8 reasons to explore Florida's Clearwater and St Petersburg

When you think of Florida, you're as likely to conjure up images of the Magic Kingdom at Disney, Orlando as you are the bright lights of Miami. Little explored by most UK tourists, St Petersburg and Clearwater on the West Coast are Florida's best-kept secrets.

From the museum-packed arts community of downtown St Pete to Clearwater's 35 miles of white sand beaches (voted the best in the US), this is a destination worth exploring if you're in search of a holiday with both beach and culture.

Images: St. Pete/Clearwater (visitstpeteclearwater.com)

Clearwater Community Sailing Centre is a not-for-profit organisation providing affordable sailing lessons to the local community and tourists alike – we arrived when the junior summer schools were finishing for the day. In a community which sits on a peninsula, almost completely surrounded by water, it was heartwarming to see school children spending their holidays out of doors learning to sail, rather than stuck inside playing computer games. A one-hour Intro to Sailing lesson for groups of three or less costs $100 (about £65) with a trained instructor.

A five-minute walk away is Columbia Restaurant (columbiarestaurant.com), which first opened in 1905 and is the oldest restaurant in the State (this isn't the original). It’s a wonderful place to refuel in Old World-style surrounds after being out on the water. Try its delicious 1905-salad and tapas-style bites – the menu is extensive, but the crab croquettes and stuffed champignons are delicious and come served on a three-tiered cake stand.

For details of the Clearwater Community Sailing Center visit clearwatercommunitysailing.org.

One of the major collections of Dalian art outside of Spain sits in The Dali Museum overlooking the waterfront in Downtown St Pete. The architecture itself is worth a look; an impressive glass facade snakes around the building giving it a cathedral-like appearance (pictured). Worshippers of Dali will find 2000 originals inside including 8 of the artist’s jaw-dropping Masterworks (there are 18 known worldwide) and early Impressionist-style canvases.

While Downtown, try your hand at your own Dali masterpiece at Painting with a Twist. A two-hour class costs $35 (about £23) and includes canvas, materials and a tutor, and is a brilliantly fun way to spend an afternoon.

Admission to The Dali Museum costs $21 (about £14) for adults, which includes a free docent-led guided tour. For details visit thedali.org. Find out more about Painting with a Twist by visiting paintingwithatwist.com/stpetersburg.

Clearwater Beach hosts its own sunset festival each night at Pier 60 (sunsetsatpier60.com). This free event brings local artists, musicians and craft sellers together in one place to witness one of nature’s most beautiful events, night after night.

If you’d like to give back to nature, Tampa Bay Watch is a not-for-profit organisation looking after the marine and wetland environments around the Tampa Bay estuary. You can get involved by volunteering your time and joining them for a morning’s planting by contacting tampabaywatch.org.

As well as boosting 35-miles of uninterrupted beach front, there are many dining options to chose from along this stretch of coast. A must is a visit to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill – a casual beachfront venue which does a superb grouper sandwich complete with uninterrupted sunset views (frenchysonline.com).

For something more refined, head a couple of doors down to Caretta on the Gulf (sandpearl.com). Here, you’ll find everything from surf & turf sushi rolls to an 18oz buffalo ribeye (not for the faint hearted).

Start your arts-fuelled day with a trip to the Chihuly Collection. This collection of artist Dale Chihuly’s works includes larger-than-life aquatic scenes in colourful glass and huge statement chandeliers, which give a new meaning to the term ‘centrepiece’. The blue chandelier (pictured) features 367 individual pieces of glass.

You can combine your ticket with a trip to the Glass Studio and Hot Shop for a 30-minute class to make your own glass ornament under the instruction of one of the resident artists.

If pottery appeals, the old Seaboard train station now houses the Morean Center for Clay which is just as much fun. There’s a local trolley route which lets you travel between the studios and museum.

A pass to visit the Chihuly Collection, Glass Studio, Hot Shop and Morean Center for Clay costs $19.95 (about £13). For details visit moreanartscenter.org

Clearwater is home to Winter the dolphin from hit children’s film, Dolphin’s Tale – about the first dolphin to learn to swim with the aid of a prosthetic tail. Visit Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which is a fully operational marine hospital.

Also see dolphins in the wild (pictured) on board the Little Toot (littletoot.us), which departs from Clearwater Marina daily. You’re guaranteed a dolphin sighting – which jump and frolic in the little tug’s wake – or your next trip is free.

Adult admission to Clearwater Marine Aquarium costs $19.95 (about £13) and $14.95 (about £10) for children aged 3-12. For details visit seewinter.com

There are many smaller communities worth exploring away from the beach and city. Dunedin is famous for its antique shops, craft fairs and emerging local craft beers. Stop by the Dunedin Brewery (dunedinbrewery.com) – the oldest in Florida despite being from the early 20th century – for a taste of what’s on offer.

Travel with Virgin Holidays from £1,079 for 7 nights, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick direct to Orlando, accommodation at Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort on a room-only basis and car hire.

For more information on St Pete/Clearwater visit visitstpeteclearwater.com