Hurricane season has descended upon St. Petersburg and the weather is slowly souring with the days. Enjoying a park or a walk outside has become difficult, and finding something fun to do can be hard when St. Petersburg prides itself on a flourishing outdoor community. Central Avenue offers many locations to sit and enjoy a coffee or read a book, but parking is never easy. What solution could there be?
Luckily for the artistic community, many museums and other exhibit-driven experiences offer indoor activities that can be enjoyed no matter the weather. The color isn’t just stuck outside; it’s brought safely indoors to provide unique adventures to inspire the mind.
Follow along to discover what experiences offer indoor spaces that remain open, rain or shine!
The Imagine Museum
This contemporary glass art museum showcases the works of dozens of artists who delve into the art of glassblowing. It is a showcase of expert craftsmanship with over 500 individual pieces and 2,500 available to rotate from around the world displayed in 20 indoor gallery spaces, each one filled with shimmering glass to delight the mind.
The Imagine Museum features rotating artists and events that showcase a variety of talents, including music and other engaging performances. Guests can also book a guided tour to have an expert share knowledge about glass that will blow your mind (pun intended) and take you around to spaces you might have initially missed. Downloadable activity sheets are offered for free, providing an educational opportunity complete with fun factoids and activity to engage young minds.
Chihuly Collection
The world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly needs a place to display his work, and what better place than in the middle of the Central Arts District. This studio is home to Chihuly’s spectacular works of glass art, including the Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier, a piece created specifically for the Chihuly Collection location. Visit the Collection to witness the genius behind the glass and see how creativity knows no limits!
The Chihuly Collection is made possible by partnership between Chihuly and the Morean Arts Center, all for the sake of education, something Chihuly believes to be valuable. Several opportunities are offered to immerse guests in creative practices guided by professionals; multiple classes allow you to explore the craftsmanship of painting, jewelry and even glassblowing!
The Chihuly Collection is one of many locations the Morean Arts Center has curated in St. Petersburg, others including the Morean Arts Center, the Morean Center for Clay and the Morean Glass Studio.
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art
The West holds countless stories and tales that have developed over hundreds of years, some untold while others are portrayed in paintings, sculptures and other artistic outlets. The James Museum is dedicated to the display of this contemporary Western art and teaches the rich culture surrounding the American West, intending to be a thought-provoking space for guests to immerse themselves in a new culture.
Indigenous people have been creating art for thousands of years, and the James Museum preserves these creations and other retellings of the wildlife, people and landscapes in a 26,000 square foot gallery. The gallery holds over 400 artistic works including jewelry, paintings and carvings along with objects from the westward expansion of the 1800s.
The James Museum offers guided tours, field trips and other programs tailored for all ages to help guests experience the full impact of the James Museum and the art within. A recent partnership between the James Museum and Pinellas County Schools aims to bring every 2nd grader in for a field trip to discover the meaning behind art. An admirable goal to pursue!
The Dali Museum
Nestled between the St. Pete Pier and the University of South Florida is an artist space dedicated to the Spanish surrealist, Salvador Dalí. Walk through indoor galleries featuring paintings, replicas and photographs that offer a deep dive into Salvador Dalí’s creative mind. Talk on the Lobster Phone with Dalí, or explore the auditoriums featuring guest authors, speakers and painters who share their own experiences as creatives.
View special shows in The Dalí Dome, a collaborative artistic effort between The Dalí and The Arte Museum that combines virtual reality and growing imaginations into a 360-degree experience that immerses viewers in a world of spatial sound and glowing visuals.
The Dali Museum offers replicas of his work in their gift shop, including mugs, plushies and even clocks just like one of his most famous paintings, The Persistence of Time.
FloridaRAMA
The weird and whacky always have a place in St. Petersburg, and what better way to appreciate the creative than to take it and make it a reality? FloridaRAMA takes the wonky and creates a world you can explore with all five senses, a world made up of numerous interactive exhibits and touchable elements. Escape the rain and enter into the Factory where a seating area decorated with pillows awaits and purchase your tickets away from the weather.
Explore immersive art created by over 85+ local artists, some featured from overseas, and literally walk through their creations. Step into the Mermaid Star Motel and check in as a guest to discover the secret behind a mysterious disappearance, participate in unique scavenger hunts and explore the Everglades. Let your mind go and set your imagination free with a story that transcends expectations and offers a creative space for all ages, children and adults alike.
FloridaRAMA also offers multiple ways to support local artists; the gift shop, known as the Tourist Trap, features various artist-made goods, all available for purchase. Some items mimic exhibits that can be seen around the Mermaid Star Motel, including room keys with a special number, squishy cans of soup from the Apocalyptic Soup Cans collection featured along the Motel Facade and fun post cards that show off some of the featured art and locations within the museum!
Plan Your Next Trip
Interested in visiting FloridaRAMA? Purchase your tickets online or walk up and ask for the best deal!
🎨 Fully indoor & immersive
🛸 Family-friendly and weird in all the right ways
🛍️ Open daily with rotating artist features
