I can’t believe that it had been over 3 years since I was on a plane or went on vacation until this recent getaway…a global pandemic can really disrupt your life. But I finally decided that it was time to get back out there in the world. But this trip came with a lot of trepidation and anxiety. I am still much more cautious regarding Covid than most people are, so a lot of care went into choosing a destination. I wanted a short flight, no connections, and somewhere that I could spend the majority of time outdoors. I considered various Caribbean and domestic destinations, and ultimately chose St. Petersburg, Florida.
This ended up being a perfect destination for what I was looking for. The flight from LaGuardia to Tampa was quick and easy, under 3 hours. I was one of very few people wearing a mask, both on the plane and in the airports. I was nervous about how mask wearing would be received in Florida, where I know it met was quite a bit of resistance from the beginning. If people thought I was crazy, nobody told me so to my face.
I chose a small hotel in downtown St. Petersburg, the Inn on Third (https://www.theinnonthird.com/). I can’t recommend this place highly enough. Centrally located, clean, and charming, it was a perfect choice for me. The hotel offers continental breakfast and happy hour with a free drink (beer, wine or soda) every evening. As a solo traveler, this was a great way to meet some of the other guests. Furthermore, the owners and staff were very helpful and friendly. The first morning I ate breakfast outside because I was determined to not be maskless indoors, but the hotel quickly became the only place I ended up taking off my mask other than when outdoors.
I spend a good part of my 4 days in St. Petersburg enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. I walked along the pier, explored street art, visited Sunken Gardens botanical garden, and went to the beach (the Sun Runner bus gets you there from downtown in about 30 minutes, and as an added bonus it’s free until April 2023). Besides those activities, I visited 3 museums: the Chihuly Collection, the Dali Museum, and the James Museum. For a small city, St. Pete has an impressive amount of cultural offerings.
And I ate! Other than breakfast at the hotel, I was able to eat all meals outdoors, which was a factor when choosing my destination. I was impressed by the variety, quality, and affordability of the restaurants within walking distance of my hotel. Memorable meals included a Cuban sandwich at Bodega, enchilladas at Red Mesa Cantina, and an omelet at 2nd and Second. If I’d had more time, there was also Vietnamese, Thai, and Portuguese restaurants all in the area.
This four day vacation in Florida felt monumental at this moment in time, yet also like baby steps compared to trips that I’ve done in the past. I was quickly reminded of how exhilarating it feels to explore someplace new. Hopefully now I will be ready for something more ambitious in 2023!
Fierce Sunflower 