge iron gate among other architectural elements.

• The Grand Central District – Spend an afternoon perusing antiques, funky specialty shops and art galleries in this stretch of storefronts along Central Avenue just west of downtown St. Petersburg.

• Gulfport – Shop owners here tend to have a bohemian spirit. Art from recycled glass, hand-made goat’s milk soap, elaborate painted kites – that’s what you’ll see for sale in this colorful waterfront district.

• Historic Corey Avenue – There’s a retro vibe to St. Pete Beach’s main street, which has an eclectic assortment of independent stores offering everything from beads to Christmas ornaments to top-notch cigars and custom jewelry.

• John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk – This may be the only shopping village where you can spot a dolphin as you stroll from shop to shop. The large shopping village overlooks historic John's Pass, a narrow, natural channel to the Gulf. You’ll discover many treasures here have a nautical theme, but you can also buy everything from a new bikini to a collectible concert poster to an airbrushed T-shirt or specialty salts.

• Clearwater's Cleveland Street District – Spend an afternoon strolling along Cleveland Street and the surrounding avenues in downtown Clearwater where you'll find everything from home furnishings to sports gear to a new wardrobe. A robust newsstand and a wide range of locally owned specialty shops await your perusal.

• Dunedin – This quaint town of Scottish heritage is filled with independent retailers, many with an artist’s temperament. Shop for prints, antiques, old-fashioned toys, art and trendy fashions in what’s been tagged the “best little walking town in America,” by Walking magazine.

• Safety Harbor – Because Safety Harbor is a small residential town, it may not have as many shops as the major malls, but what it lacks in number it makes up for in ambiance. The relaxing vibe of the heralded springs that gave rise to its famous Safety Harbor Resort and Spa flavors the old-fashioned Main Street, comprised of antiques stores, an impressive art gallery, day spas and a new retail block – complete with Starbucks.

• Tarpon Springs – There are many types of retailers along the historic sponge docks, but the top treasures come from the sea – natural sponges. Small, locally-owned shops around the docks sell sponges in all sizes, as well as shells, sand dollars and treasures from the sea. In the historic downtown area, find a winery and enough antiques stores to keep you entertained for hours.

• Major shopping malls – Familiar department stores such as Macy’s and Dillard’s and more than 170 specialty stores make up Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg. You’ll find those and a place to cool your heels at Clearwater’s Westfield Countryside Mall, which has an ice rink. For high-end stores such as Tiffany and Nordstrom’s, go to International Plaza and Bay Street in Tampa, a half-hour drive from St. Petersburg.