St. Pete is nation’s second-best ‘boating city’
January 8, 2026 - St. Petersburg is No. 2 in the nation on a new list of the "Best Boating Cities for 2026," placing just behind Charleston, South Carolina. BoatBooker, a global marketplace for boat tours, credited St. Petersburg's year-round sunshine, extensive shoreline, eco-adventures, fishing trips, sunset cruises, abundant wildlife and "lively downtown." The platform considered the variety and quality of boating experiences, customer interest and booking trends, accessibility, feedback from captains and local operators and "tourism momentum" when compiling its rankings.