Your Ultimate Barbiecore Vacation in St. Pete/Clearwater
Want to celebrate America's favorite beach babe? "Think pink" and follow our Barbiecore itinerary. You'll be living your Barbie dream from sunrise to sunset.
Barbie totally knows how to live it up while vacationing in St. Pete/Clearwater!
Put on your rose-colored glasses and head to St. Pete/Clearwater: Just in time for the Barbie movie release and the Barbie-mania that has ensued, we've gathered these fun ideas for a Florida vacation – in every shade of pink you can imagine.
"Get your sparkle on and show this world where you belong." ~Barbie
Stay Pink
The legendary Don CeSar (a.k.a. the Pink Palace) has been welcoming visitors for nearly a century.
Towering like a pink confection over the sparkling bayfront in St. Pete, the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is a beloved landmark.
The newly renovated Vinoy Resort & Golf Club offers plenty of places for lingering and catching up with friends.
Enjoy sunset from the terrace or the pool of Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach.
What could be more serene than relaxing in the pool with a gorgeous view of sunset?
If you could ask Barbie for her personal recs, she'd most certainly advise you to "stay pink." And, oh, what choices we have for you.
Because you can't stay at Barbie's Dreamhouse, there's the perfectly pink Don CeSar on award-winning St. Pete Beach. Known as "The Pink Palace," this luxury resort is the ultimate headquarters for your Barbie-themed adventure. Hang with your BFFs by the pool with a fruity drink in hand, indulge in a Bali Breeze mani-pedi at Spa Oceana or perfect your Malibu Barbie tan on one of America's best beaches.
Is your heart calling you to stay at gorgeous Clearwater Beach? Check into the seashell-pink Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach, and be sure to hit up the town with your girls at the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 celebration.
If downtown living is more your style, the historic Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is the pink place to be. This famously stylish hotel has graced the St. Pete waterfront since 1925. (Its historic charm and perfect pinkness led Conde Nast Traveler to name the Vinoy a top Barbicore stay recently.) It's a quick stroll to the St. Pete Pier where, in true Barbie fashion, you'll want to experience everything: Hop on a sightseeing cruise, go fishing, explore a natural science center, or find a waterfront restaurant.
Barbie knows that good things come in small packages. If you're looking for a quaint getaway, rent a cute pink cottage, like this Indian Shores AirbnB with private beach access.
Start Your Day at Sunrise
Greet sunrise at one of downtown St. Pete's waterfront parks.
Barbie doesn't waste a minute of her vacation and neither should you. Sunrise along St. Pete's downtown waterfront is magical (and totally worth losing a little beauty sleep for)! Start your day with some yoga or meditation, or just relax on a park bench and watch the sun come up over Tampa Bay. Top sunrise spots include North Shore Park, Flora Wylie Park and Vinoy Park.
Stroll in a Beautiful Garden
See plants from around the world at Sunken Gardens, a vintage attraction in St. Pete. Photo courtesy of Jessica Serna of mycurlyadventures.com
Sunken Gardens' new sign was designed to retain its vintage flair.
The beloved flamingos are a big draw at Sunken Gardens just north of downtown St. Pete.
Nature takes its bee-autiful course at Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.
When Barbie needs a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, she turns to nature. You'll be tickled pink to learn that St. Pete/Clearwater has two lovely botanical gardens you can visit. In St. Pete, 100-year-old Sunken Gardens is a wonderland of beautiful blooms and rare trees, as well as flamingos, macaws and parrots. There's also a pretty butterfly garden. In Largo, the 100-acre Florida Botanical Gardens has carefully curated themed gardens (bonus: admission is free).
Enjoy Eats & Treats
Hyppo Pops come in creative flavors such as strawberry basil and blueberry lavender lemonade.
At the Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, your breakfast might even be pink.
Doc Ford's, a popular dining option at the St. Pete Pier, serves up fresh-caught pink Gulf shrimp and other local seafood.
If you're a foodie like Barbie, St. Pete/Clearwater has plenty of options for you, whether you're looking for coffee and treats, lunch by the water or a special occasion dinner out.
See Stunning Art
The Chihuly Collection's fantastical glass art is a can't-miss experience.
Don't miss "Bending Arch," the aerial sculpture by Janet Echelman in the St. Pete Pier District.
Hundreds of murals decorate St. Pete, including "We Rise by Lifting Others" by Leo Gomez.
Wonderful works of glass art – like this piece found at Imagine Museum – are a key part of St. Pete's flourishing art scene.
From the ethereal "Bending Arc" sculpture at the St. Pete Pier to stunning art glass at The Chihuly Collection and the Imagine Museum, to the more than 600 vibrant murals throughout our community, this destination is full of color. Look closely – you might even spot Pantone 219, Barbie's signature pink.
Unwind at Cocktail Hour
Whether for cocktails, brunch, lunch or dinner, The Library restaurant is a popular spot.
Intimate restaurants and cocktail bars, such as the Sonder Social Club in Dunedin, are great for winding down your day.
Delicious doesn't have to mean fancy. You'll find fun, casual dining spots such as Mullet's Fish Camp throughout the area.
Stop in at an intimate wine bar, hang out at a funky beach bar with your toes in the sand or spend the golden hour at one of our rooftop bars and restaurants. Looking for craft cocktails? Check out popular spots such as Intermezzo, Mandarin Hide and The Saint.
Plan a Beach Picnic at Sunset
Create a DIY sunset celebration with your girls, or get some help from picnic pros like The Picnic Boys.
Grab your girls and DIY your own fabulous beach picnic (stop in at Mazzaro's or DeCosmo Italian Market to gather tasty supplies). Or, if you'd rather have someone else create the scene, companies like The Picnic Boys can help. Once you've got the details settled, it's time to relax and watch nature's show with all your friends.
Insta-Pink Moments
From hundreds of colorful murals to "Phoebe," the giant pink flamingo at Tampa International Airport, to the neon pink vintage signs at The Fairgrounds St. Pete, we've got some totally rad spots to rosy-up your Instagram feed.
Check out some of the cool public art at St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport. This "Be Bright" mural was created by Ashley Cantero.
It's only in bloom for a short time (usually late February through early March) but it is spectacular! Make a pilgrimage to the pink trumpet tree along Coffee Pot Boulevard in St. Pete for great photo ops.
Discover brilliantly colored, interactive art installations that play on an Old Florida theme.
Check out "Phoebe," the famous pink flamingo designed by Matthew Mazzotta at Tampa International Airport.
About Our Writer
Janet Kuliesh is a writer/editor who has covered travel in St. Pete/Clearwater for over 25 years. A St. Pete resident, she enjoys spending time at nature attractions such as lovely Sunken Gardens, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, and Fort De Soto Park.
