Florida’s Gulf Coast has plenty to offer travelers looking for a healing escape.
About 30 minutes from Tampa, Florida, is some of the whitest sand you’ll find north of Turks and Caicos — on Clearwater Beach. With a surprisingly walkable downtown, Clearwater Beach doesn’t fit the typical Florida beach town stereotype. Tampa is positioning itself as the cultural hub on Florida’s Gulf Coast; however, Clearwater and its artsy neighbor, St. Petersburg — affectionately known as “St. Pete” — are both close enough to benefit from Tampa’s new, cool-kid cache. The two cities have become hubs for self-care and personal healing, featuring luxe spas, fitness retreats, and many public green spaces.
How to Find a Wellness Retreat on Florida’s Gulf Coast
The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach has fitness retreats that invite travelers from across the U.S. and abroad to jump-start and revive their fitness goals. Partnered with 1Team Fitness, the property’s retreats and activities include beach boot camps, kayaking on Florida’s 3,000-mile Intracoastal Waterway, biking, beach yoga, HIIT classes, boxing, and interval training — catering to both guests and locals. Moreover, those looking for the more relaxing side of wellness can enjoy treatments at the Pallavi Luxury Spa, which features an intensely moisturizing HydraFacial and salt therapy treatments. Salt scrubs, salt lamps, wraps, and seaweed detoxes are often utilized in holistic ways to begin or end an itinerary at Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach focused on health, including mind and body recovery.
In addition to assisting visitors with their fitness goals, 1Team has collaborated with chef Nana Darkwah at Clearwater Beach’s elite Ocean Hai restaurant to create a customized menu for 1Team Fitness guests. This menu is designed to cater to guests’ dietary needs and requests, in collaboration with the team’s on-site registered nutritionist. The restaurant showcases stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico with an impressive Asian fusion menu, incorporating carefully crafted plant-based and vegetarian options from chef Nana, a native of Accra, Ghana, currently residing in Clearwater.
Finding Healing Activities in Unexpected Places
Wellness travelers venturing to explore the Florida Gulf Coast region will enjoy keeping their minds clear at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Guests can interact with rescued animals such as dolphins, pelicans, sea turtles, otters, and many others that require care. During their stay, visitors will learn the story of Winter, the dolphin with scoliosis featured in the Dolphin Tale movies. Winter was rescued and cared for at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium until November 2021, when she passed away due to an intestinal abnormality.
Aquarium visitors who enjoy yoga should inquire in advance about their Dolphin Yoga Nidra classes, which offer a 60-minute outdoor yoga experience near the new dolphin viewing area (available for visitors age 18 and older).
The Art Scene on Florida’s Gulf Coast
Salvador Dalí once said, “A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others,” and art lovers cannot help but be inspired when visiting The Dalí Museum. If your wellness journey includes finding and exploring beauty, trek south from Clearwater Beach to St. Petersburg, a city surrounded by artistry. The Dalí Museum hosts the largest collection of Dalí pieces, paintings, artifacts, and interactive displays outside the artist’s native Spain. Opened in 1982 with the blessing of Dalí himself, the museum has become the center of the fine arts movement in the Tampa Bay area since its inception.
The Dalí Museum also features several gardens that wellness travelers and art lovers will appreciate. Facing Tampa Bay, the gardens represent important aspects of Dalí’s life. The Avant-garden is directly on the waterfront and promotes an environment of learning and tranquility. The Mathematical Garden invites students of all ages to experience the relationship between math and nature, while also encouraging exploration and well-being. Both gardens are adorned with beautiful flora, such as pineland acacia, verbena, and wild petunias, attracting butterflies, which Dalí viewed as transformative creatures in his art.
With approximately 400 pieces of outdoor artwork, sculpture, and murals, St. Petersburg presents a colorful, eclectic, and spirited getaway for wellness travelers. Tourists can partake in a food tour during the day and stroll along the city’s new St. Pete Pier. At night, visitors can enjoy a meal at one of the Pier’s fine dining restaurants or relish in the Instagram-worthy sunset views of Tampa Bay from a local rooftop bar.