Low Cost Things to Do in St. Petersburg

Great Exploration Museum and Sunken Gardens in Florida's St. Petersburg area is a budget friendly exciting dual attraction for families with kids. — Fun for all at Great Exploration Museum and Sunken Gardens St. Petersburg, Florida - photo by Yvonne Jasinski Credit Card SheBuysTravel

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Budget Friendly with Kids in St. Petersburg Area
Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg
Historical Gardens
Great Exploration Museum in St. Petersburg+−
- Exploring the Cove
Side Trips from St. Petersburg Area

The St.Petersburg area of Florida is known for its warm weather and beautiful beaches. But it has much more to offer than just fun in the sun. It is a wonderful destination for adults and children alike. When traveling with kids, make sure to visit two attractions in one – Great Exploration Museum and Sunken Gardens. This duo will keep your little ones entertained without breaking your budget. It draws visitors year round but is especially attractive as an escape from the heat of summer.

Budget Friendly with Kids in St. Petersburg Area

The St. Petersburg area was not on the top of my list of places to visit in Florida. I have to admit, for years I did not give Florida enough recognition. Without much research, I considered it just a beach destination.

When I got older, Pennsylvania’s winters started to wear on me. Usually by the end of February, I was looking for a sunny location to take a break from the cold.

Two family friendly attraction in one beautiful location, Great Exploration Museum and Sunken Gardens - St. Petersurg area — Visit two family friendly attractions in one beautiful location – Great Exploration Museum and Sunken Gardens. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

With convenient and inexpensive flights from the Northeast, Florida became my target destination. I would follow the sun with no particular location in mind. In my planning, I was focusing on any free lodging available with my credit card earnings.

This is how I discovered the St. Petersburg area and its attractions. One of the places I recently visited was Sunken Gardens. I immediately fell in love with this beautiful urban oasis. While there, out of curiosity, I also checked out Great Exploration Museum just next door.

Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg

Take a walk among flowers at Sunken Gardens - St. Petersburg, Florida — Gorgeous flowers will welcome you into Sunken Gardens. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Located in the middle of a bustling city, this botanical paradise delivers a welcomed break from the heat and concrete. It has a charm of a secret garden straight out of an old fashion fairly tale.

Nature at its best at Sunken Gardens - St. Petersburg, Florida — Discover nature at its best at Sunken Gardens. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Adults and kids of any age enjoy visiting the gardens. Little ones to run freely through the maze of plants while adults take in the beauty and smells of this enchanted forest.

Thousands species of flowers can be found in Sunken Gardens - St. Petersburg, Florida — Pink Hibiscus at Sunken Gardens. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Historical Gardens

This oldest garden in the St. Petersburg area is a home to more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers. Surprisingly, it is a budget friendly attraction. Admission is $10 per adult, $8 for seniors 62 and older, and $4 for children 2-11. The gardens close at 4:30, way too early in my opinion.

Join me for a nature walk at Sunken Gardens - St. Petersburg, Florida — Taking a stroll at Sunken Gardens. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Sunken Gardens offers garden tours, horticultural programs, special events, field trips, weddings, and private and corporate rentals, even a summer camp.

Great Exploration Museum in St. Petersburg

Literally next door to Sunken Garden, Great Exploration was not an attraction I was planning on visiting. I decided to check it out anyway out of curiosity. I thought $10 was worth it to get a feel of the place. Who know, if I have grandchildren, one day I could bring them there.

Great Exploration Museum at St. Petersburg, Florida — Take your kids to hand-on educational exhibits at Great Exploration Museum. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

This museum is designed for small children who are still learning about the world around them. It gives them freedom to explore without a danger of being hurt or damaging things.

Learning about nature, science, and everyday life is the main focus of the museum, but for kids, it feels more like a playground. They are allowed to touch an play with anything they desire.

Kids enjoy grocery shopping at Great Exploration Museum at St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Exploring the Cove

Explorer’s Cove is the focus of the museum. It is a playground that stimulates children’s imagination. With drums, bells, and a bamboo xylophone available to them, little visitors have fun creating a music.

They also enjoy climbing and exploring the small tree house covered with fairy wings and kaleidoscopes. A closet filled with costumes is on display to make their dreams come to life.

Unleash your imagination at Great Exploration Museum - St. Petersburg, Florida — Be creative at this art station at Great Exploration Museum. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Always very popular is a fire house with a custom built fire truck and a pole for sliding. Kids also love to explore a grocery store, pizza station, animal clinic, health center, animal farm, TV station and much more. They can try their hands on creativity in a building block and art sections.

Kids learn what it is like to be a doctor at Great Exploration Museum, St. Petersburg Florida — Kids learn what it is like to be a doctor at Great Exploration Museum. Photo by Yvonne Jasinski

Great Exploration Museum is designed for children up to 7, but I am sure that many older ones would enjoy it too.

Side Trips from St. Petersburg Area

When visiting St. Petersburg, consider a side trip to Walt Disney World. For a affordable alternative to expensive Disney resorts, choose family friendly Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista. Keep in mind that Disney is not just for kids. See why Disney is a great destination for adults too.