Fun things to do in or near St. Pete, Florida?

One of the world's many wonderful cities is St. Petersburg; learn it with hotelbye . St. Petersburg has most of the ingredients for an unique travel knowledge: high artwork, lavish structure, crazy nightlife, an exceptional history and rich national traditions that have influenced and nurtured a number of the contemporary world's best literature, music, and aesthetic art. From the strange twilight of the White Nights to world-beating opera and ballet productions on mysterious cold temperatures evenings, St. Petersburg charms and encourages in every year so discover this phenomenal town since it will give you an unforgettable vacation.

Be really careful about where you go in St Pete proper bc there is a large criminal element in the city
Here's a crime map
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/fl/st-petersburg/crime
St Pete Beach , Treasure Island and Madeira Beach are all OK
Ft Desoto SP is a neat place to be
You can rent kayaks from the rental place that's across the road from the Egmont Key Ferry Dock
While the water is too cold for manatees ( which are really boring critters ) up at Crystal River
You may be able to see them ( or at least their nostrils ) on the bayou that goes from the kayak rental place to the inlet
Give the guys at the kayak rental place some oreos and tell them that they're from the guy w/ the green Pungo 14
If you want to see wall to wall live aligators then head over to Myakka River State Park and stop in Saraosta on the way back
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34618-d105479-Reviews-Myakka_River_State_Park-Sarasota_Florida.html
Learn how to do the Gulf Shuffle lest you step on a sting ray
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/do-the-stingray-shuffle-to-avoid-nasty-stings/2125433
On super windy days , wind surfers hang out on the NE side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Use the first rest area on I-275 S to get there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_74uuNlues

There are a lot of nice restaurants in the downtown area, right along the bay.
There are plenty of beaches, although the water is a little cold this time of year.
You can also check out the Clearwater aquarium (where they have Winter the dolphin), head over to Tampa and check out places like Ybor City or catch a Tampa Bay Lightning game. You can also drive an hour or two north and go snorkel with manatees in Crystal River.
There's plenty to do in the area.

Also, not sure if you realize this, but you sort of aren't really seeing the ocean. St Pete is on the west coast of Florida, so you are seeing the Gulf of Mexico, which I guess technically is an extension of the Atlantic.