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- St. Pete Beach (7)
- St. Petersburg (42)
- Tarpon Springs (3)
- Tierra Verde (17)
- Treasure Island (3)
- Consumer Information (4)
- Gems of Pinellas County (25)
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» 2009 » May
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St. Petersburg is My Pinellas
Tim Barber,
Bay Way Isles resident since 2004We’re real homebodies – because it’s so nice to be at home! Our typical Sunday is grilling, swimming and fishing right off our dock. Friends and family gather here. After living in South Tampa for many years, we wanted to be near the water, and we found this neighborhood to be perfect for our family. The community is wonderful, too. I coach basketball for each of my three sons’ teams, and I’m very involved in child advocate work. Josie has a successful shop in downtown St. Petersburg. Bay Isles is centrally located to the expressway and the beach, so it’s ideal to get to places. But being here is the best. It’s so laid back and resort-like. In addition to the wonderful weather, there’s the spectacular business climate, professional sports, so much to offer in terms of entertainment. People are happy to be here – it’s so beautiful and peaceful. We travel the world, but we always look forward to coming home.
St. Petersburg is My Pinellas.Click here to find out more about St. Petersburg.
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Largo is My Pinellas
Charles Harper,
Lifelong resident of LargoI never thought of living anywhere else. Growing up, Largo was the classic small southern town. The streets were crushed coquina shells, and there was one traffic light in town. Friday night high school football games were our biggest social event. It was a wonderful place to grow up in, and a great place to retire in. I’ve watched the city grow, and I enjoy how diversified Largo is today. We may be one of the “older” cities, but we have a vibrant younger population, too. Any type of home you’re looking for, any type of neighborhood – I believe you can find it in Largo. We’re a good size city that’s kept many of the qualities of a small town. You can find your own niche in Largo.
Largo is My Pinellas.Click here to find out more about Largo.
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Gulfport is My Pinellas
Alexandra Kingzett, long time Gulfport investor;
Resident since 2000; owner of the Peninsula Historic Inn & SpaFor a large part of my life, I’ve been at large in the world. This is the first time I’ve had a sense of belonging. When we retired from a career in the Peace Corps, my husband and I visited Gulfport to see what kind of opportunity was there. We purchased four investment homes on that first visit. In 1999, we purchased a hotel that had been boarded up for seventeen years. We had to build it practically brand new from the inside out. The following year, we also purchased our first home for ourselves here – the fabulous Brumer Estate, a sprawling house with huge old live oaks and a lawn that ran down to the water. The inn was a real catalyst for change – for a renaissance, as new people and investors and businesses came to Gulfport. For the first time in my life, I feel as though I’m part of a community — that I’ve contributed … that I’m valuable. My sense of belonging is also due to the richness of Gulfport. The town is made up of so many kinds of people. It’s a very tolerant community. Being here and owning the inn has defined a significant part of my adult life. We will continue the stewardship of the inn, to be passed on eventually. We’re just trying to set the table for the next decade.
Gulfport is My Pinellas.Click here to visit the Peninsula Inn and Spa website.
Click here to find out more about Gulfport.
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Palm Harbor is My Pinellas
Rob Randelman,
Resident of Palm Harbor since 1997As a family we spend a lot of time outdoors. The outdoor recreation here is just fantastic. Kids ride their bikes in the neighborhood and there are plenty of parks all around – ball fields, dog parks, beautiful beaches. The Pinellas Trail is just a mile away from our home, and we often ride our bikes over to it. We play a lot of golf as a family on the weekend, or we’ll take our sailboat to Caladesi Island. But we don’t have to go far to find something to do – we even have a YMCA right in the neighborhood. It’s been a great place for making new friends.
Palm Harbor is My Pinellas.Click here to find out more about Palm Harbor.
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Treasure Island
When Treasure Island residents cross over one of the three bridges to their barrier island homes, the tropical light, colorful foliage and the sound of seabirds in the air let them know they’ve arrived someplace very special.The three and a half-mile beach that fronts the Gulf of Mexico makes up the western boundary of Treasure Island. Narrow at both ends and wide in the middle, locals claim that it’s the widest beach on the Gulf Coast. At the north end is John’s Pass, with Madeira Beach on the other side, and at the south in is Blind Pass, both accesses to the Gulf of Mexico from inland waters. In fact, Treasure Island is an island.
Hotels, motels and condominiums occupy most of the beach front property while most of the town’s residents live along canals on the landside of the island. The proximity to the Gulf and the canal houses with boat slips make it a great place for boaters.
In addition to its marina and three very busy public boat ramps, the town also provides wonderful land-based recreational facilities. The Treasure Island park system was designed with the goal that every resident would be within walking distance of a park. The Treasure Island Golf & Tennis Center includes a 9-hole golf course, 10 tennis courts, plus facilities for volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and shuffleboard.
Life’s a Beach
The town’s 7,500 permanent residents and 12,000 annual visitors enjoy an easygoing, flip-flop lifestyle. They have the advantages of living in a small, but well-serviced community where they essentially are on vacation every day of the week. Treasure Island features a lively restaurant and bar scene along the beach, catering to locals as well as the high number of annual visitors from near and far.A Beach Party
An annual highlight of living in Treasure Island is the Sun, Sand and Swing festival held every May on the beach. A group of bands play most of the day and into the night, from 3 till 11 pm . It’s also a family event with activities like skim board contests for the kids.“Treasure Island was a really nice place to grow up. As kids we fished, went waterskiing and played on the beach and kids can still do that here. And you’ll not find better neighbors. We stick together and really care about our community.” Butch Ellsworth, lifelong resident.
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Factoids:
Population: 7,450
Land Area: 1.59 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 52.4
Statistics are an estimation onlyPoints of Interest: The Sun, Sand and Swing festival, Beaches, Skim Boarding, Swimming, Fishing, Marina and three very busy public boat ramps, The Treasure Island Park System, The Treasure Island Golf & Tennis Center includes a 9-hole golf course, 10 tennis courts, plus facilities for volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and shuffleboard.
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Tierra Verde
At the southern tip of Pinellas County, where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, is a string of islands collectively called Tierra Verde. This exclusive, unincorporated area is home to some 5000 residents, with a little more than a third living in single family homes and the balance residing in condominiums and townhomes.
Residents enjoy all the luxuries and conveniences right here with a wide range of restaurants, specialty shops, spa services, boutiques and more. The Tierra Verde Marina is a full-service facility catering to the many boaters who live nearby. The waterways, 150 to 350 feet wide and some 15 feet deep, have been especially engineered to allow the Gulf of Mexico’s tidal actions to help sweep them clean.
At the southern tip of Tierra Verde is one of the world’s most pristine and famous beaches, Fort DeSoto Park, designated as the #1 U.S. Beach in 2005.
A morning stroll on soft white sand, an afternoon of fishing, or an evening out at a fine restaurant can all be found “at home” when home is Tierra Verde. But should you want to venture out, St. Petersburg is only 15 minutes away, and downtown Tampa can be reached in 35 minutes.
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Factoids:
Population: 3,574
Land Area: 1.5 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 48Statistics are an estimation only
Points of Interest: Fort De Soto Park – At the southern tip of Tierra Verde. Tierra Verde Marina.
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Tarpon Springs
In the later part of the 19th Century, Tarpon Springs was a small resort village named for the leaping fish splashing in Spring Bayou. Never mind that those fish were mullet and not tarpons because the town was shortly to become world famous for another sea creature – the sponge.The discovery of a plentiful supply just in the surrounding Gulf waters soon brought islander Greeks from the Mediterranean to harvest sponges, a trade that turned out to be very profitable. In the 1930s the sponge industry was Florida’s largest, outstripping even tourism.
Tarpon Springs still benefits from that boom. First of all the Greek heritage in the town gives it a unique Eastern Mediterranean ambiance that has a wonderful transporting power. Secondly, the sponge docks are thriving still with the sponge industry having experienced a revival starting in the late 20th Century. The sponge docks are a great getaway where you can eat a great meal on the water, shop at souvenir shops, take a cruise up the Anclote River, or simply stroll and gawk.
The town’s 20,000 citizens own homes that span the gamut from mobile to mansion. It tends to be a bedroom community with many residents working in nearby Clearwater, St. Petersburg or Tampa.
Theoretically, a youngster could go from pre-school through college without leaving the city limits. In a respectful bow to local heritage, Tarpon Springs High School offers course in the Greek language. Additionally, St. Petersburg College maintains a campus in Tarpon Springs.
Recreation
The city supports several parks, and downtown the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center and the Cultural Center. On January 6 of each year, the Greek Orthodox community presents the Epiphany Celebration in which selected young men dive for the cross in Spring Bayou. The event is the largest of its kind in the U.S. and draws thousands of spectators and certainly lots of media attention. Later in the spring the Fine Arts Festival, a juried arts show, comes to town and is one of Florida’s largest.“I was born and raised here. Then I moved away for 25 years. When I came back, I discovered how much I love the place. The quaintness, the peacefulness is just like it was 50 years ago. I could hit the lottery tomorrow, but I would still live in Tarpon Springs. The history, the Greek celebrations, the beautiful places – we know what nice living is. You’ll never get me out of here.” Michael Houllis, born and raised in Tarpon Springs, and returning resident.
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Factoids:
Population: 21,003
Land Area: 9.14 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 45.4Statistics are an estimation only
Points of Interest: Unique Eastern Mediterranean Ambiance, The Sponge Docks, Great Greek Meals on the water, Take a cruise up the Anclote River, City Parks, The Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center and the Cultural Center, The Epiphany Celebration, In the spring – the Fine Arts Festival.
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St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg has been named one of America’s most livable communities, much thanks to its parks and recreational amenities, a focus on the arts community, a vibrant downtown and active neighborhood associations. It is also known for its world-famed, nearby beaches and a blessed climate where the sun shines some 360 days each year.
Pinellas Largest City
St. Petersburg’s nearly 250,000 residents live in more than 100 communities. To say there is something for everyone in St. Pete is not hyperbole. You could choose a Craftsman-style bungalow in friendly Historic Kenwood or a Mediterranean villa estate on Snell Isle. Find a restored Colonial Revival along the tree-shaded streets of Old Northeast, or a more contemporary home along the famed “Pink Streets” of Pinellas Point, a luxury high-rise condo overlooking the downtown waterfront, or a rehabbed 1920s Tudor in charming Crescent Lake.A Vibrant City Center
Downtown is a magnet to residents and visitors alike, with its phenomenal shopping and dining offerings, art galleries, antique shops and cultural and recreational facilities, ranging from the Museum of Fine Arts to the St. Petersburg Pier.Endless To Do List
St. Pete residents tend to be quite active in their own communities, but have plenty of reason to get out and about. Saturday morning at the outdoor market is a popular spot, in fact one of the nation’s largest of its kind. You may choose a night out on the town with live theater and find dining or maybe an afternoon with a glimpse of rare wildlife at Boyd Hill Nature Park. You can spend an afternoon with the kids at Great Explorations, an interactive museum, maybe followed by an evening of theater at American Stage, the Bay area’s oldest professional theater company. You can enjoy a stroll through a waterfront art festival or maybe attend a Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball game at Tropicana Field nearby.
No where else
St. Pete folks are especially proud of The Salvador Dali Museum, the world’s largest collection of Dali Art outside of Spain. Visible from downtown is the beautiful Sunshine Skyway Bridge, at 4.1 miles long and 19 stories high, the largest cable suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
Green Space
St. Pete is also one of Florida’s greenest cities with 2,300 acres of public land dedicated to parks and recreation areas across 137 city parks. Jewels include historic the Weedon Island Preserve, with a canoe trail taking you through a tunnel of native mangroves, and a portion of the Pinellas Trail.“What strikes me about our town is that in spite of lots of new construction, condos, office buildings, even a professional baseball stadium, St. Pete still feels like a small town. And with its many old buildings still preserved its evident the city has a rich history and didn’t just spring up in the last few years. Finally, I love the way our downtown waterfront has been preserved as it for the most part it is open and free for everyone to enjoy.” Pat Mason, 40-year resident.
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Factoids:
Population: 248,232
Land Area: 60.9 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 39.9Statistics are an estimation only
Points of Interest: Museum of Fine Arts, Saturday morning market, Boyd Hill Nature Park, American Stage, St. Petersburg Pier, Great Explorations, Tampa Bay Rays, The Salvador Dali Museum, Sunshine Skyway Bridge
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St. Pete Beach
The numbers tell the story of St. Pete Beach: of the some 20 square miles that comprise this barrier island community just a little over 2 square miles is land. The rest is water. Needless to say, this is a paradise for anyone who likes to sail, swim, fish or just enjoy the tranquility of waterfront living.
Island Time
Three bridges lead to this beautiful island with its soft white sand beaches, beautiful city parks, and an array of retail, restaurants and hotels that serve residents and accommodate the many visitors who are drawn here. The most famous St. Pete Beach icon is The Don Cesar, Florida’s legendary “Pink Palace” luxury resort and an area landmark for nearly a century.About 10,000 people live year-round in St. Pete Beach yet the number of residents doubles in the winter, when seasonal residents from other parts of the U.S., Canada and Europe come to stay. About 28 percent of the homes here are in fact second homes.
Activities
The warm Gulf waters and 4 ½ miles of beach afford plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. But St. Pete Beach also has one of the most active parks and recreation programs anywhere. The Family Aquatic Center is a popular destination for locals, and offers classes and swim teams along with the opportunity to just relax around the pool. Residents might partake in a painting class at the Cultural Arts Center or a hip hop class at the Community Center. Sports leagues are popular among adults and kids.
Special Time
Every April people from all over the county come to St. Pete Beach for the Beach Goes Pops event on Pass-a-Grill Beach. It’s free to the public with jazz on Friday and full orchestra pops on Saturday. In November the city puts on the Annual Fish Broil and Auction which started in the 1930s as a way to raise money for schools. This popular event features mullet charcoaled over open pits.“St. Pete Beach is an island, a small place that’s not going to get any bigger. Those of us who live here love it and feel fortunate to be a part of it. Truth be known, I hate leaving the island for anything.” Danny Walker, resident since 1973.
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Factoids:
Population: 9,929
Land Area: 2.25 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 53.7Points of Interest: Sailing, Swimming, Fishing, Waterfront living, White Sand Beaches, City Parks, The Don Cesar, Outdoor Recreation Opportunities. The Family Aquatic Center, The Cultural Arts Center, The Community Center, Sports leagues.
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South Pasadena
The small, quiet community of South Pasadena, nestled between southwest St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach, offers a comfortable setting and ideal location for the many retirees and others who enjoy life in this Florida Gulf coast community.
The town of South Pasadena covers just two thirds of a mile, yet supports a population of over 6,000 people. Mostly because of the large number of high-rises, South Pasadena is one of the more, if not the most, dense city in Florida with more than eighty-five percent of the housing stock is condominiums on the water. In fact, two-thirds of the town is bordered by Boca Ciega Bay.Made for Retirees
The median age of South Pasadena residents is 71 ½, citizens who mostly are retirees from up north who leave for the summer months.Not surprisingly, there is a large medical establishment to support the elderly population, from doctors’ offices and walk-in clinics, to the Palms of Pasadena, a 300-bed facility that services the town and nearby beach communities.
Getting Outdoors
Ironically, while being densely populated, South Pasadena also contains four parks. Locals take a great deal of pride in the parks and continually plant them with well-tended trees and plants. Once you see the parks you are left without a doubt that South Pasadena residents really do like their walks with lots of greenery and an occasional piece of exercise equipment.Neighbors might meet at one of the city tennis courts for a game, or enjoy a cookout at a park. The city hosts a yearly Spring Art Festival, where residents and visitors enjoy the art show and stroll along the main waterfront streets of the town.
For beach lovers, lots of beautiful Gulf Beaches lie but a short drive away. For those more interested in hitting the links, the plethora of golf courses in the surrounding area satisfy even the most avid golfer.
“South Pasadena is a low-key waterfront community – a very nice type of living for senior citizens.” Fred Held, ex-mayor and a 40-year resident.
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Factoids:
Population: 5,778
Land Area: 0.68 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 70.6Points of Interest: Four Parks. City Tennis Courts, Cookout at a park, Spring Art Festival, Waterfront streets, Gulf Beaches Golf courses.
Statistics are an estimation only
- Come join the Tampa Bay Rowdies for Military Appreciation Night for a chance to honor local troops!
- Greek Wine and Food Tasting to benefit All Children’s Hospital and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Time is running out to stand up for sensible mortgage rules
- Fort De Soto – Quartermaster Storehouse Museum
- Midday By The Bay
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