As with most larger cities, St. Petersburg boasts an exciting arts and food scene, professional sporting events, a variety of museums and a serious nightlife. Start your exploration on the very walkable Bayshore Dr., a picturesque street with shops, restaurants and waterfront views. Take a tour of the historic Vinoy Hotel a beautiful, historic hotel that has been a St. Petersburg landmark since the 1920s. If it's a Saturday, stop by the St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market, a popular market at 230 1st St. SE that features fresh produce, crafts and live music. At the end of the day, make your way to St. Pete Beach, known for white sand, turquoise waters and stunning sunsets. Nearby Sunken Gardens is a century-old botanical garden featuring over 50,000 tropical plants, a butterfly aviary and a historic flamingo colony at 1825 4th St. N. (727-551-3102).

Not only does St. Pete have the largest public waterfront park system of any U.S. city, it's also an easy city to negotiate by foot or public transportation. The downtown "Looper" trolley (727-821-5166) stops at many of the tourist spots and downtown locations every 15 minutes for a nominal charge. The public bus service (PSTA, 727-540-1800) can get you around the rest of the city in all-electric buses.