At a time where international travel bans are in place and over 20% of the world’s population is in some form of lockdown, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater want to bring excitement and inspiration by bringing the beach and the beers to wherever you are in the world.
Famous for having America’s best beaches and holding the Guinness World Record for the longest consecutive days of sunshine – a massive 768 – it’s never been a better time to ‘transport’ yourself to St. Pete/Clearwater.
Here, we’ve collated the best of St. Pete/Clearwater to bring the destination to you.
Step 1: Turn up the beach tunes
Tune in to some beachside bangers with St. Pete/Clearwater’s very own Spotify playlist, Brighter Days Ahead, filled with uplifting, sunny jams. Featured artists include Jack Johnson, Van Morrison, Bob Marley, and Katrina and the Waves.
Step 2: Virtual visits
Discover some of the many virtual experiences on offer. Feel like you’re lounging at Fort de Soto beach by playing this hour-long YouTube video of the crystal-clear Gulf water waves gently reaching the shore.*
Art lovers can “visit” the Dali Museum’s virtual tour without leaving their homes to see some of Salvador Dali’s famous pieces. As the museum holds the largest collection of his works outside Spain, there is plenty to see. Zoom into the artworks and learn about their origins and meanings.
St. Pete/Clearwater is home to over 500 murals, created by local and international street artists. Take a peek at some the works in the virtual St. Pete Urban Mural Tour here, led by local artists Chaz Mize, Derek Donnelly, and Sebastian Coolidge. See striking murals up close and find out more about the meaning behind each piece.
Step 3: Recreate the famous Grouper sandwich
Get busy in the kitchen and create your very own version of a St. Pete/Clearwater delicacy – the Grouper sandwich! Iconic beachfront restaurant, Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, shows you how to make their super popular grouper sandwich in this quick YouTube video – all you need is fresh breaded grouper fish (or any other similar white, breaded fish), Cajun spice, lettuce, tomato, tartare sauce, parmesan, and an onion bread roll. Simple, yet delicious.
Step 4: Sample a St. Pete beverage
No grouper sandwich is complete without a knockout beer, cocktail or mocktail in hand! Pick up a Florida Weisse-style Craft Beer (available at www.beerhawk.co.uk) for the closest to the real thing. Khris Johnson from Green Bench Brewing says that a dry lager also matches well, saying: “Without a doubt the best beer to have with a grouper sandwich is our Bench Life Premium Lager. Built to be enjoyed in our wonderfully tropical paradise, this American Premium Lager is brewed with a blend of malted barley, flaked corn, and US grown Mount Hood hops. Super refreshing and goes great with white fish!”
For cocktail fans, popular restaurant and bar, Trophy Fish, has devised ‘create your own’ cocktail kits made in biodegradable vacuum sealed bags. Mix together Ketel One Grapefruit Rose Vodka, Giffard Pamplemousse, Provence rose, grapefruit juice and vanilla salt in a champagne-saucer style glass for your own version of their signature Salty Dawg cocktail. Cheers!
Step 5: Get the Floridian look
You’ll want lightweight clothing for basking in the St. Pete/Clearwater sun. Amanda Henderson, owner of local boutique clothing store, Ashe Couture, says: “We’re loving spring-inspired floral patterned maxi dresses right now, because it’s so easy to go from day to night. Whether you’re lounging poolside or grabbing a to-go from your favourite restaurant, pair with some comfortable neutral sandals and a wide-brimmed hat, for a chic beach to bar look.”
When you’re planning your next holiday, keep St. Pete/Clearwater front of mind. It’s just 90 minutes from Orlando Airport, or 30 minutes from Tampa Airport, with British Airways and Norwegian both offering direct flights from London.
For more information, visit: www.visitstpeteclearwater.com
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Notes to editors:
* Please note that this video was created before the Pinellas County beaches were closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
For further press information, please contact:
Jo Kendall | Charlotte Wright
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0) 20 3440 8930
E: [email protected]
About Visit St. Pete/Clearwater:
Visit St. Pete/Clearwater (VSPC) is the official destination marketing organisation of Pinellas County in Florida and covers 26 municipalities in the area. The region is located on the peninsula on Florida’s west coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to the east.
The area offers 35 miles of award-winning white-sandy beaches, exotic nature trails, culture and arts. It is home to independent restaurants, boutique shops and a unique craft beer trail running from Tarpon Springs to Treasure Island showcasing 40+ local breweries’ fresh artisanal beer. Both Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach have consistently been listed among the top 5 beaches in America, in the annual TripAdvisor Readers’ Choice Awards.
Boasting the largest collection of Dali artwork outside of Spain in the Dali Museum, the county has a significant art scene, with walking mural tours, regular exhibitions and the impressive Chihuly Collection of hand-blown glass sculptures.
The destination is renowned for sunshine and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest run of sunshine days, a massive 768.
