Day Trip to St. Petersburg to See the New Van Gogh Museum

When you’re vacationing on Anna Maria Island, there’s a ton of exciting attractions to explore. But you’re certainly not limited to what you can see and do on the island itself! Anna Maria Island is just moments away from the mainland of Florida, so you can make a quick drive over the bridge to have a day trip in another city like Sarasota.

St. Petersburg offers so many fun things to do near Anna Maria Island, and one of the best attractions will only be around for a limited time! The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg is currently hosting a fantastic exhibit called Van Gogh Alive, an immersive experience that transports you into the world of the unmatched artist, Vincent Van Gogh.

If you’re searching for an activity to enjoy with your kids just minutes away from our vacation rentals in Anna Maria Island, this is the perfect option!

How to Get There

Traveling from the Anna Maria Beach Resort to the Salvador Dali Museum takes just under an hour to drive. You’ll first need to make your way off of the island. Head southeast on Gulf Drive North toward 64^th Street, then in half a mile, take a slight left turn to remain on Gulf Drive. After about a mile, turn left onto FL-64 E/Manatee Avenue, then follow the road for 8.4 miles before turning left onto 6^th Avenue West.

From there, you’ll make your way to US-41 BUS N/8^th Avenue W and follow for 3.5 miles before taking a slight right turn onto South Tamiami Trail. Turn slightly left onto US-19 N before merging into I-275 N/US-19 N (be aware that you’ll encounter tolls here!). You’ll then stay on I-275 N for 12 miles and keep right to remain on the road for an additional 4 miles. Take Exit 22 to make your way to I-175 E, then merge onto 5^th Avenue S/Dali Boulevard. After one more left and right turn, you’ll be at The Dali!

What to Expect

Once you arrive at The Dali and make your way to the Van Gogh Alive exhibit, you’ll immediately be greeted with some incredible artwork. You’re likely to recognize several of the paintings throughout the exhibit, including works like “Sunflowers” and “Starry Night.” What you might not be expecting, though, is the size! These paintings have been reproduced at an enormous scale to allow you to see every single detail of every work. Additionally, you’ll hear a beautiful score through the cinema-quality surround sound system to give you a completely immersive experience. The exhibit is powered by a unique system called SENSORY4, which was developed in Australia. The Dali is the first museum in North America to host this stunning exhibit.

In total, the Van Gogh Alive exhibit features over 3,000 paintings by the artist, shown in a way you’ve simply never seen them before. You should be aware that this is a multisensory experience that involves large moving images and, sometimes, abrupt sounds. Still, this is a totally family-friendly experience that kids and adults alike will enjoy! In order to ensure the safety of all guests, strollers are not allowed inside the exhibit and can instead be parked right near the entrance to Van Gogh Alive.

Once you’re done walking through Van Gogh Alive, you don’t have to feel like your museum adventures are over just yet! Be sure to take the time to walk through the entirety of The Dali. There are more than 2,400 of Salvador Dali’s works housed here, so you can keep yourself and your family entertained for hours. The permanent collection is made up of interesting objects, prints, photographs, work on paper, paintings, and book illustrations. Additionally, the museum has a few rotating exhibits for you to enjoy in addition to the Van Gogh Alive exhibit. A few programs that are on at the museum indefinitely include “At Home With Dali,” “Dali’s Masterworks in Augmented Reality,” and “Dali Lives (Via Artificial Intelligence).”

Hours and Operations

The Van Gogh Alive exhibit is being held at the Salvador Dali Museum from now until April 11, 2021. The Salvador Dali Museum is located at One Dali Boulevard in St. Petersburg. Admission to the museum costs $25 for adults, $18 for students, and $10 for youth ages 6-12. Children 5 years old and under enter for free. Adults over 65, as well as teachers, firefighters, military, and police officers receive a discount. Entry for these groups is $23 per person. You can also receive discounted entry if you purchase your ticket for entry after 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Entry into the Van Gogh Alive exhibit is included with your admission price.

The Salvador Dali Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. You’re able to park on site for $10 per vehicle or take advantage of one of the surface lots, street parking spaces, or city parking garages nearby. To enhance your experience at the museum, download the free Dali Museum App on your iPhone or Android device! The app contains maps of the museum, augmented reality (AR) capabilities, event schedules, and themed and virtual tours. 

The Dali has taken extra safety measures to protect guests from the spread of COVID-19. All tickets must be purchased in advance and will indicate the time that you can enter the museum. Groups of 5 people or less are permitted to enter at once. Temperature checks are performed for every guest before museum entry via thermal cameras, and touch-free payment is utilized on site. All staff and visitors are required to wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth for the entirety of their time in the museum. If you don’t have a mask, you may purchase one at the museum.

Where to Stay

Once you’re through at The Dali and you’ve experienced some of the best kid-friendly things to do near Anna Maria Island, it will soon be time to head back to your rental to relax for the evening or freshen up for an evening out on the town. So, you’ll need a comfortable and affordable place to stay! No matter whether your family is big or small, the Anna Maria Beach Resort has the perfect rental for your group! We’re proud to maintain some of the best and most family-friendly rentals in Anna Maria Island, guaranteeing that your group will have an amazing time on your next getaway.

The Anna Maria Beach Resort is conveniently located in Holmes Beach right in the middle of the island. This prime location gives you easy access to any attraction on AMI as well as on the mainland! You can spend your days splashing in the clear waters of the Gulf, shopping on Pine Avenue or Bridge Street, or taking advantage of resort amenities like the oversized pool!