One of Florida's Top Beaches - St Pete Beach

by Katy Flanagan

People come here from around the world to have a family vacation or be just bring a friend, to get married in a picturesque setting or spend the day fishing to their heart's content uninterrupted by responsibilities. Some find it a great location to get to other attractions, or to escape after a busy week at Disney World, or just to run relatively undisturbed by the water for their daily exercise. Whatever their reason, the beauty of this beach is a huge magnet.



For those of you confused about the two, St Pete Beach is a separate city from St. Petersburg City to the east. In 1994, the citizens of several communities voted to shorten several parts of the coastal beach area to St Pete Beach. Places such as Passagrille, St. Petersburg Beach and Belle Vista area are now part of that one small city of about 10,000 residents. The city swells and lowers depending on the time of year, so snowbirds from Canada and northern states who are trying to stay warm during winter, bring the population up to around 20,000.



Then there are the tourists who keep coming back to this area because the beaches are beautiful, the rates can be relatively cheap depending on where you stay, and there is something about the area for those trying to avoid huge crowds. Dont get me wrong, this can be a busy area, but not like Daytona Beach in the same wild party way. There are 39 acres of beach for the public to enjoy, and after all, beach is what its about here.



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.



Staying right at the beach is first choice for many and understandably so. You'll find many accommodations concentrated by the sand on this St Pete Beach hotel site. However, some people love to rent a more private space, including one woman I met on the beach from Denver, who consistently rented from the Frank Hurley Associates rental and real estate office. I would recommend considering it if you can be flexible about being at the water. 1-800-783-6929.



And don't forget to check out the Honda Grand Prix at St Pete Beach during April/09 if you are lucky enough to be the area!

About the Author:

Voted one of the best beaches in Florida, for some this has never been a debate. It is beautiful, not too touristy and is an escape for many each year. Voted One of the Best Beaches in Florida Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.