Discover Gay Florida: Saint Petersburg

St. Petersburg is nicknamed "The Sunshine City" which is great and all, but we love it because it's where the largest gay pride in all of Florida takes place! Gay meccas like Georgie's Alibi (3100 3rd Avenue North in St. Petersburg, FL 33713 )and Flamingo Resort (4601 34th Street South in St. Petersburg, FL 33711) are also big draws to the gay community (and you can find out more about these places by flipping through the magazine).

Places to go, things to see

This charming city has a lot to offer. One of the most fabulous places to check out in St. Pete is the Salvador Dali Museum (One Dali Boulevard, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). This collection of the talented surrealist's work recently reopened in a fantastic new space that needs to be seen to be believed. Located in downtown St. Pete, the new location has an Avant-Garden at the entranceway and is styled in a way that Dali would definitely approve of. The new Dal� is double the size of the last location and the look of it has drawn so much attention that it's listed in AOL Travel News as "one of the top buildings you have to see before you die."

If you want to feel extra artsy, you should check out Museum of Fine Arts (255 Beach Dr. N.E. in St. Petersburg, FL 33701). The collection has over 14,000 objects, from antiques to modern pieces, and features French Impressionist paintings. There are galleries of Steuben glass, decorative arts, and pre-Columbian objects, two interior gardens - one devoted to sculpture; and an intimate second-floor gallery which displays work on paper and photographs. The Museum's photography collection has over 10,000 images.

To really look intellectual when you are bragging to your friends about your trip, you'll want to hit the St. Petersburg Museum of History (335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701) which shows the changes in Pinellas County through the years. It even features a mummy and a trolley car - just not in the same exhibit.

Another place to see is the Florida Holocaust Museum (55 5th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701), which honors the memories of the millions of lives lost in the Holocaust. The Florida Holocaust Museum houses the premiere permanent exhibit, "History, Heritage and Hope" plus a collection of works of art, photographs and historical artifacts which changes on a regular basis.

Hit the shops

All of that learning can be stressful. Nothing cures that more than shopping! St. Pete has some really wonderful and unique stores. You can check out a lot at once by hitting The Pier (800 2nd Ave NE, St Petersburg, FL 33701). Located just five minutes from Salvador Dali Museum - you can plan on hitting both on the same day. The Pier has a variety of men's and women's clothing and various specialty shops plus several restaurants. There's even an Aquarium to see if you get sick of shopping. In Downtown St. Pete on the corner of First Avenue North and Second Street North, there's BayWalk, a shopping and dining complex and another great place to shop is along Central Avenue, which is filled with amazing antique stores.

If books are your thing, then you will completely love Haslam's Bookstore (2025 Central Ave, St Petersburg, FL 33713), Florida's largest new and used bookstore. Established in 1933, Haslam's carries over 300,000 new, used, and rare books which are neatly arranged in sections. It is rumored that the bookstore is haunted...

There is an amazing dining scene in this great town and there really is something for every taste. For instance, Georgie's Alibi and The Flamingo, both mentioned above, offer more than bar food and are really worth seeking out. A few other places to stop by for a meal are:

The Moon Under Water
332 Beach Drive NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

The Moon Under Water offers English and Colonial Cuisine, which means a variety of delicious curries, Fish n' Chips, Shepherd's Pie (an original version and a vegetarian one) and lots more. There is attractive indoor and outdoor seating and The Moon Under Water has a very laidback feel.

Red Mesa Cantina
128 Third Street S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

This modern Mexican taqueria is a fun place with two full bars and indoor and outdoor seating. Locals love their duck quesidillas, guacamole, their variety of drinks adn cheerful vibe.

Queen & I
2410 Central Ave
St Petersburg, FL 33712

This trendy Thai and Sushi restaurant in the Grand Central District doesn't just have a catchy name, it also has a wide menu variety of Thai favorites and a full sushi bar. Locals love the Red Curry Chicken and the Dragon Sushi Roll.

Craftsman House Restaurant & Art Gallery
2955 Central Avenue
St Petersburg, FL 33713

Craftsman is a cool combination of gallery, coffee shop, and cafe. Specializing in American food and salads and sandwiches, the amazing house and art gallery is definitely something you'll want to hit.

St. Petersburg has so much to offer and has so much charm that you might just want to stay for a while.