Fun Ways to Enjoy a Healthy Vacation in St. Pete/Clearwater
Escape to the laid-back lifestyle of St. Pete/Clearwater, where healthy vacations are easy to plan.
Anclote Key offers pristine white-sand beaches with offshore sandbars that are popular on weekends - especially for kayakers and paddleboarders.
Kickstart your Florida getaway by soaking in our warm Gulf waters, melt your worries away at a spa retreat, stay active with fun activities, and embrace the ultimate vacation vibe. Our guide features top ideas for wellness experiences and other ways to stay on track in St. Pete/Clearwater.
Pack your sense of adventure and make a plan for some well-deserved "me time" in our sunny destination.
St. Pete's downtown waterfront is the perfect place for a walk or run.
Get Outdoors
Join a Running Tour
Ditch the usual gym routine, lace up your running shoes and head outside for scenic running tours in St. Pete. Fill your lungs with fresh air and freedom as you explore hidden murals and bay views across 5K to 21K distances for a refreshing endorphin rush amid great scenery.
Fort De Soto Park is a fun spot for families, with a gorgeous beach and plenty of opportunities for recreation, including biking and kayaking.
Walk, Jog or Bike
Explore scenic pathways at your own pace. Hit the Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail in Clearwater for postcard-perfect views or meander the North Bay Trail along the St. Pete waterfront. If biking is your activity of choice, cruise with rental bikes from Coast Bike Share, Bay E-Bikes or Kafe Racer. Refresh yourself with coastal breezes while walking or biking at Fort De Soto Park.
Visitors can soar above the treetops on a zipline tour with Empower Adventures Tampa Bay.
Zipline or Rock Climb
Take your outdoor adventures to new heights and zipline through the treetops at Empower Adventures Tampa Bay in Oldsmar or rock-climb at Vertical Ventures in St. Pete, where you’ll test your resolve and get a great workout scaling over 150 climbing routes and bouldering terrains.
Accessible only by ferry, private boat or kayak, uninhabited Caladesi Island is a great place to relax and unwind.
Enjoy Water Sports
Channel your inner surfer and take a kitesurfing lesson or hop on a jet ski and feel the rush of wind across your face. If speed isn’t your thing, navigate a kayak or paddleboard through tranquil waters. Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin is a kayaking paradise, with 3.5 miles of kayaking trails that wind through mangroves (you can rent a watercraft right on the Dunedin Causeway, across from Caladesi Island). In north St. Pete, Weedon Island Preserve is another popular spot for kayakers and offers rentals on-site.
Numerous trails and boardwalks wind through Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. Photo: Beth Stombaugh
Go on a Nature Hike
Walk in the shade of towering oaks and longleaf pines when you hike the trails at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Pete or explore the boardwalks and waterfront overlooks at George C. McGough Nature Park (also known as the "turtle park" for its resident population) in Largo. Go early in the morning, or near dusk to John Chesnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor, and you're likely to see deer grazing peacefully. Tip: If you're looking for the most serene experience, weekday mornings are the best time to visit our parks.
Experience a luxurious oasis at Sandpearl Resort & Spa in Clearwater Beach.
Relax & Refresh
Say Spa
Kick off your shoes, throw on a plush spa robe and forget about your cares during a day of pampering at a resort spa. Head to wellness havens like Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Sandpearl Spa in Clearwater Beach, Vinoy Spa in St. Pete or Spa Oceana at the legendary Don CeSar hotel in St. Pete Beach. These highly rated resort spas offer luxurious treatments that will make you look and feel like you've turned back time.
Greet sunrise at one of downtown St. Pete's waterfront parks.
Take a Yoga Class
Move your body and practice mindfulness at one of many yoga sessions in the area. Get your zen on and say “namaste” to the waves during beachside yoga sessions with Ocean Fitness Yoga or Nava Yoga Studio. Or catch a free sunset yoga session with The Body Electric at the St. Pete Pier on the first Wednesday of every month.
The beloved flamingos are a big draw at Sunken Gardens just north of downtown St. Pete.
Walk in a Gorgeous Garden
Plant lovers can forget the concrete jungle and say hello to botanical wonders like the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo (bonus: admission is free!). Or treat yourself to a day at Sunken Gardens in St. Pete to stroll through a tropical paradise filled with exotic plants and flowers.
Good Intentions is known for its delicious and fresh fare.
Eat Healthy & Delicious
From fresh local produce featured on restaurant menus to gluten-free and other dietary dining options, there are plenty of healthy ways to tempt your taste buds in St. Pete/Clearwater.
Go for a Smoothie
Need something tasty and healthy to fuel your vacation adventures? Grab a fruit-infused smoothie, protein shake or green juice from Karma Juice Bar & Eatery, Soho Juice Co. or Squeeze Juice Works that’ll leave you feeling like a million bucks.
Choose Veggies
St. Pete/Clearwater's collection of plant-based eateries is impressive. Sushi aficionados will get a kick out of the fresh and tasty vegan sushi at House of Vegano, where you can enjoy specialties like house-made dumplings and vegan "caviar." Restaurants such as Good Intentions, Cider Press Vegan GastroPub and Love Food Central delight diners with their elevated vegan offerings.
Not ready to say goodbye to meats and cheeses? Herbivores and carnivores can head to Fresca Vida in Clearwater, CALI or the gluten-free Craft Kafe to dive into meals that satisfy every dietary desire while also infusing the dishes with nourishing vegetables.
About Our Writer
Zebrina Edgerton-Maloy is a Black Latina writer, photographer, videographer and artist who creates multimedia stories about travel, art, diversity, entrepreneurship and wellness. Zebrina is also the co-founder of Black Stock Footage, a stock video platform specializing in Black representation. After being born and raised in Miami, Zebrina is now proud to call Tampa Bay home for nearly 10 years. When she's not crafting stories of impact, you can find Zebrina in St. Pete/Clearwater's nature parks hiking on trails, kayaking through mangroves, or painting plein-air watercolor artworks inspired by Florida's landscapes.