A few weeks ago I had that “gotta get out of town” vibe stirring within me. Although my home base of Sarasota has plenty to offer, I wanted to see something different, so I drove north to St. Petersburg, Florida, and took in the famous St. Pete Pier.

The Pier is a multipurpose destination for tourists and locals, with a rich history dating back to 1889. Today one can find several restaurants, a small beach, artwork, playground and splash pad, Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, and a variety of other activities for everyone to enjoy.

I started the day near Demens Landing Park with a simple walk by the marina. To my surprise, I quickly spotted a pair of dolphins in the ocean. Their sudden appearance caught me off guard on this quiet and calm morning (though I suppose it was an ideal morning for a dolphin swim). My eyes darted back and forth for about two minutes as I searched for glimpses of the pair in the water. Only a handful of times did I see them arch their backs and pop up out of the ocean, but their synchronized dolphin dancing was a delightful way to begin my day.

Once the dolphins seemingly vanished into the open waters, I noticed a nearby memorial and decided to take a closer look. Dedicated to the fallen heroes of the St. Petersburg Police Department, the memorial lists 15 names and features a bell that tolls once a year in memory of the officers who have given their lives in service to the community. It was built in 2012 after three members of the police department lost their lives in 2011. The memorial felt solemn and timeless.

Next, I walked toward the main area of the pier, known as The Marketplace. A small yoga class was taking place on the lawn ,and a few early-morning toddlers were enjoying the green grass and sunshine. It’s quite a hike, but I walked the full length of the pier next to a couple of joggers, rollerbladers and other old-school pedestrians like me. Once I arrived, I quickly found myself in search of an iced coffee and a place to rest my weary feet.

I made my way to the top of four levels to Pier Teaki — a rooftop restaurant that wasn’t open yet, but the view certainly was! It’s easy to assume Pier Teaki is a wildly popular hot spot at night, but, in the daytime, it’s the views that steal the show. After a bit of searching, I did find an iced chai as well as a front-and-center table, allowing me to enjoy the St. Pete skyline and the shade.

Finally, I ended my morning tour with a quick stop at the World’s First Airline Monument. On Jan. 1, 1914, 3,000 people gathered to see the first flight of an airboat leave from the waters of St. Petersburg toward Tampa Bay. Two regularly scheduled flights per week followed, and the world’s first commercial airline was born.

The monument is a full-scale replica of a Benoist seaplane surrounded by an open plaza near the water. Aviation enthusiasts will no doubt enjoy seeing the monument and learning more about pilot Tony Jannus, who flew approximately 1,000 passengers during the one and only season of the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line. The sheer size of the memorial is a reminder of how astonishing it must’ve been to see planes flying passengers out of the water in the early 1900s.

Though I could’ve easily spent my entire day at St. Pete Pier, my heart felt full after only a few hours. My kudos to the memorials, dancing dolphins and iced chai with a view for making such a beautiful morning feel creative and complete.

— Carrie Cox, account executive