As these beautiful spring afternoons come and go, it’s hard not to feel the impending summer temperatures setting in. Breezy mornings give way to stagnant humidity, and cool evenings at waterfront parks turn into feeding frenzies for mosquitoes.
With this less-than-ideal summer weather creeping up quickly, it’s time to start planning activities where you can avoid baking in the sun and getting eaten alive. Here are some of our favorite ways to beat the heat in St. Petersburg:
Florida’s largest bookstore offers a great way to avoid the inevitable summer heat wave. You can browse the seemingly endless aisles for hours while you revel in all of its air-conditioned glory.
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Catch a Tampa Bay Rays' Baseball Game
Baseball season typically spans from March until September, making it a perfect way to avoid those sweltering summer temps in St. Petersburg's very own Tropicana Field, which is equipped with some serious air conditioning units to keep all of its spectators nice and cool.
Related content: Your Ultimate Guide to Watching a Tampa Bay Rays Game | Tickets, Parking, and Food
Escape Room
What better way to avoid the summer heat than to be locked in a climate-controlled room for an hour? Escape the heat at one of St. Petersburg’s escape rooms like Escape St. Pete and Outerlife Studios- Escape Room St. Pete.
Rock Climbing at Vertical Ventures St Pete
If your'e itching to get active but don’t want to go for a bike ride or run in the intense Florida sun, check out Vertical Ventures St Pete, an indoor- and air-conditioned- rock climbing gym right here in St. Petersburg. They have routes that cater to all ability levels from beginner to rock climbing wizard.
Clay Classes
The Clay Center of St. Petersburg offers an opportunity to get your hands dirty while you stay cool in one of their clay classes. They have day and evening classes that run throughout the week and span all ability levels.
Museums
You can spend hours roaming the many air-conditioned galleries that St. Petersburg has to offer like The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg Museum of History, and Imagine Museum, to name just a few. If it’s an extra-hot day and you want to kill even more time, find a friendly docent to give you the inside scoop on some of your favorite pieces.
Related content: Must-See Museums in St. Petersburg
Local Breweries
A cold brew and some icy-cold AC to match might be the most-St. Pete way to avoid the summer heat wave. If you want to bounce from brewery to brewery, consider signing up for a Brew Tour by Thirsty Pelican, which takes you to a handful of Sunshine City breweries in an air-conditioned party bus!
It can be hard to enjoy all that St. Petersburg has to offer as the temperatures start pushing 100 degrees, but these indoor activities are sure to keep a smile on your face and sweat off of it.
Find more things to do in St. Petersburg and Clearwater by registering on 727area, your free local guide to this side of the bay.
Cover photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
