Well, it may not be Saint Petersburg Russia, but the city was named after the city in Russia by one of the city’s founders who spent his youth in the Russian city. But enough of the boring history… onto what it’s now better known for, the sun, the sand, and the food!

Sample some good southern barbecue, might I suggest the pork belly with Sandi’s blue cheese slaw paired with a Peach XXX jalapeno margarita. You’ll need that ten minute walk to Tropicana field to walk off that pork fat! It’ll be an experience to catch a Tampa Bay Rays game on Independence day which is in covered venue.

After making some room after the festivities from the game, head to downtown Saint Pete to a little cafe called Swah Rey for a decadent ginormous piece of chocolate cake or if you prefer, a mini cupcake on top of a shot of libation of your choice, cleverly called a “hookup”!

If I lived in Saint Pete, I’d be much heavier, for the restaurants are abundant and walking distance of each other. Two more of my favorites… Salt features tableside catch of the day, which was a lovely mild Branzino when we went and of course, my dinner companion just had to order the cotton candy topped cocktail!

The second of my Saint Pete favs is “The Mill”, a great place for an eclectic mix of cuisine, and brunch is a must featuring a charcuterie of scratch made biscuits and a diversity of bacons from lamb to gator.