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I’m just back from the most spectacular girls’ trip to St. Pete-Clearwater in Florida. If you’re wondering why we ended up there, well, just google Clearwater Beach and you’ll see.
Clearwater Beach is consistently listed as one of the best beaches in the USA and even the world. Most recently it was named as one of the top white sand beaches in the world by Travel and Leisure. What better place to spend a long weekend with the girls?!
We had such a beautiful time exploring this stunning part of the gulf coast. I’m going to tell you everything we got up to so that you can plan your very own fabulous girls’ trip to St. Pete-Clearwater. Let’s go!
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Things to do in St.Pete-Clearwater
- St. Pete pier at sunset/sunrise. This pier is huge and full of scenic spots to sit and take in the views across the marina. There are sometimes vendors selling craft items as you walk down the pier. There’s a lovely little gift shop down the very end as well with public toilets (it really is a long pier).
- Floridarama. Words cannot describe how fun and colourful this interactive and tech exhibition is. A whole world has been created by local artists that tells the tale of Florida in one way or another. I could have spent hours here. It is obscenely instagrammable. This is a must visit for kids and adults alike, especially if you love all things quirky and colourful. For more info on tickets check out their website.
- The Chilhuly Museum. This museum is home to a permanent collection of Dale Chilhuly’s brightly coloured glass creations. It’s not a big time commitment, you could explore it in an hour, so it’s easy to fit into a day of exploring St. Pete. Though it is small, it’s absolutely stunning and definitely worth checking out if you’re a lover of the arts.
- Firestone Grand Prix. If you’re lucky enough to be in the area in early March 2026 then definitely get yourself a ticket to the Grand Prix. The track is one of the most scenic in the world, right on the water. It’s a very unique day out and the buzz in St. Pete is so fun over that weekend. Top tip, bring ear plugs because those races are LOUD.
- Glass Blowing. The Morean Glass Studio offers glass blowing demonstrations AND workshops. I was lucky enough to do a workshop and create my own glass pumpkin (which I am absolutely obsessed with!). This unique experience was a highlight of the trip for us. We were all thrilled with our individual creations that we got to take home as souvenirs. Such a fun way to remember our girls’ trip to St. Pete-Clearwater
- Silver Smith Class at Brass Dagger. I have ALWAYS wanted to create my own silver ring so I was delighted when I learned that we were booked in for the silver smith class with Brass Dagger in St. Pete. We got to choose what design and finish we wanted, then we got to forge our own ring from start to finish. It was incredible! We were all beaming with pride wearing our own custom creations. You can check out availability and prices on the Brass Dagger website.
- Sunset Tiki Cruise. This was my favourite thing that we did in Clearwater. We set sail on a BYOB floating tiki bar captained by Clearwater’s own answer to Matthew Mcconaughey. The pelicans hanging around on the dock were an attraction all of their own. Onboard, we danced the night away to Pitbull’s finest tunes (peak girls’ trip chaos) as the sunset painted the sky behind us. I’d 100% recommend this tiki cruise for some silly shenanigans and gorgeous sunset pics.
- Yoga on the Beach. This is the perfect way to start your trip. After that flight or drive to get to St. Pete-Clearwater your body will thank you for a good stretch in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Clearwater Beach Yoga run morning classes daily from 8-9am just in front of the Hilton. We even saw dolphins jumping around in the ocean while we were working through our flow. Prices start from $25,
- Clear Kayaking at Shell Preserve. Get up and go Kayaking run clear kayak guided eco tours around the Tampa and St Pete area (and lots of other locations in the USA). We did the Shell Key Preserve trip which has been rated the #1 tour in the USA by Tripadvisor! Our guide, Jenna, gave us all the info on the local flora and fauna. I was DYING to see a manatee on this trip. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen this time, so I guess I’ll have to plan a return trip. Check out their website for more info and to book.
- Cocktail-Making Class. Sonder Social Club in Dunedin is a craft cocktail bar with a lot of flare. Their cheese boards and elevated popcorn is to die for. But we were there to make some cocktails!! The bartenders set us up with our own stations and everything we needed to make several of their signature cocktails. It was a really fun afternoon and is perfect for any girls’ trip. Make sure you check out their hidden bathroom as well, it’ll take you a while to find it.
Places to Eat and Drink in St.Pete-Clearwater
- Cocktails at Pier Teaki. This tropical rooftop bar is located right at the end of St.Pete pier. It is the perfect spot for sunset cocktails with the girls. The panoramic view of the sun setting behind the city is absolutely not to be missed. The decor is incredibly aesthetic and the cocktail list is LONG, what more could a girl want?!
- Breakfast at Sourdough. When I say I would hop on a flight just to have breakfast here again, I am not exaggerating at all. The veggie Spicy Start sandwich is PERFECTION. I had no room to try any of their sweets, but they looked delicious. As an iced coffee expert, I was very pleased with their iced latte and the huge selection of syrups. Sourdough is the perfect place for breakfast in St. Pete.
- Wine and Cheese at Bacchus. This is another spot that I absolutely LOVED. The “build your own” cheese board was the perfect fuel for a girls’ night in St. Pete. I also loved their Focaccia di Vegetariana flatbread (definitely for sharing). This place is extremely popular so make sure to book, especially for the weekend.
- Elevated Tapas at Lolita’s. This stunning wine market (named for a mischievous pet dog) is a great spot for a celebratory girls’ dinner. There’s a beautiful outdoor area as well as an indoor dining area with great views of the kitchen. Their grazing boards have chocolate on them, which absolutely delighted one of my friends who is a self-confessed chocolate addict.
- Lunch at Crown and Bull. This American eatery/martini bar in the heart of Dunedin has live music and hearty portions. I know this sounds a bit basic, but their fries are insane! Possibly the best fries I’ve ever had in the USA, I’m not exaggerating! Their falafel plate also went down really well. This is an all round fun, casual place to have a tasty bite to eat to fuel a day of adventures.
- Homemade Ice Cream at Strachan’s. Just across the road from Crown and Bull you’ll find the local institution that is Strachan’s. This is an old school ice cream parlour serving homemade ice cream in every flavour you can think of. I got a two scoop cup and it completely defeated me. Though that was probably because I filled up on fries in Crown and Bull.
- Sushi at Island Way Grill. This is the perfect spot to celebrate in Clearwater. It’s definitely a seafood-heavy menu. However, I’m a vegetarian and I must say that their veggie sushi was absolutely delicious. It’s a huge restaurant so is great for bigger groups.
- Brunch at Social Roost. No girls’ trip to St. Pete-Clearwater is complete without a decadent brunch. Social Roost was voted the best restaurant in St. Pete in 2023, so you know the food is good. I got the veggie version of the brunch bowl, which was exactly what I needed before heading to the airport for my flight home.
Where to Stay in St.Pete-Clearwater
- Hiatus on Clearwater Beach: The Hiatus is right on the front of Clearwater Beach, it takes just a minute or two to get from your room to the white sand beach. The rooftop pool bar has absolutely spectacular views of the gulf.
The interior decor has a gorgeous 20s vibe and is extremely Instagrammable – perfect for all the photos that will inevitably be taken on any girl’s trip to St. Pete-Clearwater. The rooms are very spacious with great facilities and balconies that look out to the beach. I really enjoyed my stay here and would happily book again if I was in the area. - Sky Beach in St.Pete: I love the private beach here, the beach bar, the live entertainment and the pool areas. The sunrise at the private beach here is truly a sight to see. They also have gorgeous treats in reception every day (the cookies are unforgettable) and the wonderful Shea at reception is an absolute dream.
Sky Beach is currently undergoing a bit of an update and I’m sure it will be absolutely perfect once that’s all done. I would say if you’re booking in the next couple of months ask to be put in one of the newer rooms as they’re more polished than the older rooms. The older rooms probably don’t justify the price tag unless you get a significant discount.
How to get There
There are direct flights from London and Amsterdam to Tampa airport. From Dublin I flew to Amsterdam and then on to Tampa with KLM/Delta. However, you can also fly direct to Orlando from pretty much anywhere in Europe and then drive to St. Pete-Clearwater is about two hours.
If you do choose to fly into Tampa airport, make sure to say hi to Phoebe, the giant in-terminal flamingo, you can’t miss her! She’s honestly the perfect mascot for a girls’ trip to St. Pete-Clearwater!
Want to read about some of my other Florida adventures? Then check out my articles about Florida’s Paradise Coast, Behind the Scenes of a VIP Tour of DisneyWorld or How to Dodge the Queues at Universal Orlando.