Dali Museum, St. Petersburg

The Dali Museum is a world-class museum of Salvador Dali's art. It is housed in an architectural masterpiece on the bay in St. Petersburg. A delightful garden with views of the bay, and a cafe with windows looking out on the garden are also part of the museum.

Ren and Eleanor Morse, from Cleveland, founded the museum, choosing its location because of the similarity between its original spot on a rock outcropping on the water and Dali's childhood home in the northeast of Spain. They were a couple who loved life, he a businessman in the plastics business and her a student of Music, French, and Spanish, and from the beginning of their marriage they collected Dali's works.
Climb the winding stairs through the light-filled center of the building to the third floor and there is the gallery filled with Dali's paintings. It is nice to watch his evolution as an artist. I love the self-portrait he made as a teen, with hat and pipe (that he did not smoke) to add mystique. It's great to listen to the audio tour which is included in your admission. Dali's works are so unusual it makes you want to learn more about his life and what shaped his psyche.
After checking out the paintings, head to the first floor where you can have a delicious snack or cup of tea at Cafe Gala (named after Dali's wife) while looking out on the garden and water. Here you sit under the amazing glass triangles that make up the exterior of the building. There is also a large gift shop.
Outside, there is a bench with Dali's famous melting clock slung over it, and a tree that has strings falling from the branches where visitors have tied their wristbands. A giant moustache sculpture for selfies, with views of the water, is another fun part of the garden. Tables and chairs shaded by a canopy are a nice place to sit.
Taking up a large part of the garden is a new dome where you can watch a choice of two Alive 360 movies, one about Dali and one about Van Gogh. This is worth doing because the movies are beautifully made with good music matching the images of the paintings, and an interesting history about the artists. 
If you walk north twelve minutes you will come to St. Pete Pier, an amazing new development with gorgeous modern buildings, cafes, an incredible playground, and interesting lights at night. Don't miss it! It is one of the nicest spots in Florida.
Afterward, stroll along gorgeous St. Pete Beach at sunset.

Directions

The Dali Museum is located at 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg FL 33701, call (727) 823-3767. Parking is $10.
Open daily 10-5:30, Thursdays til 8pm.
Admission is around $32 for adults. After 5pm on Thurs admission is $16. Alive 360 movies cost extra.

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