DESTINATIONS THE US | FLORIDA
new WHAT’S St Pete-Clearwater
E Opal Sol Hotel opened in February on Clearwater Beach, featuring a luxury spa, 10 restaurants, three pools and direct beach access.
E Historic hotel The Vinoy is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and has completed the first phase of a renovation with the opening of Elliott Aster restaurant, led by award-winning chef Lee Wolen.
ABOVE: Aerial view of downtown St Pete at sunset
and rehabilitation centre. Peering into the expansive complex, we witness four rare rough-toothed dolphins getting acclimatised to their new home, after they were rescued from stranding and deemed unfit to be released into the wild. One by one, they are lowered into the water, leaving many onlookers visibly moved as the dolphins begin playing, getting used to the safety of their new environment. Still skirting the coast, we spend the next few hours
E St Pete-Clearwater was officially added to the official Michelin Guide earlier this year. There are numerous new restaurants, from Sparrow (pictured), a seasonal spot atop the Moxy hotel, to Pulpo Kitchen, which serves Peruvian-inspired dishes.
strolling the Scottish-influenced city of Dunedin. It feels quaint and quiet, its Main Street lined with heritage buildings that house local boutiques, cafes and a selection of breweries, including Dunedin Brewery, the oldest microbrewery in Florida. Great dining is Dunedin’s biggest draw – we enjoy an authentic Mexican lunch at Casa Tina, stop for waterfront drinks at Olde Bay Cafe and gorge ourselves on ice cream in dozens of flavours at Strachan’s Ice Cream Parlour.
LIFE’S A BEACH Despite St Pete-Clearwater’s reputation for sunshine (almost) every day, a light drizzle scuppers our VIP Beach Experience at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach hotel. We were ready to check out the cabana beds, snacks and drinks set up on the sands of Clearwater Beach – but being British, and undeterred by the inclement weather, we dive straight into the sea anyway. The waters of the Gulf of Mexico are tropically warm, and the sun even peeks through the clouds,
46 13 NOVEMBER 2025
33Many onlookers are visibly moved as the dolphins begin playing, getting used to the safety of their new environment
allowing us to while away an afternoon swimming, chatting and people-watching.
Our final Florida dinner is at Columbia Restaurant, just along the coast in Sand Key. It’s a family-run spot dating back more than a century. Despite being able to accommodate up to 1,700 diners, soon after we arrive, the tables are full and the restaurant abuzz with chatter as a burnt-orange sun sets outside. It’s a fitting end to our visit, encapsulating the great food, fair weather and laid-back, coastal charm that defines this lesser-known Florida destination.
TW BOOK IT
Ocean Florida offers seven nights in St Pete-Clearwater from £1,279 per person, based on four sharing durng a May departure. The price includes flights from Heathrow to Tampa with Virgin Atlantic and room-only accommodation at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach.
ocean-florida.co.uk
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Henry Amistadi; Jimmy Fashner
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