25 Things to Do In St Pete #local

The first day of Summer is officially June 21st but these 25 family friendly activities will keep you busy and entertained most of the year here in Florida. 

1. Take a stroll along the Grand Central District. Located in Downtown St Pete, this area is full of antique shops, eclectic art, and good food! Central Ave has a 1st Friday event, held 5:30 p.m to 10 p.m. with live music and vendors. 

2. Stop at the Albert Whitted Airport Park and the kids can play, watch airplanes, and maybe even catch a few dolphin sightings. 

3. The Dali Museum is full of wonder for kids and adults. Outside you can walk around and see the Fountain of Youth and leave your bracelet at the Wish Tree. Family Fun Saturdays start at 9:45 a.m and are for ages 6-12. They offer educational activities, games, arts and crafts, and puzzles. 

4. Sunken Gardens is located in the 4th Street District of Downtown St Pete. It is a great way to spend a few hours outdoors, exploring nature at its best. Sunken Gardens also offers workshops, tours, and special events. 

5. Attached to Sunken Gardens is the 18,000 sq ft, Great Explorations. This children's museum is full of hands on activities and fun! Ask about their Kids Night Out, which is the last Friday of every month for ages 5-12. 

6. St Pete Beach does not need many words. Full of sun and sand! This beach is a great place to watch the sunsets. It has never been super busy when we go, which is great because it just makes it easier. 

7. If you are you closer to North St Pete stop at Fossil Lake Park. There is a skate park as well as a playground. They have picnic tables that are covered and uncovered. We have had a few birthday parties there. 

8. Doo's Amazing Tours offers segway rentals as well as kayak and paddle board tours. 

9. If you are in need of some quiet time, just stop in any of the county libraries. From programs like Music in Motion to Game on, there is sure to be something for all ages. 

10. Over in Tarpon Springs you can find the ever popular Sponge Docks. My oldest son loves this area of town. The docks offer shopping, an aquarium, fishing, and cruises. 

11. Walk along the lake at Crescent Lake Park off 22nd Ave N and 5th St N. This park is a family favorite with big open, grassy fields, perfect for running, playing and picnics. 

12. There are a few bowling alleys in the area. Sunrise Lanes is up in the north end of St Pete. They offer 32 lanes with leagues for children and adults as well as birthday parties and a pretty decent sized game room. Ten Pin Lanes is over by St Pete Beach. They also offer adult and children leagues, birthday parties, and specials. 

13. A new addition to Downtown St Pete and formally the Baywalk area is the St Pete Sundial. Shopping, entertainment, movies, and food fill up this area now. 

14. If you have kids (ages 8-17) that are interested in flying and airplanes then maybe the Young Eagles is for them. Kids get a chance to actually fly in an airplane. 

15. With Dolphin Tale 2 filming this summer you can stop into the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and see the stars of the show, Winter and Hope, along with all their friends. 

16. FearLess Friday is every Friday for kids in grades 2 thru 5, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m at the Northwest Rec Center. The fee for this event is $6 and kids can participate in hockey, soccer, and basketball. There is also dance contests and a live DJ. 

17. Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach is awesome and very family friendly. From movies after dark to arts and crafts fairs, this is the place to be. The beaches are beautiful in this area! 

18. Largo Central Park is a huge park! Different playgrounds for different ages. Has everything to keep kids busy and playing for hours. Largo Central also offers a train ride the 1st weekend of each month. 

19. Imagination + Knowledge = FUN at the Science Center of Pinellas. The center offers planetarium shows, wetland exhibits, an animal room with over 30 animals, and a 600 gallon Marine Touch Tank. There are different classes available for pre school through seniors and a Family Astronomy Night. 

20. Playing at splash-pads is a favorite for us. Some days it is just too hot to do much of anything else. Usually we head out to the Dell Holmes Park & Splashpad. It is way into South St Pete but it is pretty big and the kids love it. 

21. Enjoy the day, going from stop to stop on the ever AWESOME Jolley Trolley! Or the Suncoast Beach Trolley. The Jolley Trolley runs from Clearwater Beach and Downtown Clearwater through Dunedin, Palm Harbor, and up to Tarpon Springs. The Suncoast Beach Trolley runs on the beaches from Clearwater south, to Pass-A-Grille. 

22. Saturday Morning Market in the Waterfront District, between 1st Ave S and 1st St. This weekly event runs from 9 a.m to 2 p.m and offers live music and plenty of food, drink, and plant vendors. 

23. Gulfport Beach has to be the least busy and underrated beach we have been to. It is normally not busy which makes it great for families. 

24. Straub Park is at 198 Bayshore Drive NE. It is near the Baywalk area and there are plenty of stores and is near Muvico and the St Pete Sundial. This area is also a good place for holidays events! 

25.  You can walk, bike, or skate from one end of Pinellas to the other on the Pinellas County Trail. This trail runs from Tarpon Springs to South St Petersburg. It is 47 miles long and one of the longest linear parks in the United States. 

This list is a great start to keeping your family entertained during those summer months, and all year round. 
Have you been to any of these?