Which Florida City Would YOU Choose? (St Petersburg vs Sarasota)

[@Explorcation]

St Pete or Sarasota? Which would you choose and why? If you rated any categories differently, let us know which one and why! Thanks so much for watching 😁

[@anthonydazet]

Great video!!

[@Explorcation]

@@anthonydazet thanks so much for watching!

[@Carriesue1982]

I’m so glad I stumbled on your channel! I live in New Hampshire and my husband and I are considering moving to rural northern Florida(we own a homestead and 22 acres currently here in NH) because winters here are tough. But I love getting out and doing things, so your channel has been so helpful in figuring out what all Florida has to offer. Even if we don’t end up moving there, I still plan to visit a lot so regardless your channel is amazing!

[@Explorcation]

We're so glad you stumbled upon our channel too, Carrie! Even if you don't end up moving down here, we're happy to know that our channel can at least help you make the most of your vacations here. Thanks so much for watching!

[@m.willow11]

Hi there Carriesue! I'm in NH too. We are also considering a move to FL. Recently I was diagnosed w arthritis in both my knees...I'm in my 30s but one knee is already bone on bone! We live in a 1700s farm house w STEEP stairs that are incredibly painful for me to use so we're thinking one level living in a place with nice long warm summers and warm winters would really help w my pain. Ita a shame we didn't make this move 5 years ago when real-estate down there was so cheap! Not sure where in FL yet..maybe northern..(but I looove siesta key beach so would like to stay somewhat convenient to it) so we're still undecided. Are u and your husband any closer to picking your destination? 🤔

[@agostinoc9927]

Welcome back Jamie , skylar great job holding the channel down , I’ve been wanting to compare both cities by flying down and exploring them both , thank you for the info !! You two should be ambassadors for St Pete and Gulf area , As always, great video

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much! We are glad the video was helpful, but you should definitely go experience both cities for yourself, as nothing can beat first hand experience!

[@RundownwithRachel]

Love this thorough comparison! I agree with your assessment - St. Pete for the win!

[@Explorcation]

We're glad that you enjoyed the video and agree with our assessment, Rachel! Hope to run into you again soon!

[@samo8204]

I love the way you format your videos! I also like how you add in that just because YOU give the nod to a place doesn't mean it may be best for US. All in all, I can't keep up with you guys but we try. Keep up the GREAT content!

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for this incredibly kind feedback! We know that everyone's different and everyone has different priorities, so instead of trying to convince someone that one place is best for everyone, we'd much rather help them figure out what is best for them.

[@justinreid8851]

YES🎉the videos are back. We're so happy your feeling better and that now you can tour again.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks, Justin. It's definitely great to be back. Still not 100%, but feeling a little better with every video!

[@justinreid8851]

@@Explorcation good morning guys I had a quick question.. During your recent EXPLORCATIONS of St. Pete and treasure Island areas what have noticed about the seaweed situation on the beaches if any? I really do think this channels videos should be posted as part of Florida's Gulf Coast travel guide. Soooo much knowledge of this area and awesome how you give maps and prices of everything you two visit. A+

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much for the kind feedback, we really appreciate it. Over the past few weeks we haven't made it out to the beach much (due to the sciatica) but from the local beach web cams and what we've heard, there is a little more seaweed than usual, but not too bad (so far).

[@Bicyclechris]

While I hope a speedy recovery for Jamie, Skylar is doing a great job as a host. :) Keep up the great work!

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for the kind and encouraging comments, Chris!

[@OurTravelPlace]

This was such a well done video. Both cities sound like they have so much to offer and you broke it all down really clearly. Based on this video I'd lean towards St Pete because of the slightly more convenient sounding beaches (even if they aren't quite as good.. they still look great to me!), the sun runner, the traffic, food on the barrier islands and the breweries! Sarasota looks great too though. Definitely want to do a Fl west coast road trip one day!

[@Explorcation]

We generally choose convenience too, especially if we're not too familiar with an area. But you really cannot go wrong with either of these cities!

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

you already know I am saying St. Pete 4life!

[@BibleMadeSimple]

I thought you guys did a great job being fair in your comparisons. Even when you gave a nod to one city over the other you acknowledged that the other city was still great. Thanks for the video.

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much. We always try to look at things from other perspectives. Everyone has different priorities and even one person's priorities can change over time, so it's silly to act like one place is clearly better just because it's better for us at this stage in our lives.

[@adventureswithshan-man6324]

I am a Tampa native and moved away for a solid decade. Love your videos helping me rediscover my home. ❤

[@Explorcation]

We're so happy to hear our channel is helping you rediscover your home, and we really appreciate your support! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@BobCarlson]

When I was forced to move to FL from PA in 1978 I hated everything about it. Then we bought a boat. That totally changed my Florida experience. Hung out in Fort Lauderdale, especially when spring break was a thing. Years later it was all about South Beach Miami. Now that I'm retired I am loving that St Pete laid back beach vibe but with all the amenities I've come to enjoy. Art, food, sand, activities. But to give both towns a fair look I'm heading to Sarasota in May. It truly is a tough decision.

[@Explorcation]

Ahh yeah half the joy (or more) of living in Florida is being able to get out on the water. I don't think we would make it living in Orlando or some other inland city.

[@tomloffman930]

This was a great video. Would love to see you do a piece on Florida weather, the good and the bad. Also, Jamie, about your back - there is a world class back surgeon in Miami who does micro surgery and might be able to solve your issues. My cousin is going to see him and I may be next. Some great medical people in Florida.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment, Tom. As of now it's looking like Jamie should be able to avoid surgery, but if it ever gets to that point, we're thankful to live in such a great area.

[@James_Russell]

Over the past 5 years, we spent many summers and short fall trips near Destin and Okaloosa island. Started visiting the Clearwater beach area a few years ago and fell in love but looking forward to visiting other beaches down in this area as well. This is a perfect channel to come to for people looking for that. I hope the sciatica is better! Keep an eye out for those otters as well! 😂

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for the kind and encouraging comments, James! Jamie's sciatica is improving. Still OK days and not so ok days, but the ok days are more frequent now. And yeah, we'll always be on otter watch!

[@LucasWorldTravel]

Awesome breakdown guys! It really does seem like St. Pete is the clear winner as we prefer a busier vibe as well. I can't believe how high rents are getting especially considering that the average salaries aren't that high. Remember the good old days of $800 rent. Gosh, I feel old. 🙃

[@Explorcation]

Thanks. St Pete is no doubt better for us at this time in our lives, but we do understand how some people could prefer Sarasota. We still love to visit. And yes... we remember $800 rent. I feel like that's about what we paid for our 1 BR apartment in Kansas City before we moved to Florida. I don't think we could even find a 300 SF studio around here for that now days. So yup, we're right there with you on feeling old!

[@debhawk8094]

St Pete for life but going to Sarasota area beaches for the first time next month with a friend who loves the areas just south of St Pete. But was just in St Pete last month and just love it even more every visit.

[@Explorcation]

You really can't go wrong with either, but we'll be interested to hear which you prefer after visiting Sarasota!

[@BeingBedingfield]

Awesome video! I think St Pete’s would be our favourite 😅 nice and vibey and love that there are always new places popping up in town. Hope you make a full recovery soon Jamie 💕

[@Explorcation]

Thanks! We're so limited on the type of content we can make with Jamie not being able to walk much, but thankfully this one didn't require getting out to do any extra filming!

[@balto4]

This was very informative, while I am more familiar with st petersburg Sarasota as perks as well. I love the Mote Aquarium in Sarasota bee several times. I def agree about the traffic in Sarasota and is one of the reasons I haven't been to that area as often. Glad to see Jamie back on camera for a bit

[@Explorcation]

Yeah that Sarasota 🚦 is no joke. No doubt both spots have a lot to offer though!

[@ramunegaizutis1286]

Great video and so nice to see you Jamie! I think I would pick Sarasota. Lido beach and AMI have some of my favourite beaches. But I do love the vibe of St. Pete 🙂

[@Explorcation]

As always, thanks so much for watching and for taking the time to weigh in, Ramune. If we lived outside of Florida and had to pick just one for a beach vaca, we'd probably pick the Sarasota area too... but if we didn't have to pick one we'd probably just spend a few days at both!

[@avallee351]

There is a fantastic local openair veggie stand called City Produce on 4th st N in st Pete only 5 min from downtown

[@Explorcation]

We did visit this place a while back. While the size and selection of this place is nothing comparable to that of Detwiler's in Sarasota or Palmetto, we did find the produce that we bought there to be really good quality! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@Bicyclechris]

Personally, I prefer the suburbs of Tampa for their family friendly neighborhoods for living, but I would definitely look forward to hanging out in St. Pete on the weekends.

[@Explorcation]

We have to admit that we're not too familiar with the Tampa suburbs, but we definitely plan to get more familiar with them in the future. Thanks so much for weighing in!

[@genehinders9769]

Love, love, love Anna Maria Island area

[@Explorcation]

You and us both, Gene!

[@thestateofforney]

Great video! I love watching your channel. Keep up the great work!

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much. We're glad you enjoyed it!

[@deathscythehell7937]

My wife and I lived in both, we enjoyed both my wife has family in both. (lived in Coral Springs FL too) But when we were looking to buy a home we couldn't beat the cost of Lutz at the time. We built a larger house on larger lot cheaper than it would've cost in St Petersburg or Sarasota. We're close enough to enjoy both as well as Tampa and Clearwater whenever we want, so it's a win for us all around. Take care stay safe and hope you get better soon.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for sharing. We're going to have to explore the Lutz area and some more of suburban Tampa one of these days. Someday when the time is right for us to be property owners again, we'll likely be looking for somewhere where we can get a little more land for the money as well.

[@deathscythehell7937]

@@Explorcation It's has a few things but it's mainly residential, less than 15 minutes from downtown Tampa. We love it we get the piece and quiet of the suburbs but close enough to the city when we want to have some fun. Ybor city is one of favorites in Tampa, great food and shops , it's interesting. Then downtown Tampa, craft beer scene aquarium and the river walk. Between Tampa, spending time with family in St Petersburg and Sarasota and Clearwater we've yet run out of things to do.

[@Explorcation]

@@deathscythehell7937 it is great to find those areas that are a little quieter, but only a short drive from the city. We can sure understand how you haven't run out of things to do yet!

[@ikreate4u]

I live in Sarasota and love it! I always wished to know more about St Pete and other Gulf side areas, another reason why I love your channel. Sarasota, however, has gone crazy with downtown high rise construction and traffic circles since I moved here just 3 years ago. It is creating the opposite vibe to the old Florida beach town charm fused with arts that I came here for. We did also get the lovely new park, The Bay, right beside the Van Wezel though. It is am amazing natural space that you may like to visit.

[@Explorcation]

Yes, unfortunately the high-rises just keep going up here in St. Pete as well. It hasn't created the traffic problems that we've found in Sarasota yet, but we're a little concerned that it will eventually. Thanks so much for letting us know about the new park in Sarasota. We would love to check it out and definitely will the next time we are in Sarasota!

[@Amanda-zg9pz]

I live in Downtown St. Pete and the construction here isn’t stopping any time soon. Fortunately there are some hidden gems like Gulfport that are only 10 mins away from St. Pete and give you that small town vibe. Whenever I feel too stressed or just need to unwind I head over there for some drinks and beautiful sunset views.

[@Explorcation]

@@Amanda-zg9pz Gulfport is a nice (and close) getaway from DTSP. We still have a few spots in Gulfport we've been meaning to check out!

[@markshaw4691]

Great video! We’re from the UK but based on this video we would pick Sarasota 😁

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for watching and for taking the time to weigh in, Mark!

[@ThereandBeck]

Loved seeing the comparison between these two cities. We definitely want to end up on one of the gulf towns down the road. One of the negatives of Orlando is the traffic and the infrastructure not keeping up with the growth. Which we have actually seen in a lot of places in Florida we’ve traveled to. Its definitely a growing state. 😊

[@Explorcation]

Oh yeah, Orlando traffic is a bit of a nightmare from our experience. St Pete seems to have really good traffic for a Florida city... One of many perks of living here!

[@LadyD7]

Hi based on your video I would have to choose St. Pete. Will be taking a trip to see both in the fall.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to weigh in! We hope you have a great time visiting both spots in the fall!

[@toddjones1403]

In Skyler I trust…when it comes to beer and cocktails! We recently went to Beach Bistro on Anna Maria although very expensive, was well worth it for a very special dinner.

[@Explorcation]

🤣 well glad I can be trusted for something! Good to hear you enjoyed it, Todd!

[@diannajames3139]

I love your videos , so informative and informative! You both would be the best to ask about a seafood restuarant out at the end of a smaller pier on the Gulf in Sarasota… We took our daughters there to eat at least 20-25 years ago? Am I dreaming this up or is it long gone or hopefully still around? Can’t wait to hear back and see what you guys think! We’d love to eat there again… very fun and sentimental memories🥰

[@Explorcation]

We're so glad you are enjoying our channel! The only seafood place on a pier that we can think of in Sarasota would be Marina Jack. That's a really cool spot that I think has been around for quite a while. Nearby on Longboat Key you also got Dry Dock, which is great!

[@scareddog5450]

I just moved from downtown Tampa to Sarasota and love it. I spent loads of time in St Pete and it was an option instead of Sarasota. Having lived downtown in a few major US cities I appreciate the slightly more laid back vibe of Sarasota and feel it has all of the trendy restaurant, bars etc that I need without all the headache of Tampa/St Pete. Really at the end of the day St Pete is only a 30 min drive if I want to go to a Rays game or to the pier! These cities are really so close it’s a moot point!

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to share your story! It really is a luxury just having access to both cities in 30 minutes or less!

[@stevewalther2293]

Bars, Beaches, and Restaurants...Baseball Diamond is indoors because of the insane heat and humidity all year long...lol...

[@aaronmartinburke]

Great video and a big debate in my mind.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks, Aaron. Definitely no wrong answer, both have so much to offer!

[@PrimeTimeTravelers]

We like Sarasota to visit better, but we haven't lived in either. We were married on Longboat Key in 2007 so we favor Sarasota area more as it's in our hearts forever. Have an awesome week you two! You mentioned getting requests for new videos. Have you explored the east coast of FL at all? We'd love to see you exploring the bigger east coast cities too sometime. Hopefully we will see you down the road sometime!

[@Explorcation]

We definitely understand why Sarasota would be the easy choice for you guys! At some point we plan to explore the entire state of Florida, but life keeps throwing wrenches in our plans. But one of these days for sure!

[@PrimeTimeTravelers]

@@Explorcation yeah well when you head to Orlando let us know!

[@blainegorman6672]

I am visiting from California next month and I am staying in Clearwater Beach on the beach, but wanted to ask if you would recommend staying there, or should I stay in St. Pete instead?

[@Explorcation]

We enjoy Clearwater Beach, but it's quite crowded and not a fun place to drive. That said, everything's in a pretty compact area and you can walk to almost everything. There's also always a lot to do, and the beaches are beautiful. But if you prefer less crowded beaches and want to be able to drive around easily (as opposed to walking everywhere), we would probably recommend another beach town.

[@boxcarkim24]

Love the vid. How do you two stay so fit, all you do is eat lol. Just so you know we are flying Breeze Airways direct from Westchester NY to Sarasota. About the beaches, at this point I'll take anyone. Thanks.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks so much! Thankfully our eating habits in our videos are not an accurate representation of a typical day of eating 😅. We've always wanted to fly Breeze to see how it compares to Allegiant. Their prices seem to be great!

[@ultanwoods]

Great video guys

[@Explorcation]

Thank you, Ultan! Lots of people ask us which one we think is better, so we decided we might as well make a video on it!

[@Abcdlmnop-w4n]

Wow you guys get a A+ for this report! 🤓

[@Explorcation]

Thank you so much!!!

[@adventureswithshan-man6324]

Can you look into doing a video of the cross bay ferri that goes between downtown Tampa and Down town St Pete?

[@Explorcation]

That's a great suggestion, and a video we've talked about making for a couple of years now. For various reasons, we've just never got around to it... and I think it's about to wrap up for the spring. I do think that when it picks back up again this fall, we'll do a video on riding it from St. Pete to Tampa (and probably exploring Tampa a bit as well).

[@genehinders9769]

Love the smaller airports too!

[@Explorcation]

Yes! We get so spoiled flying out of St. Pete and only having having a 10 minute drive to the airport and only having to show up an hour before the flight! It's great.

[@roysgreen]

I was hoping to see a category on holiday accommodation, hotels, apartments etc. Still lots of useful info..

[@Explorcation]

That would've been a good one to add. We'll definitely keep it in mind for if we do another of those comparison videos!

[@roysgreen]

@Explorcation great, we're in the UK looking for accommodation for next year. Hotels seem very expensive and we're not sure which areas for apartments are good around St Petes..

[@Explorcation]

Hotels are very expensive in the area for sure!

[@genehinders9639]

Wow...tough call but I think at this stage in our lives Sarasota would get the nod but I could see it going either way.

[@Explorcation]

Yeah, it really is a tough choice. It's still St. Pete for us, but definitely could see ourselves back in the Sarasota area somewhere down the road... as long as the traffic doesn't get to out of control.

[@lisap9363]

Hi Jamie, if you feel comfortable sharing, what brand of sun protection do you use? I live in NY, but when I vacation in FL, always get burned to some extent. Love that your channel is chock full of useful info! Hope you feel better soon!

[@Explorcation]

On my face I use ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50+, and everywhere else I use Neutrogena Beach Defense 70. On top of that I generally where some type of hat to protect my face (as you've probably noticed). We're so glad you are enjoying the channel and really appreciate the well wishes!

[@lisap9363]

Thanks so much! I'll give them a try.

[@Bicyclechris]

If you two decide to venture east, Bok Tower Gardens is an unforgettable palace to visit that is well worth the drive. :)

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for the suggestion, Chris. We'll definitely give it a look into!

[@Bicyclechris]

@@Explorcation Recently they produced a really nice promo video which showcases the history of the tower and what makes it a special place to visit. :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaTQmq2AhL2SbqM

[@LiveLaughSmile]

I went to St Pete and stayed for 8 days. The beach is beautiful but I like more ClearWater. In St Pete our stay at a hotel was horrible and we had to leave the hotel several days before our check out date and we headed to ClearWater and we was so delightful with our awesome experience. I wish we would go to Sarasota, but due to so much stress in a hotel in St Pete, we decided to relax in ClearWater . ❤

[@Explorcation]

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate situation with your hotel, but we're happy to hear that you were able to find a better situation and enjoyed your time in Clearwater! Thanks so much for wathching!

[@justanotherreseller351]

So is it true u need a income of at least 150k to be able to afford a house in Florida? I hear so much bout the housing market prices are absolutely insanely high there.

[@Explorcation]

There are so many factors that go into how much of a house you can afford... what city are you moving to, how big of a house do you need, what are your non-housing monthly expenses, how much of a down payment can you afford, etc.... That said, $150k seems a bit higher than necessary for most places in Florida, but there's certainly instances where someone could need $150k per year or even more.

[@stevewalther2293]

Also what people don't mention is the intense heat and humidity rendering you indoors for 6 months...and it's very very crowded...

[@brianwluxevovacations215]

I'll be down in the area next week. If you all around Sarasota/Bradenton I'd love to meet you.

[@Explorcation]

Hi Brian. We hope you enjoy your time in the Sarasota/Bradenton area! As of now, we do not plan on being in that area next week, but can let you known if anything changes.

[@heaven4hockeycards]

st pete for the win... nearest Universal studios, my happy place and Tampa. The City pass is a must, a steal for all you got!

[@Explorcation]

Yes, for Universal and Disney fans, being 30+ minutes closer to Orlando would be huge! Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@Amanda-zg9pz]

I’d love to see a video comparing Tampa and St. Pete. They’re very different. I think St. Pete has a leg up on Tampa (I’m a little biased though ;) )

[@Explorcation]

Down the road I'm sure that is a video we will make, but we will need to do a lot more exploring of Tampa first. We're hoping to start within the next month or two. If you have any suggestions of areas to visit in Tampa, please let us know!

[@claudiahansen4938]

We chose Sarasota! Or, Venice/Nokomis, that is.

[@Explorcation]

We don't blame ya. The Venice/Nokomis area has so much going for it!

[@joecoletti7970]

Totally agree St Pete’s better for over all location to Downtown plus major airport in Tampa and definitely traffic compared to Sarasota

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to weigh in, Joe! As much as we do enjoy Sarasota, St. Pete's downtown is one of a kind.

[@joecoletti7970]

@@Explorcation Thinking of Moving there What is the average rent for a one bedroom?

[@Explorcation]

@@joecoletti7970 according to Zillow, average rent is 1,645, but of course that various based on what area of the city you are interested in.

[@joecoletti7970]

@@Explorcation Thanks guys We felt that Sarasota was to busy for us plus downtown St Petes has really expanded and the quality of restaurants and overall area is better as far as location

[@willbygosh4887]

St. Petersburg has a larger population than Sarasota but St. Petersburg has over 4 times the land area than Sarasota as a municipality.The largest Municipality in population in Sarasota County is actuality Northport but that municipality has 7 times the land area that Sarasota has but Sarasota has an urban vibe like St. Petersburg but it's more densely populated than Northport which is more suburban in feel.Both Sarasota and St.Petersburg have awesome downtowns.

[@Explorcation]

Thank you for sharing this interesting information, Will!

[@Victory1981]

I like both, but Sarasota.

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to weigh in!

[@CarlosGonzalez-mr5qz]

Never been to Sarasota but I really like St Pete.

[@Explorcation]

We do too, Carlos! Hopefully you'll get a chance to check out Sarasota someday too. It's a pretty cool city.

[@CarlosGonzalez-mr5qz]

@@Explorcation Nice! Thank you!

[@ScullyPop]

Watch this awesome episode until the end.

[@Explorcation]

We appreciate the support, Scully!

[@Bejennuine]

We love AMI!

[@Explorcation]

You and us both, Jennifer! Thanks for watching.

[@stevewalther2293]

Wow!!

[@Explorcation]

Thanks for watching, Steve.

[@stevewalther2293]

😴

[@stevewalther2293]

@@Explorcation going to the beach today?

[@Explorcation]

Nope. Video editing in the AC today.

[@bmw1175]

Personally prefer Bradenton.

[@Explorcation]

That's understandable... we LOVE Anna Maria!

[@bmw1175]

@@Explorcation my parents live in Bradenton and I guess I’m also older feeling because I like it more chill and all the other places are close to visit. No parking meters like in St Pete.

[@Explorcation]

@@bmw1175 right? parking meters are everywhere at the beaches in Pinellas County. We love the chill vibes of Bradenton/Anna Maria. We are excited to try out the new ferry to the island.

[@ericvdwilt4741]

you forgot shopping st.pete/tampa is better in that case (i think)

[@Explorcation]

Yeah... neither of us are big shoppers so we didn't feel adequately informed to weigh in on that one. I would agree that St. Pete is better overall just due to it being larger, but Sarasota has a fairly new mall, plus the outlet mall in Ellenton, and all the shops out on St Armonds circle (on Lido Key)... so we're guessing some would might make the argument that Sarasota is better.

[@CraigMay]

You forgot the subject of politics. St Pete area has a lot of democrat liberals. Sarasota I would consider to be mostly made up of conservatives, this is probably due to the age demographic. When choosing where to live this is just as important if not more than the other subjects. This is also why people move from those states. So I’m this is a political subject but people find this important whether you like it or not.

[@Explorcation]

We agree that it's definitely something that a lot of people would consider in determining which city is best for them, and yes, Sarasota is known to be more conservative than St. Pete. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, Craig.