St. Pete-Clearwater surprises: sun, palm trees, street art and a mix of beach and city culture that sets off holiday vibes instantly. And all of it reachable nonstop from Zurich with Edelweiss.
White sandy beaches, emerald-green water, a vibrant queer community – and freshly named one of the best beach destinations in the world. St. Pete-Clearwater on Florida’s Gulf Coast has plenty to offer. But should you even travel to the USA in times like these? The community there says: absolutely, yes. Better to support the local gay community than to visit countries that know no democracy at all. DISPLAY went there and spoke with the community.
The city’s queer heart on Central Avenue
From the waterfront promenade downtown, Central Avenue runs west to the beach. Bars and restaurants line the first few kilometres, followed by small boutiques. Alongside hotelier David Fischer’s venues, other queer businesses have set up here: the lesbian-run Valhalla Bakery and the restaurants Love Food Central and Salty Nun – all queer-owned.
The Mari Jean: a hotel for the community
In 2023, gay businessman David Fischer opened his biggest project to date: the Mari Jean Hotel in St. Pete’s Grand Central District. After his successes with the queer bar Cocktail and the pool club The Wet Spot, the hotel – in the same historic building complex dating from 1926 – was the next step. “I wanted to create a place our community could be proud of. A place that shows: St. Pete has something many other cities don’t.” The concept: a boutique hotel for gay men, open to everyone but clearly positioned.
Are these the most beautiful beaches in the USA?
St. Pete-Clearwater is sweeping the board: at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice “Best of the Best” Awards 2026, the region features several times over, from its beaches to its experiences on the water. Clearwater Beach is the only beach in Florida to make the list of the best beaches in the world – and one of only three in the entire USA. Once you’ve felt the powder-white sand between your toes, you understand why. The beach slopes gently into the turquoise water, and in the evening, locals and visitors gather at Pier 60 for a collective sunset celebration.
A little quieter, but no less impressive: Honeymoon Island State Park has also secured a place among the best beaches in the USA. Untouched sand, emerald-green water, ospreys over the dunes. Here, Florida still feels the way it did fifty years ago.
By kayak through glowing mangroves
DISPLAY met Jason from Get Up and Go Kayaking at Shell Key. His guided kayak tour sets off from the southern tip of St. Pete Beach and leads through shallow, crystal-clear waters around Shell Key, an uninhabited island reachable only by boat. Along the way, dolphins surface, pelicans glide over the water and, with a little luck, manatees put in an appearance.
The real highlight, though, comes after sunset: the Glow Tour. Travellers sit in see-through kayaks made of sturdy Plexiglas and glide silently through the mangroves of the Shell Key Preserve. Colourful LED lights on the hull bathe the water beneath the paddles in turquoise, purple and neon blue. Shoals of fish reflect the light, tree roots appear out of nowhere, somewhere in the thicket a heron croaks. The sky is a velvety dark blue, scattered with stars, and beneath the boat it sparkles just the same. Florida as you would never experience it on the beach by day.
DISPLAY tips
Flight time 11 hours, 7850 km, 3–5 times a week. Sports baggage flies free – whether surfboard, kiteboard or other equipment.
A report by Raphael Hadad
