We just launched “Where the Beach Takes You” — a web series for St. Pete/Clearwater tourism.

The videos will be used on their  website and also to generate conversation on their Facebook page and Twitter.

These mini-documentary videos focus on real stories of people and their special connection to the region, highlighting why the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is a great destination point.

The profiles focus on the unexpected and the off beat… people and places like Eli and his BBQ stand in Dunedin:

Micro-targeted online pieces are used to entertain and inform the viewer, creating more reasons for adventurous travelers to explore the area.

Every area has its people (HEROES) and we were very excited to compellingly document their stories.

Here are some samples.

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PIER 60. “There’s nothing like a sunset on the water, man.” Cole Platt drives a Pedicab at beautiful Clearwater Beach, one of the top ten beaches in America. Spend a day with Cole as he gives us a tour of the beaches youthful energy and people watching, ending with the beauty of the Sunset Festival at Pier 60.

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THE DALI MUSEUM.  “What will we make of ourselves tomorrow?” Director Hank Hine is hosting this evening’s cookout to update his staff on the progress of the new Dali Museum. The new museum is opening in 2011, and will replace the current home of the most valuable collection of a single artists work in the United States. To Hank it’s all about enjoyment of life, experimentation, and “what is it like to be alive today.”

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THE GODFATHER OF TARPON SPRINGS.  “In five minutes I can be in America, and five minutes later I can be in Greece.” George Billiris is the Godfather of Tarpon Springs, a taste of the Greek Islands founded generations ago on the sponge industry. George’s family has run a sponge diving tourist attraction for five generations, longer than any other tourist attraction in the state.

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KILTS AND CHROME.  Dunedin’s Highland Games are not just “kilts and chrome” for Ching McKee Oettel. Scottish heritage is everywhere as Ching and his mates train for the Highland Games, coming up in March. As he says… “Anything you do to help that culture and that history makes you immortal.”

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THE TROP.  Dewayne Staats like go get to the Trop three hours before first pitch at St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field. Dewayne is the face and voice of the Tampa Bay Rays, who went to the World Series in 2008. “It certainly beats working!”

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CALADESI ISLAND.  This is the real Florida. The morning commute is by boat for Caladesi Island Park Ranger Tracy Telatycki. Tracy is charged with helping maintain the ecological balance with the majesty of one of the finest tourist beaches in America.

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360 DAYS OF SUNSHINE.  After riding his bike to work along the beautiful Tampa coastline each morning, Zac Oppenheim teaches sailing at St. Petersburg waterfront. There are 360 days of sunshine and a year and 35 miles of beach at this destination for boaters from all over the world.

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THE URBAN RACEWAY.  In St. Petersburg you can sail, surf and fly all year round. But the Honda Grand Prix comes once a year. Recovering lawyer Tim Rasberger runs the Grand Prix, and give us a waterfront tour of the roads that will become an urban raceway. With cars driving 150 mph, get ready for the world’s fastest spring break party.