Get in touch with your wild side. From the pristine beaches of unspoiled barrier islands, to the wildlife that abounds on land, sea and air, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is truly a natural wonder. And no visit would be complete without experiencing some of these riches.

Florida Botanical Gardens
Discover the area's flora up close. The Florida BotanicalGardens showcases the area's plant life and helps you understand the area's unique plant species.

12175 125th St., N.
Largo, FL
727-582-2100

Sunken Gardens
A virtual Garden of Eden, the park is considered one of the best botanical exhibits in the United States. One of the oldest attractions in Florida, the gardens present thousands of plants and even flamingoes and the American Bald Eagle.

1825 Fourth St., No.
St. Petersburg, FL
727-551-3100

Sea Oats
While visiting any of our area beaches you'll notice short bridge "walkovers" which keep people from trampling the area's sensitive sea oats. Due to the sea oats important role in the area's ecology, steps have been taken to preserve them all along the coastline. At most beaches you can read signs detailing their role in the environment and about efforts to keep them established.

Clean Beaches
The area is one of the first in the country recognized by the Clean Beaches Council for its ecological efforts.

Birding
The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area is a birders paradise. The area boasts many indigenous species and is an importantstop over for many migratory species making their way across the Gulf of Mexico. The area is also home of the annual Florida Birding Festival and Nature Expo.

Sea Life
Discover the denizens of the deep.

Marine Life Adventures
Marine Life Adventures are offered by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium providing an interactive marine field experience with levels to match anyone's level. Trips vary from short sight seeing excursions introducing you to the wild inhabitants of Clearwater Harbor to four days of active field research on creatures large and small.

Dolphin Watching Cruises
What could more fitting for a beach location than to hop aboard a vessel and see dolphin up close in their natural environment. Several area Dolphin watch cruises offer you an opportunity to see them in person.

Manatees
Winter is the perfect time to watch the manatees. That's when these gentle giants gather in the warm waters of the rivers and inlets into the Gulf.

Turtles
Several types of endangered sea turtles will be nesting and hatching on the area's 35 miles of beaches from April through November. Florida is the world's second largest rookery for Loggerhead sea turtles, and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area was home to more than 165 nests and 10,000 hatchlings last year. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers educational "Turtle Walks" with marine biologists June through August for visitors and residents who wish to learn more about this endangered species.

Area Parks
The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area has preserved thousands of acres that give you the perfect opportunity to get in touch with the natural environment. Weedon Island in St. Petersburg offers a 3,000-foot boardwalk will take nature lovers through a mangrove forest to a four-story, 50-foot high observation tower offering panoramic views of Tampa Bay. The park also offers a canoe and kayak trail. Brooker Creek Preserve also offers a nature trail, perfect for day hikes. While Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg take you back in time, showing the flora and fauna of decades past (and even live alligators of today!)

Go To Parks.