Inside the Dali Museum the building is just as awe-inspiring as the art.

Get lost in wonder at The Salvador Dali Museum

If you’re at all a lover of Dali, a trip to St. Pete and Clearwater is worth just for this incredible museum. Home to the largest collection of Dali’s inspiring work and housed in an equally interesting building, it’s an artist’s museum at it’s best that has been open since 2011. From some of Dali most famous pieces (like his mind-bending Lincoln in Dalivision, what appears to be a naked women gazing out a window at a distance back looks just like former President Lincoln). You can easily spend an entire afternoon here, contemplating Dali’s work, looking up at the architecture of the building, strolling through the Dali-inspired gardens… and don’t forget to stop by the equally artsy cafe.

A mural in the Central Arts District.

Take in the street art scene

A walk around downtown St. Petersburg and their Central Arts District and you’ll find so much incredible street art. Duck behind the shops along the streets to find some of the most intricate and incredible pieces. From full building murals like the Space rainbow in a parking lot, to garage doors featuring Frida Kahlo, Twiggy, to a smaller mural saying “You Are My Sunshine”, and more, if street art is your thing, you won’t be disappointed in what you find in St. Pete. Luckily too, the Central Arts District is also around one–of-a-kind shops, cafes and restaurants so you can snap photos, take a break to fuel up and then wander some more.

Quaint shops in downtown St. Pete.

You “art” what you eat at the Reading Room

Art doesn’t stop for us at paintings, murals and museums. There’s an art in food and the culinary scene in St. Pete also takes that very seriously. Case-in-point is the Reading Room, a space that they dub as “a place that unites the community with a culture, a food culture. We are a group of individuals who love restaurants, food, wine, and hospitality. Our garden is to inspire and connect us with food in the way it was always intended to be.” The result is an incredibly modern take on farm to table — much of the produce is grown onsite in their own garden, then crafted into delectable dishes that are as beautiful to look at as they are bursting with flavour in your mouth. If you can snag a seat at the bar, you’ll be able to watch your salads and deserts being prepped in front of you to see the care and detail taken.

The iconic “Pink Palace”, also known as the historic Don CeSar Hotel.

Stay at an iconic and historic property

The infamous pink palace, The Don CeSar, is such an iconic landmark in St. Pete that you can see the pink towers from miles away on the highway as you drive into the city. And when you’re looking to take in all the beauty and artsy side of St. Pete and Clearwater, this spot is the best. Aside from the pretty much perfect beach, the hotel has a rich history… starting with being a home for Thomas Rowe who built it in honour of a long time love. It went through several changes over the years and even turned into a respite for injured soldiers post-war and lost it’s iconic pink walls. But eventually it came back to its original lustre… and in all its pink glory it’s now a luxe hotel. Since 1928 stars, athletes, politicians and even a few mobsters have tucked into bed here… and who could blame them with those views, that beach and that love story.

This trip was sponsored by the St. Pete and Clearwater Tourism board, but all views and opinions are that of Travel & Style Magazine.

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