Planning a trip to the Sunshine City? My family spent the long Veteran’s Day weekend exploring all that the RumFish Beach Resort in nearby St. Pete Beach has to offer. We had such a great time, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. First, though, a quick overview of St. Pete Beach for those who aren’t familiar with it.
Where is St. Pete Beach?
If you’re looking for a fun place to go in Florida that’s close to cities just a bit more populated than the picturesque Naples yet not quite as bustling as Miami or Orlando, get ready to fall in love with St. Petes Beach. Located just about 12 miles from the 5th largest city (St. Petersburg), the smaller incorporated town has all the charm of Florida’s Paradise Coast (located farther south) with all the modern excitement of Tampa (just across the bay). Need a little more context? It’s about a 4.5-hour drive from Miami, 2 hours from Orlando, and just over half an hour across the bay from Tampa.
What’s it Like in St. Petes Beach?
What is it like in St. Pete’s Beach? Absolutely beautiful! The sun shines nearly every day. In fact, nearby St. Petersburg actually holds a world record. Starting in 1967, it experienced 768 days straight of sunny days! While it does rain in St. Pete Beach (it is Florida, after all), the average temperature stays nice throughout most of the year. Even in November, it was warm enough to go to the beach, with 80-degree weather during the day and 70s at night.
The landscape has a very coastal small town vibe to it. While nearby St. Petersburg is the 5th most populated city, St. Pete’s Beach has just around 10,000 year-round residents. It’s completely surrounded by water, so you’re never more than a quick ride away from their pristine white sand beaches. Since it’s near one of Florida’s largest cities, there’s no shortage of fantastic places to stay, but I highly recommend the RumFish Beach Resort. Read on to find out why.
Why Stay at the RumFish Beach Resort?
The RumFish Beach Resort is part of TradeWinds, with the biggest one located right next door just “200 flip flops away.” It’s nice because it’s smaller yet you can use all of the amenities and activities at the TradeWinds. Even just strolling along the beach from one to the other was nice and relaxing.
The resort was recently remodeled, so everything is fresh and newly decorated with a coastal feel to it. They have a ton of different sized suites for everyone from couples to large families, and even offer pet-friendly rooms for those traveling with their cats or dogs. Our room was super spacious. We got one with an ocean view and the sunsets were truly a show.
Things to do at RumFish Beach Resort
Between the RumFish and the TradeWinds, there’s so much to do that you really don’t even have to venture out into the city at all if you don’t want to. While the RumFish was smaller and quieter compared to the TradeWinds, both resorts are super family friendly. Take a peek at some of their top activities that you can do with kids.
Poolside fun
The RumFish & the TradeWinds have a whopping total of 7 heated pools between the two of them, including adults-only pools and family-friendly kiddie pools. Three of the pools face the beach so the views are amazing.
Then, at night right next to the big pool, there is live entertainment with music and a super cool, relaxed ambiance. They also show “dive-in” movies, which is exactly what it sounds like. You watch them from inside the pool! Check their calendar for the entertainment schedule so you can plan your evenings during your trip.
Sand, Sun & Surfing at the Beach
Along with plenty of chairs, hammocks & private cabanas to let you get the most of your fun in the sun, TradeWinds & RumFish offer tons of unique and exciting activities right in or near the water. For example, the TradeWinds has a huge slide that my kids never wanted to leave. It’s called the High Tide Water Slide, and it’s 200 feet long! I think my kids went on it like 50 times! Thankfully, unlimited rides are part of your stay.
If you’ve always wanted to go surfing, here’s your chance. Over on the RumFish side, you’ll find Surf WipeOut, their new inflatable surfing challenge. My kids tried it and had so much fun. They were super excited to be surfing and maintaining their balance. Those are the kind of activities that my kids remember after our family trips! Of course, you can always just spend the day walking, swimming and exploring in the sand and water. There really is nothing like the beach to soothe your soul!
Campfire S’mores & family fun galore
Every night (weather permitting, of course) the SandBox Beach Lounge breaks out the marshmallows for a fun roast around the fire pit. My kids had a blast making s’mores. The brand-new lounge also has private cabanas & signature drink recipes for adults.
We also enjoyed playing mini golf, trying out the paddle boats, and so much more. There’s really an insane amount of stuff to do with your kids. Or, you can drop them off at KONK and spend some alone time with your significant other.
If all of that isn’t enough to get you excited, take a look at the massive list of 201 Things to Do at RumFish & TradeWinds on their website. Right now, though, I want to move on to their dining options, because they’re amazing.
RumFish Beach Resort Dining Options
Foodies have no shortage of dining options at the RumFish & TradeWinds resorts, but I recommend starting with our favorite, the RumFish Grill. Everything about it was just great- the outdoor location, the food, the service- all just fantastic. It’s located right next to the aquarium, so you have gorgeous views all around. The burger was amazing and the mahi-mahi tacos with cilantro crema were soooo good! They also serve plenty of fresh seafood, and they’re open late for midnight snacks.
Other dining options include:
- Palm Court Italian Grill -It’s ranked as one of the best St. Pete Beach restaurants on TripAdvisor, so if you’re craving Italian food, this is where you want to dine.
- Gulfside Grill – Another beautiful outside dining option, the Gulfside serves up a casual breakfast, lunch & dinner experience.
- Flying Bridge- The permanently docked outdoor restaurant was modeled after a real Florida cracker-cottage. It’s the perfect spot to grab a cocktail or lighter fare.
- Beef ‘O’ Brady’s – If you love pub food, this is the option for you. Watch the big game while snacking on delicious wings or a huge hearty platter.
- Bermudas Steak & Seafood– While the name makes it sound more like a surf & turf dinner stop, Bermudas is actually all about breakfast. Grab fresh fruit, quiche, or their famous Crab Benedict.
Along with the main full-service restaurants, RumFish & TradeWinds both offer multiple bars, grab-n-go delis, ice-cream shops and more. Trust me, you’ll never go hungry!
Like I said, there’s SO much to do between the two resorts that you could spend an entire week there and never get bored. We only spent a few days, so we didn’t even get to do a quarter of everything they have to offer.
If you do want to head out into town, the amazing staff will help you book fun ocean excursions or give you tips on the best museums & nightlife spots to visit. For theme park lovers, Adventure Island and Busch Gardens are just about 40 minutes away.
Really, though, you’ll definitely want to plan some time just to lounge around and explore the resort. It’s such a wonderful place to disconnect, relax and bond with your family. A gorgeous white-sand beach, perfect calm waters, and tons of family-friendly activities- what else can you ask for? My 4-year-old daughter wanted to stay longer. The morning we were checking out she said, “vacation is not over” and wanted to put on her swimsuit. She was not ready to leave, and honestly, neither was I! 🙂
Thank you to the RumFish Beach Resort for hosting our wonderful stay! Check out their website to book your St. Pete Beach vacation.
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