Marc J. Soss, Esquire

Sandcastles made of the white sand on St. Petersburg Municipal Beach seem more magical when you look out over the clear water that makes its way slowly up to the shoreline. The kids will love playing in the surf all afternoon as you bask in the invitingly warm Florida sunshine or maybe take a little snooze. But don't forget the sunscreen!

Many say that the only way to change the future is to learn from our past mistakes, and that is exactly what the Florida Holocaust Museum aims to do. Instead of focusing on past transgressions and the severity and cruelty of what went on, the museum aims to underscore the spirit of perseverance and quest for freedom that these dramatic exhibits illustrate. There are various historical papers, photographs, and other objects that tell this solemn story. Perhaps the most sobering exhibit is an actual boxcar that shuttled prisoners to the concentration camps.

Nature's beauty is everywhere in St. Petersburg, especially under the area's signature palm trees. Get a closer look at these magnificent specimens of greenery when you visit the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum. Your senses will be treated to many exotic and native Florida palms and cycads all presented in a truly stunning fashion. You will be amazed at some of these palms that are too large for a conventional yard. Also, several rare and exotic palm trees can be found here that serve as the perfect setting for your romantic time together.

Various events of history can be a bit eerie, but when you experience the unique Ghost Tour of St. Petersburg, that eerie feeling is elevated to a higher, much more chilling level. You'll hear true accounts of wandering ghostly spirits, haunted mansions, displaced phantoms and age old curses. Although the tour is a causal, unassuming walk through the city's quaint streets and beautiful waterfront, there are plenty of startling revelations on this unexpectedly shadowy excursion.