In fact, three in the Tampa Bay area are consistently ranked among the country's top ten. And many of the best happen to be on the gulf coast. It's nearly impossible to think of Florida without imagining palm-fringed beaches. The metro trains, trams and buses stop running fairly early, making them unpractical for those interested in exploring gay nightlife. There is good public transportation, see for an overview, but you're better off driving. If you plan to drive, you will find easy access to both cities via the interstate highways. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport, but the Tampa airport is larger, often with less expensive flights. The housing is primarily bungalows from the 1920's with large front porches (the site of many gay "porch parties").īoth Tampa and St Pete have international airports, which makes for easy access to both sides of the bay. And historic Kenwood has become St Petersburg gay neighborhood. There are plenty of bars on or near this thoroughfare. Most gay businesses are located near Central Avenue in what has become known as the Grand Central District. The area also offers several gay-friendly bed & breakfasts and a just-opened gay hotel. Here you'll find the incredible Salvador Dali Museum, now in it's brand new building, housing the largest collection of works by the artist outside of his native Spain. It's now home to many theaters, art galleries, and museums.
Once a bit down at heel, St Petersburg has enjoyed a real renaissance in the past few years. Not far away are Clearwater and other cities with gay communities, along the coast. And across the bay is its sister city of St Petersburg. On one side is Tampa, which has a long and interesting heritage. The Tampa Bay area is made up of two cities on opposite sides of the bay. From the beautiful sunrises and romantic sunsets to the tropical weather with the occasional awe-inspiring electrical storm to the ever-changing nightlife, there is always something new to discover. You don't have to look hard to see that the Tampa Bay area has much to offer the gay traveler. See the Visit Tampa Bay, City of St Petersburg, and Florida Health websites for local updates.
See the CDC website for details and updates. There are restrictions on the entry of certain travelers into the United States in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Emergency measures in the wake of Covid-19: