St. Petersburg is nicknamed the "Sunshine City" of Florida, which is nicknamed the "Sunshine State." So it's safe to say that St. Petersburg is a topnotch place to see a lot of blue skies and sun. With a quarter of a million residents, St. Petersburg ranks as the fourth largest Florida city and is included as part of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area.
For flower lovers seeking dedicated gardens, Sunken Gardens is a superb place to start. The neon sign that greets visitors at the entrance is misleading compared to the Zen-like beauty found inside. The 100-year-old botanical garden houses some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. An interesting fact about the property: The garden was started by a plumber in 1903 whose favorite hobby was, suitably, gardening. Garden tours and horticultural programs are available for those eager to delve into the true garden experience.
Known by locals as "St. Pete," the city is home to the first commercial airline, which flew from St. Petersburg to Tampa in 1914. Nowadays, it is best known for having the largest dedicated public waterfront park system in any U.S. city. The parks stretch across seven miles and are used year-round for community activities.
The Boyd Hill Nature Preserve includes three miles of trails and boardwalks for hiking and viewing flora and fauna like ferns, hawks and more. Straub Park is also worth a visit, and it's a recommended place to see a collection of banyan trees set along the St. Petersburg shoreline. When it comes down to it, it's not at all difficult to find a quaint park to spend some time. The western Florida city has a long list of parks to choose from.
