©Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
St. Petersburg
Central Avenue in St. Petersburg may just be Southern Florida’s funkiest street. It’s full of color, whether that be from its myriad of murals (there are 600 in St. Pete), brightly colored storefronts and exteriors, Pride displays and art collections.
But it’s also the disposition of its people that makes Central Avenue worthy of its discovery.
Central Avenue starts at the waterfront and stretches west, offering a variety of experiences along the way. Florida Craft Art is your go-to destination for artisanal works. Find Dale Chihuly’s masterpieces at the Morean Arts Center.
©Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
The Grand Central District, which runs between 16th and 31st streets, is the city’s original gayborhood, full of fun and flair. ArtPool is stuffed with candy-wrapper dresses, handmade jewelry, throwback handbags and every type of sunglasses you can imagine. A little further down, the Craftsman House Gallery Cafe Studios is housed in a 1918 bungalow and showcases pottery (with a working pottery studio and an eatery serving light fare), décor and other handmade goods.
©Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
When we say everyone is welcome, we mean everyone is welcome, including your pups. At Dog Bar, you can enjoy a beer while your dog has a water, after some play time at this 6,000-square-foot dog park. It’s no coincidence that the acronym of Pinellas Ale Works, a 15-barrel dog-focused brewery, is PAW. Attention-grabbing brews include the Milk Bone Sweet Stout, Pomeranian Porter and Piddle Pils German Pilsner, but even greater are the monthly events that benefit Pinellas County animal charities.
©Visit St. Pete/Clearwater
You’ll find the dining selections in Central Avenue just as diverse: We suggest Baba for those who love Mediterranean food, Pacific Counter for fans of sushi, Il Ritorno for unforgettable Italian and Bodega for locals-favorite Cuban cuisine.
