St Petersburg: Florida's fun-loving waterfront city

Simon Calder crosses Tampa Bay to the lively beach resort of St Pete's

From Tampa, the St Petersburg adventure begins as soon as you step aboard the Cross-Bay Ferry, a fast catamaran that sails across Tampa Bay to St Petersburg’s waterfront in about an hour – with the treat of great views of the skyline as you approach.

Once ashore at St Petersburg, you can turn right around and head back out on the water: rent a Jet Ski, an eco-friendly electric boat or an even more environmentally sensitive stand-up paddle board, to explore Tampa Bay – and enjoy the sights of the waterfront – at a human-powered pace.

Bada Bing Water Sports has arrived on the waterfront. For something swifter, accelerate your adventure by chartering a jet boat to view the city skyline. Back on dry land, you can accelerate your sightseeing to a maximum speed of 12mph on a Magic Carpet Glide Segway tour. This involves a sophisticated and fun piece of kit known as a “self-balancing personal transporter”. You will surprise yourself with how quickly you pick up the technique of using gentle shifts in weight to speed up (lean forward), slow down (lean back) and turn.

Enjoy a speedboat ride around the bay

One of your stops on the guided tour will be at the downtown airstrip, with a memorial to one of St Petersburg’s strongest claims to fame: as the birthplace of commercial aviation. In December 1913, a pilot named Tony Jannus announced the first paying flights across Tampa Bay, and an auction to be the first on board.

The St Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line began on New Year’s Day, 1914, flying passengers the 23 miles to Tampa in about 15 minutes. The first passenger was Abram C Pheil, who bid $400 (today around $10,000) for the privilege. The biplane barely climbed above sea level, but launched a transportation revolution that has blossomed worldwide.

At the park in the centre of the St Petersburg waterfront, a huddle of banyan trees is a reminder of the day Harvey Firestone (the tyre magnate) gave Thomas Edison (the electricity innovator) a four-foot high Indian banyan tree which has colonised this corner of Florida.

Fly on 18 September 2019, direct from London Heathrow to Tampa with Virgin Atlantic from only £679pp. This offer is based on a 7 night stay at 3.5* Sirata Beach Resort in a standard room, on a room only basis. This offer is based on 2 adults sharing. For more information or to book, please visit myamericaholiday or call 020 8290 9751.

Car hire from Tampa International Airport, Florida with Hertz starts from £25 a day. For road trip inspiration, head to the Hertz American Road Trip Planner and discover iconic and off-the-beaten track routes, downloadable maps and insider guides.

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