Your Ultimate Travel Guide to St. Petersburg, Florida

If you're looking for a hotel with bold decor choices (and a choice downtown location), The Moxy might be the place for you. This modern brand known for its stylish social spaces is on St. Pete's Central Ave. Check out Bar Moxy, Rose's Coffee Bar, and Sparrow, the neighborhood's first rooftop bar and restaurant. Near the hotel, you'll find popular spots such as Green Bench Brewing, Bavaro's and legendary sports bar Ferg's. 

Perched like a pink castle overlooking Tampa Bay, the historic Vinoy is worthy splurge. This 100-year-old resort recently completed a major renovation, with refurbished guestrooms, a reimagined grand lobby, a new spa and more. The Vinoy’s location couldn’t be more perfect, since it's walkable to many of St. Pete’s attractions. The hotel features several restaurants, including Elliott Aster, led by Michelin-celebrated chef Lee Wolen.

With only 18 rooms, this little gem of a hotel makes up in 1920s style what it doesn't have in square footage. Expect rich fabrics and elegant (some rooms even have clawfoot tubs). Dine at the Birch & Vine restaurant or sip craft cocktails on the rooftop at the Birchwood Canopy, with stellar views of Tampa Bay. Its prime location, with easy access to the St. Pete Pier, museums and dining mean that it's best to make reservations early.

Staying for more than a couple of days, or just appreciate the convenience of a kitchenette and washer-dryer when you travel? Mint House, in St. Pete's EDGE District, offers apartment-style accommodations as well as a private balcony or patio with a walk-out to the resort-style pool. Vacationing with kids or friends? Choose a corner studio apartment with a queen bed and a pull-out sofa.

Roam this expansive green space where locals and visitors alike love to walk, bike, rollerblade and skateboard. Visit the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, take a nature boat tour, try your luck at the fishing deck, and see public art like Bending Arc (a billowing net sculpture best appreciated when it's illuminated at night). You can grab a bite or a refreshing cocktail at a number of restaurants on the pier approach or in the Pier Point building.

Art lovers can head to the surreal Dalí Museum, the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg. The St. Petersburg area is known as the "Glass Coast" for its fine glass art museums and galleries, including The Chihuly Collection, the Imagine Museum and Duncan McClellan Gallery.

You can see murals on your own when you explore the streets and alleys of downtown St. Pete. But taking a walking, biking or trolley mural tour to learn the inside story on the art and artists is the best way to experience vibrant street art. On your tour, you'll learn about some of the newest murals created during the annual SHINE St. Pete Mural Festival each fall.

St. Pete's waterfront park system has been named among the best in the nation, so green spaces like Vinoy Park, North Shore Park and Straub Park should be on your "must-visit" list. (Come early to experience sunrise along the waterfront.) There's also the 100-year-old Sunken Gardens, a lovely botanical garden where you can see exotic plants and flamingos. For a walk in the woods, visit Boyd Hill Preserve and Sawgrass Lake Park, or paddle through mangrove tunnels at Weedon Island Preserve.

Tampa Bay Times food critic Helen Freund called Wild Child "easily St. Petersburg's best restaurant" and this tropically-themed spot offers a menu that changes frequently to feature fresh, seasonal offerings. Dine inside or out, and for the best experience, come with an empty belly and an open mind: Wild Child is known for its creative food and cocktail offerings. 

There are so many wonderful new restaurants to try in the St. Petersburg area! Located on Beach Drive, Juno & The Peacock is one of the buzziest, featuring a "New American" menu with seafood options such as a crab-crusted grouper, and meat-lover options including a 16 oz. ribeye. Dress sharp and stop in to the adjacent Pluma Lounge for a craft cocktail before your meal. 

The signature restaurant at the St. Pete Pier, Teak would be an iconic spot for its stunning waterfront location alone. When you add friendly and professional service and a tasty menu of small bites and seafood-focused entrees, this is a winning spot. Head up to the rooftop bar, Pier Teaki, before your meal to enjoy a refreshing cocktail with a view. 

With its super-bright and playful decor, Nitally's is visually quite entertaining. Add to that the explosion of flavors that come out of the kitchen of this family-run spot in St. Pete's MLK District and you may be on sensory overload in the best possible way. Order several entrees to share (the panang mole is wonderful). Tip: Scale down your heat level when ordering here, as dishes come spicier than you might be used to.