Courtesy of the Dalí Museum
By Sol Casanas
If you are a college student staying in St. Petersburg for the summer you can take advantage of the wonderous city known for its beautiful beaches, superb museums, vibrant art scene, and outdoor activities.
Museums
The most obvious one is visiting The Salvador Dali Museum., located only a brief 10-minute walk from the USF St. Petersburg campus. They always have diverse types of art exhibitions that are dedicated to both Dali and other different. It’s a must-do for art lovers. USF students also get free admission with a student ID.
The Chihuly Collection is a unique museum in St. Petersburg that features glass art collections by the renowned artist Dale Chihuly. “Designed so that the art and architecture work together to create a visitor experience, unlike any other exhibition of Chihuly’s art. The Collection is marked at the entrance by an iconic 20-foot sculpture created especially for the site,” according to the Chihuly Collection‘s website.
A trip to the Museum of Fine Arts is a great way to explore art from different cultures and periods. Featuring more than 20,000 works like paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from different types of civilizations. The MFA‘s website mentions, “masterpieces from Monet, O’Keeffe, De Kooning, Wiley, and others, a sculpture garden, and one of Florida’s most respected photography collections.”
Beaches
St. Petersburg has beautiful beaches which make a great opportunity to do something affordable and fun.
Some great beaches are St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille Beach, both with beautiful rich white sand and crystal blue waters. Sunbathe, swim in the beautiful ocean, and relax.
“The price of activities makes it hard to find something to do. Going to the zoo for a day was $50, so it’s very limited when it comes to finding fun, affordable things to do. It’s why I love going to the beach. That is my favorite thing to do in St. Pete,.” USF student Jessica Grobstick said.
Another great way to explore our oceans is by taking boat tours. There are plenty of boat tours in St. Pete, where you can watch dolphins, sunset cruises and sightsee.
Nature
St. Petersburg has beautiful nature that you can enjoy as well.
Take a trip to the Sunken Gardens, a botanical area with more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers. According to its website, visitors can expect “ Meandering paths guide visitors through a living collection of more than thousands of plant species, tropical plants and flowers with lush demonstration gardens, cascading waterfalls and a flock of flamingos.” Take a day to enjoy the natural beauty of St. Petersburg and relax.
Fort DeSoto Park features five interconnected islands that offer beaches, nature trails and a historic fort. One of the best ways to explore the park is to kayak through the islands and experience the beauty or go for a swim. The Pinellas Park website describes the park beautifully, “the park offers the greatest diversity of systems just about anywhere. Emerging from the wealth of bird life, sea life, wildlife, and plant life is the majestic tapestry called Fort De Soto.”
The Pier
And for the cherry on top, the infamous St. Pete Pier is great to go and witness the beautiful Florida sunsets and enjoy some good food with friends. There are various things to do on the pier, like shopping, dining and entertainment.
“My favorite activity is getting gelato from Paciugo Gelato & Caffè and enjoying a sunset at the Pier,.” USF St. Petersburg student, Audrey Ward said.
Overall, St. Petersburg offers something for everyone. Take advantage of the city that captivates culture, beaches, art scenes, good dining, and art.
