15 Budget Friendly Spring Vacation Destinations
13. St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida
A pretty sunset at Clearwater Beach.
Spring is a great time to visit Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches. The weather is a little bit cooler than the extreme hot, humid summer season, with average temps in the 80’s with much lower humidity than the summer season. It may be crowded, but nowhere near so as much as the busy summer season. During this period, you can usually find non beachfront hotels in the lower $100 range. Not as quiet as areas mentioned above like Amelia Island, however, there are plenty of beautiful beaches and parks to explore. The moderate spring temperatures allow you to take advantage of all the great free outdoor activities found throughout the region.
Budget friendly fun in the area
*Visiting the gorgeous Gulf Coast Beaches – Most of the beaches in the area do not charge admission other than small fees associated with parking, and oftentimes you can find free street parking. Clearwater Beach is well known for its’ smooth, powdery soft sand. In addition to daytime beach relaxation and swimming in the warm waters of the Gulf, every night a free Sunsets at the Pier festival is held. Here you will find live music, live entertainment, and movies on the beach.
If you are looking for less tourists, head over to Sand Key. Sand Key, Clearwater’s neighbor, does not have the same fine sand, however, it is a great place to relax and collect seashells. Pass a Grille Beach in St. Petersburg is a laid-back alternative to St. Pete Beach for those looking less crowds. Fort DeSoto charges a small admission fee, however, the beaches here are quiet and the extra amenities (picnicking areas, hiking trails, kayaking rentals, and a beautiful bike trail) make it more than worthwhile. Indian Rocks Beach, located in between Clearwater and St. Pete in beautiful Indian Rocks, is another scenic local option without the hefty tourists.
Sand Key Beach
Pass-A-Grille Beach
Fort DeSoto beach
Indian Rocks Beach
*Enjoying a local hiking trail – There are plenty of trails in the area, many with great water views and ample wildlife. Weedon Island Preserve is a gorgeous natural area with stunning views of the bay. It never gets too crowded on the trails so there are lots of opportunities for seeing all different types of birds and small wildlife species. Boyd Hill Nature Area in St. Pete allows you to take a leisurely walk amongst several different Florida ecosystems (you can also pay a small fee to take a guided tram tour). Boyd Hill is one of the best parks in the area for alligator sightings; during the spring season you may even come across a baby gator!
Beautiful views of the bay from the Weedon Island Preserve observation tower.
An armadillo sighting on the trails at Weedon Island.
A peaceful trail at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.
A baby gator sighting at Boyd Hill.
*Biking one of the various paved trails found in the region – Tampa is home to a number of great paved recreational trails including the Pinellas Trail, one of the top rated urban rail trails in the country. The course travels from Tarpon Springs 30+ miles up to St. Petersburg. The Upper Tampa Bay Trail is another great choice with a partly tree lined course and pretty views of the Hillsborough River.
A view of the Pinellas Trail on a stormy spring afternoon.
The shady portions of the Upper Tampa Bay Trail helps dramatically with the heat.
*Enjoying a leisurely, tropical themed stroll through Sunken Garden – This quiet escape in St. Petersburg allows you to explore many of the tropical plants found in this region of Florida. The beautiful gardens happen to be one of the oldest tourist attractions in Florida (over 100 years old).
Waterfall at Sunken Gardens.
Flamingos at Sunken Gardens.
In addition, you will find many great activities and beautiful places all around Tampa Bay. Downtown Tampa is home to a beautiful bike walking/trail called Bayshore Blvd, which happens to be the longest sidewalk in the world. The newish Riverwalk is also a great trail which interconnects most of the major attractions in the city. Other budget fun include watching a sunset at tranquil Fred Howard State Park, enjoying a walk around beautiful Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa, hiking Alligator Alley at Circle B. Bar Reserve in Lakeland, and a day trip to Orlando. In addition, be sure to check out my 50 fun things to do in Tampa Bay for more fun vacation activities.
Beautiful Bayshore Blvd., the world’s longest sidewalk.
Views of Curtis Hixon Park from Tampa’s Riverwalk.
A gorgeous sunset at Fred Howard Park.
A beautiful boardwalk trail with swamp views at Lettuce Lake Park.
