A Hot June Afternoon at St. Pete’s Pass-A-Grille Beach

Mike and I have been checking out all the wonderful white sand beaches since relocating to Tampa from Massachusetts. Recently, someone told us about this quite gem located near Clearwater that doesn’t receive nearly as much traffic. Pass-A-Grille Beach, located on the southern end of St. Pete, is popular with Bay area locals due to the pristine nature and lack of tourists.

First off, we noticed an attractive absence of hotels and restaurants lining the beach, unlike neighboring, over commercialized beaches. While the beach is quaint, it is not the most spacious. Taking a glance at the photo below, you can see that, although this beach is quite beautiful, there is not much room to spread out. That being said, I really love the scenery here and the water took on a gorgeous turquoise tone.

Old Florida appeal

This is a pretty old-school area which you don’t find much anymore as big chains have replaced much of the local businesses over the years. I found out that this is what locals call “Old Florida.” Surrounding the beach, you will find a. quaint, historic shopping, dining, and residential area. Beautiful colorful homes and lush landscaping replace chains and commercialization. There are plenty of local restaurants and hotels, each with their own individual charm. This area is the exact opposite of Clearwater which is a really active, high energy area with many chains/shops/arcades.

While this beach is much quieter than touristy Clearwater, on weekends, you will still find lots of people playing loud music on the beach. Summer weekends are definitely not the time for a romantic stroll or quiet afternoon of reading. I recommend visiting during the off season (spring outside of spring break and fall) to truly enjoy the scenery in a more peaceful way.

Although trademark “Florida white,” the sand was not very smooth with too many cigarette butts lying around everywhere. Too rocky and too much seaweed for a beach walk as you can see in the photos below. On the other hand, we did find a lot of great shells. Next time, I will probably wear my toe running shoes.

This beach is consistently ranks as one of the hidden gems of Florida. Honestly, my vote goes to Indian Rocks, although this beach is still a low-key alternative to Clearwater if you are staying out this way. On the plus side, I did not notice many umbrella rentals on the beach, which I feel take away from the peaceful nature of a beach. I did appreciate the lack of vendors attempting to sell you something – Clearwater is loaded with them. Another bonus is opportunities for lots of sea shell collecting, especially at the furthest south end of the beach near the jetty.

Pretty views by the jetty

You are likely to see lots of interesting birds. Snowy egrets are super common and I see them at pretty much every beach. Florida in general is a great place for birdwatching. Many sites across the Bay are part of the Great Florida Birding trail.

Great for swimming!

In addition, swimming with light waves (from the constant boats going by) always makes things a bit more exciting. This is a fun beach for boogie boarding. The beach is several miles long, and would be great for a stroll (with shoes on) on less busy weekday mornings.

I am definitely going to visit on a weekday to see if the beach is any less crowded and noisy. Do avoid walking during the atrociously hot & humid summer months – it is not fun! The water can often be too warm for swimming, making spring the best choice.

From a distance, you can see a stand out pink building, the Don CeSar. This historic hotel maintains a classic Florida look. This architectural beauty opened in 1928 and was referred to as the “Pink Palace.” The classic hotel has been renovated inside, and includes rooms with balconies facing the Gulf. This beach is really popular for weddings. In fact, we saw one being set up this afternoon near this hotel!

Update: Mike and I visited this beach on a weekday and felt it was a much more peaceful experience (I would say the same for most beaches in this region). We have also lived in the Bay area for 3 years now and had the opportunity to check out many popular tourist attractions as well as hidden gems. I recommend checking out my Gulf beach guide as well as my Bay area bucket list for more recommendations on great things to do in this underrated metro.

Best time to visit

Although quite busy on weekends, early morning/sunset/weekdays offers a much more tranquil and less touristy vibe. Not only will the temperatures be cooler, but the crowds will be pretty much non existent. I noticed that other area beaches tend to thin out later in the day as the sun begins to go down. I think I would rather visit when the temps are cooler as I can’t bear the heat and humidity for too long.

Location/Parking

This beach is located at the southern end of St. Pete Beach (starting at 22nd Avenue in St. Petersburg). Once you have gone past the big pink hotel (Don CeSar), you will be in the right area. Parking is metered. Avoid spring break at all costs as the parking fees are outrageous and it is often impossible to find a space after mid morning.

Where to eat

Seahorse is a highly recommended local cafe for breakfast. They serve a huge menu and offer outdoor seating. If you are seeking something a bit more casual, Cafe Soleil is a decent local coffeeshop. They serve great coffee from local roaster Kahwa and make fresh pastries daily. I recommend the Lemon Flan or Chocolate Croissant. Unfortunately, they do not offer refills for free which is irritating, but the food is pretty good and it’s the best non chain choice by the beach.