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I recently returned from a long weekend in St. Pete-Clearwater, FL — and let me tell you, this wasn’t the Florida I remembered from my childhood Disney World trips. Beyond beaches and theme parks, this underrated pocket of the Sunshine State serves up dolphin cameos, hands-on art experiences, and some of the best food I’ve had in a long time. Here are three standout moments from my trip.

I saw dolphin cameos on the Gulf.

On my first full day, I hopped aboard a morning cruise with the team at Dolphin Landings. We chose the two-hour sailing tour, and it delivered — think multiple dolphin sightings, stunning views of the Gulf, and plenty of fun facts courtesy of Captain Tom and his crew. (Did you know dolphins literally sleep with one eye open?!)

A ticket booth at 4737 offers fishing trip options and boasts a 99% dolphin sighting probability—perfect for your Florida getaway.Pin
The signs don’t lie at Dolphin Landings. Image: Brianna Goebel

I tried my hand at a glass-blowing class.

Despite some pre-class nerves, the glass-blowing experience at Morean Glass Studio turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the trip. The session was the perfect balance of guided demo and hands-on fun. Plus, I got to choose my own color palette and actually blow the glass myself (optional, but I’m glad I did it!). One of my classmates joked it felt like we were on an episode of Netflix’s Blown Away, and honestly? Same.

Glassblowing studio with furnaces, jars of colored glass, and mold forms—perfect for your next creative Florida getaway. Chalkboard walls showcase social media handles and hashtags to share your memories after the best meal nearby.Pin
It’s going to be hot in the glass-blowing studio, so be sure to wear lightweight, breezy clothes. Image: Brianna Goebel
A man shapes molten glass on a rod while a woman blows into a tube, both enjoying a low-key glassblowing workshop inside an industrial studio during their Florida getaway.Pin
If you’d prefer to skip the blowing process, Morean Glass Studio offers beginner-friendly designs where no actual blowing is needed. As you can see, I opted to do the blowing (It’s harder than it looks!). Image: Brianna Goebel

I had one of the best meals of my entire life.

Tucked away in Downtown Dunedin, The Black Pearl is an unassuming 11-table gem with a loyal following — and food that absolutely lives up to the hype. Between the chef, servers, and in-house sommelier, the whole experience feels intimate, thoughtful, and a little indulgent. (And rumor has it locals are genuinely confused about why the restaurant hasn’t earned a Michelin star yet.)

A white plate of creamy risotto garnished with herbs and lobster sits on a table under a brass lamp, promising the best meal of your Florida getaway, with wine glasses nearby.Pin
Whatever you do, don’t skip the white truffle lobster risotto — available as both a starter and an entrée. Image: Brianna Goebel
A plate of mixed green salad with nuts and cheese sits on a white tablecloth under a lamp, promising the best meal during your Florida getaway, with glasses and another diner visible in the background.Pin
The warm poppy seed vinaigrette on the Black Pearl Salad changed the way I think about greens. Chef’s kiss. Image: Brianna Goebel
A plated dish featuring a crispy piece of cooked poultry, vegetable garnish, sautéed mushrooms, and green herb sauce—perfect for enjoying as the best meal during your Florida getaway.Pin
For my entrée, I ordered the Maple Leaf Farms Duckling. The leg quarter is served with roasted pink oyster, lion’s mane and black pearl mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, carrots, black walnut wild rice, tempura enoki, and foie gras bordelaise. Image: Brianna Goebel
A dessert plate—perfect after the best meal on your Florida getaway—offers a scoop of ice cream, caramelized bananas, sauce-covered pastry, whipped cream, and a mint sprig under a brass table lamp.Pin
I rarely order dessert, but I made an exception — and I’m so glad I did. The bananas foster features a banana bread family recipe, paired with fried ice cream dusted in Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It was nostalgic and completely unexpected in the best way. Image: Brianna Goebel

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Brianna Goebel
About the Author
Brianna Goebel

Brianna is StyleBlueprint’s Associate Editor and Sponsored Content Manager. She is an avid fan of iced coffee and spends her free time reading romance novels.