FLORIDA FEATURE ARTICLES :
ST PETERSBURG / CLEARWATER

For Those who Love to Shop
St Petersburg / Clearwater

For those who love to shop, St. Petersburg/Clearwater - Florida's Beach is a paradise waiting to be explored. Visitors will discover and love the sheer variety of malls, shopping villages, outlets centers and specialty stores in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area - from one-of-a-kind boutiques and antique stores clustered together for easy browsing, to beachside shops filled with souvenirs and flea markets overflowing with bargains. Whatever the guest's budget, whatever their taste, they'll find great treasures to bring home for friends, family - and themselves.

Here are several of the unique shopping opportunities in the area.

Antique Alley - 562 through 596 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs, FL 33786 (two blocks north of West Bay Drive). This cluster of 18 specialty shops is the largest and oldest group of antique shops in the area. The Alley also hosts two annual antique shows with more than 50 additional dealers on hand. 727-585-7242




Art Village - Beach Blvd. South, Gulfport, FL 33707. Enjoy more than 40 galleries, studios, boutiques and restaurants all within walking distance in this pedestrian-friendly historic district. Gallery Walks with free trolley service, street entertainment and snacks are held the first Friday and third Saturday of the month from 6-10 p.m. 727-321-7741

BayWalk Entertainment Center – 153 2nd Ave. North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. The $40-million "BayWalk" entertainment complex has become a hot spot for shopping and nightlife. Adding momentum to a revitalization of downtown St. Petersburg, "BayWalk" opened in the fall of 2000. The 150,000 sq. ft. open-air themed plaza is anchored by a 4,200 seat, 20-screen Muvico Theater complex featuring stadium seating theaters, child care service and fresh cuisine. The Mediterranean Revival-themed complex known as the "Soul of St. Petersburg" includes bars and restaurants such as Wet Willy's, dish and Dan Marino's Town Tavern, as well as a full-line Ann Taylor shop and other retail outlets. 727-895-9277

Bill Jackson's Shop For Adventure - 9501 U.S. 19 North, Pinellas Park, FL 33782. This one-of-a-kind adventure shop has been family owned for more than 50 years. More than just a store, Bill Jackson's teaches what it sells with on-site pools for SCUBA, kayaking, canoeing and a 12-foot by 18-foot ski deck that moves underneath you to simulate the feel of the slopes - imagine snow skiing in Florida! The shop specializes in backpacking, camping, canoeing, fishing, fly fishing, hunting, in-line skating, kayaking, metal detecting, SCUBA diving and snow skiing. 727-576-4169

Countryside Mall - 27001 U.S. 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33761. This modern mall features nearly 200 shops with more than 1 million square feet of space. Anchor shops include Burdines, Dillard's, JCPenney and Sears. Countryside also includes an ice rink. 727-796-1079

John's Pass Village & Boardwalk – 12901 Gulf Blvd. East, Madeira Beach, FL 33708. (Located on Gulf Blvd. just north of Treasure Island at John's Pass). A quaint shopping district, which overlooks "fish famous" John's Pass, the Village is home to a large commercial and charter fishing fleet. Art galleries, restaurants and boutiques are located in the area and the boardwalk provides a scenic view of the waterfront. It is the site of several festivals and special events. Open daily. No admission fee. 727-391-7373

ParkSide Mall - 7200 U.S. 19 North, Pinellas Park, FL 33781. This stylish mall underwent a complete renovation in 1999. The 650,000-sq. ft. complex features an ice-skating rink, 16-screen cinema with stadium seating and 200-seat food court. Anchor shops include Dillard's, JCPenney Outlet and Wards. 727-527-7241

Silas' Bayside Market - 5505 Gulf Blvd., St. Petersburg Beach, FL 33706. The market is a unique shopping village in a tropical setting featuring numerous specialty shops and a food court. 727-367-4485

Tyrone Square Mall - 6901 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710. Anchored by Burdines, Dillard's, J. C. Penney and Sears this major mall features more than 155 specialty shops and more than 1 million square feet of space. 727-343-7601

Wagon Wheel Flea Market - 7801 74th St., Pinellas Park, FL 33781. This gigantic public market features more than 2,000 exhibitors offering deals and discounts on more than 125 acres in the middle of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. 727-544-5319







Photo: Visit Florida









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