Best Places to Shop

The first stop in a shopping adventure downtown should be the St. Pete Pier District. The Pier’s gateway houses The Marketplace - an array of independent vendors selling unique items in kiosks. Then, meander up Central and First Avenues and discover hand-made soaps, exotic home furnishings and designer consignment shops. Find your way to the historic Crislip Arcade, a renovated 1926 shopping arcade located on the 600 block of Central Avenue, which is an open-air, covered hallway with a string of small retails shops on either side. Now housing several art galleries, the arcade features Cuban floor tiles, tall ceilings decked with iron chandeliers and a huge iron gate among other architectural elements. ZaZoo'd is the place to go for one-of-a-kind home décor, accessories and gifts.

St. Pete Beach has been named the No. 1 Beach in America by TripAdvisor several times, but you'll sense a retro vibe, here, too. Tour the eclectic assortment of independent stores, which offer everything from jewelry to home decor, and other local finds such as Freaky Tiki Surf Shack (with two additional locations in Clearwater), which creates unique, fun and environmentally friendly surf wear.

South of St. Pete Beach is Pass-A-Grille. Here, 8th Avenue is an excellent option to pick up some sweet treats and artful keepsakes at stores such as Paradise Sweets and A Little Room for Art. Check out the Paradise Grille or the Hurricane's rooftop bar for a post-shopping meal or cocktail.

Gulfport is a small town just southwest of St. Pete. Stroll around Beach Boulevard and discover boutique apparel and jewelry at BoTiki, vintage furniture and home goods at the Gulfport Beach Bazaar. Gulfport also has a stretch of beach that overlooks Boca Ciega Bay and many restaurants to complete a full afternoon of Florida fun.

John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk is a quintessential beach shopping experience in Madeira Beach, where you can explore more than 100 shops in this fun shopping district. There are beach knick-knack stores galore in this hub. Enjoy the views and the food at restaurants such as Walt'z Fish Shak and The Friendly Fisherman.

In Seminole, stop at Sign of the Dolphin for a huge selection of Florida-style fashion and accessories, jewelry, home décor and artwork.

Safety Harbor’s health-conscious and artistic aura glows along Main Street, which ends at a body of water named – what else? – Safety Harbor. Find jars of herbs line the shelves of Bailey's Naturals Herbal Apothecary. You won’t be able to turn away from the enchanting menagerie of rainbow-hued, art-glass lava bowls at Syd Entel Gallery/Susan Benjamin Glass. For a colorful shopping experience, don't miss the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center. Just steps off Main Street is the unique Safety Harbor Galleria, which is housed in a historic 1930s cottage and features beachy décor and gifts, clothing and jewelry, vintage finds and local artwork. The town offers plenty of good restaurants, if you need a break from shopping: Try Nona Slice House or Cafe Vino Tinto.

Named for a chain of Greek isles, Dodecanese Boulevard whisks visitors away to the Aegean. At Spongeorama, you can watch a free vintage film and tour exhibits on the town’s heritage (and buy sponges too). For a hidden gem filled with trendy clothes, explore Boshi, which offers a wide variety of embroidery in clothing, or A Simple Peace boutique, which features affordable clothing, accessories, home furnishings and a hand-crafted jewelry line that incorporates metals and semi-precious gemstones. Of course, for a place rich in Greek culture, dining out in Tarpon Springs is a must, and Dimitri's on the Water has a great view of the Anclote River and its boat traffic. Hellas and Mykonos are two iconic restaurants you might want to try.

Quaint Dunedin's downtown lies along Main Street and intersects with the Pinellas Trail. Antiques and Celtic wares honor its history and Scottish heritage. The Celtic Shop of Dunedin has kilts for all occasions, along with district tartans, tams, coats of arms, and even teeny kilts for dressing up beer cans. When you are looking for a great restaurant, savor fresh, authentic and healthy Mexican cuisine at Casa Tina or dine on the water at Bon Appetit.