ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER
Gulfpartners S
Within easy reach of Orlando but a world away in what they offer tourists, two neighbouring beach resorts add plenty of
diversity to any Sunshine State holiday BY PETER ELLEGARD
t. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida’s true sunshine twins, are well positioned to woo an increasingly healthy stream of UK
visitors. Lying on the Gulf Coast just a
90-minute drive west of Orlando, the destination offers great beaches but plenty more besides. Two of the area’s beaches have won
the coveted annual America’s Best Beaches survey, by Florida International University professor Dr Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr Beach. Clearwater’s Caladesi Island State Park topped the list in 2008 while Fort de Soto Park’s North Beach, in St. Petersburg, won in 2005. Two area beaches also made a list of
top 10 US beaches in a summer 2009 survey by TripAdvisor. Visitor arrivals from Europe were down
"St. Petersburg and Clearwater offer something for everyone – young, old, groups and families"
42 September 2010 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
for the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2009, but Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater CBVB's UK and Scandinavia director Venessa Alexander says summer bookings for this year were strong. In the pipeline is a clutch of forthcoming new reasons for visitors to plan a visit (see 'What’s New') although there is more than enough on offer right now for holiday-makers. According to Alexander, the destination will appeal to couples looking for a romantic getaway, families looking for a fun holiday or travellers wanting adventure or culture. Options include Honeymoon Island, an away-from-it-all escape with a four-mile
white-sand beach; a side trip to Greek community Tarpon Springs, famous for its sponge diving and where visitors can still buy sponges in local stores; Scottish heritage including Highland Games and a military tattoo in Dunedin. The events calendar features festivals
such as the International Folk Fair each March, when IndyCar racing takes to St Petersburg’s downtown waterfront track in the Honda Grand Prix. Before then, the Clearwater Jazz Holiday runs over three days in October and the Florida Pirate Festival, in November, celebrates the Caribbean pirate tradition with music, events, rides, handicrafts and fireworks. Suzanne Harvey, Jetsave Florida product and contracts manager, has no doubts about the area’s appeal. “Over the years St. Pete's/Clearwater
has undergone a huge makeover and is now one of the most popular coastal
The area's beaches are award winners
areas for people visiting Florida for a single-centre holiday or a twin-centre with Orlando. “Both St. Petersburg and Clearwater
have award-winning white-sand beaches, stretching for 35 miles, and there are plenty of natural attractions to enjoy as well. “The resorts also offer great shopping
and dining options within walking distance of most of the hotels. There really is something for everyone – young, old, groups and families.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING The big news is a new $35-million Dali Museum, due to open in downtown St Petersburg in January. Doubling the size of the former museum it will showcase more of the priceless collection of artist
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