Rec and Sports

St Pete Beach Top of List in Florida

People keep coming back to St Pete Beach for their own reasons, whether to keep up a long-standing tradition in their family, to get married on this beautiful beach, to indulge in their favorite hobby of fishing, to go running on a relatively peaceful beach, or to escape from the crowds at Disney World. Whatever their reason, the loveliness of the beach can keep them coming back.

You may be wondering about the different names of the area you knew as a kid coming here with your family. St Pete Beach became a separate city of about 10,000 people, and includes Passagrille, Belle Vista and what was called St. Petersburg Beach. Then there is the city of St. Petersburg to the east. Don’t worry, everyone there knows what you are talking about.

There are 39 acres of public beach to enjoy, and almost that many of park area. People keep coming back as the beaches are beautiful, the rates are good if you are on a budget, and avoiding the spring break college crowd at Daytona has its own benefits. The crowds can swell at the beach but not in the same wild party way.

If you want public transportation instead of renting a vehicle, try the Beach Trolley which winds its way around the Gulf Boulevard every 30 to 40 minutes and will take you into St. Petersburg, Clearwater and the Tampa Bay area if you wish via connections. There is Bats Taxi Service which knows the area well, and can be more economical if you are coming with several people from Tampa International airport rather than taking a shuttle. Bats is at 727-367-3702.

Where to Stay: Youll find many accommodations on this St Pete Beach Hotel website, especially those concentrated along the beach. I was walking along the beach one day and met up with a woman from Denver who had come back every year for several years, always booking with Frank Hurley rental homes. They may not be exactly on the beach like a lot of hotels, but they are very close by, easy walking to the beach, the price is good, and there is more privacy. I would definitely look into it next time I am heading there. -1-800-783-6929 for Frank T. Hurley Associates which also includes real estate for sale.

If you are lucky enough to be at St Pete Beach for April/09, check out the Honda Grand Prix before it leaves town!