5 FREE Things to Do in St. Pete
Are you in St. Pete for the weekend and want to find some fun things to do or places to visit on a budget?
I’ve collected five of my favorite things to do around St. Pete for FREE, (spoiler alert, #5 is a bit biased) so maybe you can enjoy them too.
Forewarning, I am a bit of a nature buff, so a lot of these things have to do with being outside or enjoying the flora and fauna of Florida (say that five times fast!).
I often find there is a meditative quality to nature, as you are allowed to disconnect from your own personal, human experience to see what beauty is in the grand scale of the world.
With that being said, here are 5 of my favorite FREE things to do around and in St. Pete!
Sunsets at Pier 60
Sunsets at Pier 60 Daily Festival on Clearwater Beach operates 364 days a year from two hours before until two hours after sunset, weather permitting.
The nightly sunset celebration features artisans, crafters, street performers, and our world famous Pier 60 sunsets.
From perusing miniature blown glass sculptures to watching jugglers toss ever more ridiculous objects across the pier to each other a visit to this festival is always worth the trip.
The sunsets are beautiful and always a meditative experience, you can’t help but notice your thoughts and emotions while watching the sun paint the sky in vibrant hues.
Morean Arts Center
Boasting one of the oldest Modern art collections in Florida, the Morean Arts Center is always a treat to walk through.
With events happening almost every weekend, the Morean provides plenty of family friendly, as well as adult entertainment.
Though not every exhibit is free, most are and you can make quite a day of wandering around the museum taking notes on what pieces of art you like, why, and what other thoughts spring from witnessing the creativity of others.
I love to draw connections between what a certain piece of art evokes in me and what memories it triggers, so I can notice what the art does to my thoughts.
Spongeorama
It’s a little campy I know, but it’s at least a fun tourist trap to visit once or twice.
The Spongeorama Sponge Factory has the worlds largest collection of natural seas sponges in their museum, as well as an information movie about the business of sponging (creating sponges, sponge harvesting…? I’m not entirely sure of the correct terminology in this case!).
At the end of the movie you have free rein of the museum and gift shop where you can purchase natural sponge products to your heart’s content.
This attraction is weird and wacky and definitely worth at least one visit!
Florida Botanical Gardens
The Florida Botanical Gardens inspires and educates visitors by showcasing flora, fauna, and natural resources in motivational surroundings that promote environmentally friendly techniques.
If you’ve never been to these gardens you’re really missing out.
I always love coming to the gardens and having a stroll while I sip on a tea or some other cold beverage.
Regardless of how recently I have been it always feels like something new is waiting for me to notice it when I return, almost like a mindfulness activity on it’s own.
Between the top-notch gardens and wonderful knowledge on hand, there are always extra events going on where you can learn or experience even more.
Mindfulness Meditation Class
Of course I’m a little biased about this last one, because IT’S MY CLASS!
I love being able to take friends, family, and students out to the beach for a mindfulness meditation class the first Sunday of each month.
My class is for anyone who wants to experience mindfulness in a beautiful outdoor setting where you can really let your thoughts flow.
I hope you can join me out on the beach for a morning filled with calming waves and mindful vibes!
Looking for something a little more regular than a one-a-month beach meditation class? Make sure to check out the other services I offer!
From my home studio in Tampa Bay I offer yoga and meditation classes (both personal and corporate), as well as workshops for MBSR.
If you’re not in the Tampa Bay area I have several online classes available through Zoom Meeting.
Be sure to follow me @lotusheartmindfulness on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more mindfulness inspiration!
