Romantic Escapes
Every couple has different ideas about what a romantic escapes could be; some prefer to walk hand-in-hand along a historic promenade, others like to bar and tavern hop, and still others would be happy sitting on the beach all day. The good news is, no matter what kind of romantic adventure you prefer, Florida has something for you and your special someone.
My husband and I have been fortunate enough to visit two very romantic Florida escapes - one on each of Florida’s coasts! Whether you’re on the Gulf or Atlantic side, get ready to spend some quality time with your boo.
On the Atlantic Coast
Be Captivated by the Romantic Charm of St. Augustine
Shaped by over 450 years of history, St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach have seen everything to Spanish Conquistadors to the establishment of forts and eventually railroads. This has led to the area to be one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the state, if not the country - after all, it has been dubbed “The Nation’s Oldest City”!
As a couple, we particularly liked seeing the old-fashioned architecture and hearing stories about the area’s history - there was quite a lot that happened! We also greatly enjoy sharing stories about ourselves over a drink as we get to know each other better. St. Augustine has plenty of places to sip and hang out.
The downtown of St. Augustine is a fantastic setting for a romantic getaway. Brick streets and cobbled alleyways criss-cross between historic buildings that play home to shops, restaurants, and inns. The main vein of the city is St. George Street, which accepts only pedestrians now so is great for long walks (holding hands with your boo). Visit the Arcade of Professional Artisans and Craftsmen, an open-air galleria where you can find handmade treasures. Artsy Abode Boutique on King Street contains amazing gifts, apparel, and jewelry that let you take home a little piece of Florida - in fact they’ve even been featured on First Coast Living. A few doors down on St. George is So MerMazing Boutique, which has pretty much everything that a modern-day mermaid could need: tumblers, tshirts, throw pillows, artwork, home decor, and whatever else you may mer-need.
artsyabode.com
The two of you can enjoy drinks together - and even learn how those drinks are made during a wine or spirits tour! The St. Augustine Distillery was founded with an idea of creating community that can enjoy drinks together, utilizing local ingredients and genius recycling concepts to come up with incredible spirits and cocktail mixes. During a tour of the distillery, you will learn a bit of history and a lot about how craft spirits are made. During the tour you will also get to experience a tasting of the distillery’s specially crafted cocktails, and afterwards you can sample spirits before choosing which to purchase and bring home for keeps! We highly recommend the Florida Double Cask Bourbon. Head upstairs for cocktails and a romantic dinner at their restaurant, The Ice House.
A similar and yet different experience can be had at the San Sebastian Winery, which is within walking distance of the distillery. The winery offers a combination onsite/virtual tour and offers a surprisingly educational look into the wine-making process. Afterwards, enjoy a group tasting - and learn to taste wine the way the professionals do! Take home a few bottles for your collection at home. We recommend the Cream Sherry for an after-dinner delight!
staugustinedistillery.com
sansebastianwinery.com
As for food tasting, you could probably walk around town to different establishments and find something delightful at each place…but for a more organized approach, we recommend a few hours with The Tasting Tours. Celebrating the city’s rich history and diverse culture, they will take you on a tour to suit your “taste” (pardon the pun) whether you want to experience wine and fine dining or tons of tacos!
If you know what you want, then try the Prohibition Kitchen for Southern-style comfort food in a quirky setting (get the poutine!) or Casa Maya for tacos and tequila. We also spent some time at the oceanfront in St. Augustine Beach, and particularly enjoyed our experience at the new Salt Life Restaurant that sits across from the pier. We sat at the rooftop bar and enjoyed the warm breeze and stunning views. Later, we went to the beach’s Coneheads Ice Cream (904-460-2878) and shared a scoop.
thetastingtours.com
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casamayasta.com
Add an extra touch of romance to any St. Augustine evening by stepping into a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through the city. Imagine squeezing your loved one as you ride around town, your carriage driver pointing out places of interest as beautiful scenery passes by. Most carriage services, like Old City Carriages, are located on the streets outside of favorite establishments for easy access. Here’s a tip: most carriages only accept cash, so hit up an ATM earlier in the day!
old-city-carriages.business.site
When it comes to romantic accommodations, there are few destinations that top St. Augustine. Across the downtown you’ll find an array of unique and beautiful inns and B&Bs, most of which occupy historic homes and offices. We were lucky enough to spend our time in St. Augustine at the St. Francis Inn. Located in a breathtaking, three-story historic home and grounds, the inn was built in the late 1700s. You can still experience the grandness of the old days without sacrificing on modern amenities, and the service is second-to-none.
We stayed in the Garcia Suite, which was on a corner of the inn overlooking the street, nearby park, and pool. We greatly enjoyed the sitting area, with decadent and comfortable furniture to sit in while we sipped free helpings of coffee from downstairs. Here’s a tip: the inn has several seasonal lattés available, and they’re more than happy to make them for you at any time! It’s like having your own personal Starbucks. Breakfast each morning was nothing short of fantastic, with options to sit in the dining room (where we made friends) or the outside patio, or even your room.
The inn provides free bicycles for you to take out for the day, as most things to do are easily reached by bike. We rode around all day! We also took advantage of their beautiful courtyard swimming pool. In the evening, we enjoyed sitting on the porch swing and enjoying the quiet.
stfrancisinn.com
On the Gulf Coast
Enjoy a Romantic Frolic Around St. Petersburg and Clearwater
Combining beach life with urban life, this area of Florida’s Gulf Coast offers the best of both words. St. Petersburg is a hip, artsy city with a gorgeous downtown and enough shopping, dining, and bars within walking distance to keep you occupied (and fit from all the walking!) during your stay. Clearwater and the community of Clearwater Beach offer a bright coastal vibe and long stretches of white-sand beaches.
Our experience here perfectly suited our opposing tastes - my husband being a beach bum and myself being an arts aficionado. Clearwater Beach has been named the #1 Beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2019. Its crystalline white sands and shallow-entry Gulf waters make it perfect for a day in the sand and surf. Here, you can stroll together along the sparkling coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Experience a tandem parasail adventure over blue waters while dolphins frolic below. Rent a cabana or beach chair and beach umbrella from a local vendor (simply choose which one you want, settle down and wait for an attendant to come by for payment), or walk toward the more residential north side of the beach for a little serenity away from the bustling scene of Pier 60 and Clearwater Marina.
All along the beachfront is the Beach Walk Promenade, which offers bars and restaurants galore with water (and sand) views. All throughout Clearwater Beach, in fact, you can find excellent food and beverages with establishments like Frenchy's Rockaway Grill, Shephard's Tiki Beach Bar and Grill and Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar.
Whenever I can pry him away from the shore, my husband and I head into town for some arts and culture. From museums devoted to big-name artists like surrealist Salvador Dalí and glass artist Dale Chihuly, to incredible street murals adorning the buildings around St. Pete’s Central Avenue, art—and the cultures it celebrates—is all around you in St. Pete/Clearwater. One of my favorite places to visit is The Dalí Museum, which houses the largest collection of the surrealist’s work outside of Spain within a crazy-cool building in downtown St. Pete. Peruse his gigantic masterworks, take a selfie in the Bubble Mirror, then have a snack and put your feet up in Café Gala. Another date night idea is to spend an evening at Palladium Theater, also in downtown St. Pete, provides high-level performances in two venues featuring historic Romanesque Revival-style architecture.
thedali.org
mypalladium.org
When it comes to a romantic resort, you also have the best of both worlds at TradeWinds Island Resorts in St. Pete Beach. This resort offers two properties, equally magnificent and recently renovated: Tradewinds Island Grand and RumFish Beach Resort. The resorts have just undergone a more than $13 million renovation to their rooms, refreshing the interiors and featuring new beds, carpeting, decor, and bathroom fixtures.
We had the immense pleasure of staying at the totally redesigned RumFish Beach Resort, an ultimate aquatic oasis situated right on the powdered-sugar sands of St. Pete Beach. We would highly recommend taking advantage of the SandBox Beach Lounge offering VIP Cabanas, open fire tables, campfire s'mores at sunset, and the popular SandBar beach bar - where we highly recommend the resort’s signature drink, the Island Escape.
The resort’s motto is to “Just let go,” and this is quite possible with their array of relaxing and fun activities like soaring above the water on a JetLev water jetpack, or learning how to paddleboard together. After a long day in the sun, it’s nice to retire to a sumptuous dinner at the RumFish Grill®, featuring sustainably-sourced seafood and a 33,500 gallon aquarium featured on Animal Planet’s hit show “Tanked”!
They offer plenty of options for a traveling couple. Check out their Romance Packages! tradewindsresort.com
We Recommend
Ocean Key Spa and Resort
Perfectly situated in one of the most de-sirable vacation destinations in the world, Ocean Key Resort and Spa sits right at Zero Duval Street in gorgeous Key West. The resort overlooks the famous Sunset Pier of Mallory Square, with its nightly Sunset Celebrations, as well as the daz-zling Gulf of Mexico. Rooms and suites offer island luxury with a twist, and amenities include the relaxing SpaTerre, LIQUID pool-lounge-bar, and famous Hot Tin Roof waterfront restaurant.
oceankey.com
