I have just returned from a trip to St. Pete/ Clearwater, a beach playground on the west coast of Florida. The easiest way to reach it is with a direct British Airways flight to Tampa airport, which is, in itself, quite an amazing place! In the centre of the terminal is a giant pink flamingo and, on the day, we arrived, a black bear was wandering the perimeter, apparently. He didn’t enter the terminal for a Starbucks though but was safely coaxed back to where he came from. I was sorry not to see him.
This area of Florida is quite different from the razzmatazz of Disney, although it combines perfectly with the parks. This is all about beautiful white Sandy beaches, nature, and culture. From the Dali Museum to the James Museum which is full of Native American art, countless art galleries, and a sea life rescue centre, there is so much to do, and if you miss the entertainment parks, Busch Gardens is not far away.
Here there is water, water everywhere and life revolves around the sea, the estuaries, the lakes, and the swamps. Water sports are big here. A first for me, I saw motorised “cars” which you can hire to jet around on the water. A hilarious sight!
There are miles and miles of park trails to walk and cycle and the scenery is stunning. Watch out for alligators though! Seriously, if you keep to the paths, you’ll be fine. But don’t let your little doggie off the lead.
Shopping is great, with lots of small, quaint towns with boutique gift shops. There’s even a little Greece town, with authentic Greek food. This is a wonderful place to take kids for a family holiday as everything is geared up for this. Hotel rooms nearly all have kitchenette areas and some even have washers and dryers.
But what about luxury hotels? Most hotels are 4* and very good, but there are a few fabulous luxury properties, too. The one that stood out for me was the Vinoy Hotel, a refurbished period hotel. This is class. The lobby area and ballroom (currently being converted into a fine dining restaurant) have been lovingly restored to their former glory and are super elegant. The rooms in the old part of the hotel are a marvellous fusion of old and modern. The newer section has retained the old style and is spacious and very tastefully decorated. The pool area and casual dining restaurant are gorgeous.
Also, just newly opened is the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach, a very modern hotel with spacious apartment units, an incredible kids club, a great pool and gym and a superb restaurant with open sides allowing the sea breeze to flow through.
One last thing I should mention is that the cuisine in the US has been revolutionised! No longer just fast food and barbecued wings, Americans are now as passionate about food as we are and they have the natural raw ingredients, such as giant shrimp, crab, and other local fish to produce mouthwatering dishes to die for.
So, all in all, a great place to visit. If you’d like to know more, please contact me.
Feeling inspired? Book your next escape now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream trip!
by net effect