ST PETERSBURG entices by its bubbling mineral springs, fine-sand beaches, and ideal climate, tourists and visitors began pouring into St. Petersburg in 1888, with the advent of Peter Demens' Orange Belt Railroad. Appreciate the beauty of nature at Sunken Gardens, a sinkhole surrounded by a pristine lake and more than five acres of tropical gardens, the enjoy a picnic lunch at Demens Landing, a lively marina and waterfront park. And don't miss The Pier, a distinctive complex (shaped like an inverted pyramid) that features speciality shops and a restaurant with top-floor views overlooking Tampa Bay.

Featured in the Guinness Book of Records for the most consecutive days of sunshine (768), St. Petersburg / Clearwater has an annual average temperature of 73 degrees and boasts 361 days of sunshine each year.