Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, the official tourism marketing and management organization for Pinellas County, is telling the world that the destination is “Still Shining,” and ready to welcome visitors. After recently weathering two major hurricanes, the beach community has worked tirelessly to resume operations at many favorite locations with nearly 80% of the destination now open and eager to welcome guests – including accommodations, attractions, restaurants, museums, shops and more.
“It’s important for everyone to know that St. Pete-Clearwater is Still Shining and ready as always to welcome residents and visitors to our beautiful beaches, amazing arts and experiences, and delicious coastal dining options,” said Brian Lowack, President & CEO of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. “While our destination experienced serious impact from the recent storms, the images and videos that have circulated do not represent the entirety of the destination and many of our visitors’ favorites are open and ready to welcome guests. Now is a great time to not just enjoy that walk on the beach, but also explore all the other amazing attributes that make us America’s favorite beaches.”
I’ve been in the region a good 15 to 20 times over the years, and always find it delightful. Not only are St. Pete and Clearwater terrific, but Dunedin (spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays) is a delightful town for dining and shopping. It’s also home to one of my fave hotels, The Fenway, a Marriott Autograph Collection property with a fab rooftop bar that offers tremendous sunsets. The town of Safety Harbor is also a great spot for dining, shopping and the arts.
I had a Zoom chat with Lowack on October 30, and he said things are definitely on the upswing.
“If you’re looking to come down for your annual trek to St. Pete/Clearwater … I’d say come on down,” he told me. “Most of the accommodations are open, and it’s a good opportunity to come down and see the destination from a different perspective. Maybe visit a different portion of the county (Pinellas County). We have so much diversity and so many things to do.
“The weather’s about to get gorgeous here, the crowds are gone, the rates are good right now and we have a plethora of events coming up.” (SEE BELOW FOR EVENT INFORMATION)
Lowack told me the Don Cesar on St. Pete’s Beach is still not open, but that hotels are fully open on Clearwater Beach. That includes the gorgeous Sandpearl, the Hyatt Regency, the new JW Marriott and Opal Sands. The posh Opal Sol is slated to open in January of 2025 next to Opal Sands. Another great addition that opened this year is the Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton, an eclectic property that he said has a fine pool and rooftop bar. The luxurious Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection by Marriott is open as is the Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, also part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection (and a personal fave).
On the cultural side, both the amazing Dali Museum in downtown St. Pete and the Chihuly Collection are open for visitors.
“Downtown St. Pete’s really thriving right now, he said. But some hotels haven’t fully ramped up, which means that local workers aren’t back on the job.
“The quicker people are back on the beach the better,” he said. “So, come down and experience the destination and have a great time. You’ll get the same quality of vacation you’re used to, but you’re also helping with the recovery.”
Amen to that.
Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach is a fabulous spot to watch the sunset. JIM BYERS PHOTO
- Beach access is open on the world-famous Clearwater Beach and many of the surrounding beaches, though some access points may be restricted as re-beautification continues along the 35 miles of beaches. Over the coming weeks, the destination is expected to open additional beaches and parks. Check VisitSPC.com/StillShining for updated information on the beaches.
- Much of the destination has quickly resumed operations, including renowned attractions like The Dalí Museum (fabulous) and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (great family spot) as well as the many other art, cultural and interactive experiences.
- Popular waterfront venues and experiences like the St. Pete Pier and Hubbard’s Marina – the nation’s #1 fishing charter for three consecutive years – invite visitors to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
- In addition to open attractions, restaurants, museums and more, travelers can enjoy major festivals and events taking place across the destination starting in the coming weeks.
○ SAVOR St. Pete Food + Wine Festival (Nov. 2-3 at Vinoy Park)
○ P1 AquaX (Jet Ski) Finals (Nov. 1-3 on Clearwater Beach)
○ SHINE Mural Festival (Nov. 8-17 in downtown St. Pete)
○ ANNIKA LPGA Golf Tournament (Nov. 13-17 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair)
○ Rise Up St. Pete Concert Series on the St. Pete Pier (beginning Oct. 31)
The reent hurricane season was unprecedented for the Tampa Bay area with two notable storms impacting the area in quick succession. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater recommends all travelers visiting the destination contact their accommodation providers directly to ensure they have the most up-to-date information. While most of the destination is open for business, some communities still need a little longer to fully recover.
For more information about how St. Pete-Clearwater is Still Shining, including updates on accommodations, attractions and more, please visit our website VisitSPC.com and follow VisitSPC on Facebook and Instagram.
CANADA AND AUSTRALIA SIGN DEAL FOR OPEN FLIGHTS
The Kimberley Region of Western Australia. Isabelle Truong/Unsplash Photo
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The agreement could make it easier to Air Canada to expand its Australia service to include flights to Melbourne, or perhaps other Australia destinations. Other airlines also could jump in, although it’s hard to see that happening with any company other than perhaps WestJet.
Air Canada currently flies directly from Vancouver to both Sydney in New South Wales and Brisbane in the state of Queensland, which will host the Summer Olympics in 2032.
