No need to worry about getting enough vitamin D in St. Petersburg. With an average of 360 days of sun a year, its moniker as the Sunshine City couldn't be more fitting. Toss in an excess of water views, island beaches and cultural treats and you'll see why St. Pete (as the locals like to call it) is such a tourist (and snow-bird) haven.

As the fourth largest city in Florida, St. Petersburg has a lot to brag about. It's located on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on Florida's West Coast, offering easy access to the city of Tampa and the surrounding area via a network of causeways and bridges. If you want to see the sites of downtown St. Pete by day, hop on the Looper, a trolley that runs through downtown every half hour. Or stroll by foot along the waterfront promenade to see the historic St. Petersburg Yacht Club and the inverted pyramid-shaped "Million Dollar" pier, complete with an aquarium, an observation deck, restaurants and shops. Johnny Depp-junkies should keep their eyes on the docks; the HMS Bounty, which just returned from filming the sequel to Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, ties up here when she's not on set.

Even sun-worshipers will need a break from the rays at some point. The Salvador Dali Museum, which showcases the largest collection of Dali works outside of Spain, is an exceptional way to spend an afternoon. If you have kids in tow, perhaps a day trip to Busch Gardens-Tampa Bay is in order, or a picnic in the St. Petersburg Historic Sunken Gardens. Otherwise, just slather on the sunscreen and dig out your own pile of sand at any number of the resort-occupied beaches along the Gulf coast.

At night, downtown comes to life at BayWalk, the shopping-dining- entertainment complex with a 20-screen cinema, restaurants and bars. Grab a bite at Mobil three-star Pacific Wave, which is only a few blocks from BayWalk and serves up tangy Pacific Rim fusion cuisine to a loyal local following. Have a night cap at the Abbey Road Pub, a live music venue that offers up brew on tap or try upscale jazz lounge, A Taste for Wine, voted St. Petersburg's most romantic bar.

When it's time to hit the hey, treat yourself to the very best that St. Petersburg has to offer at the Mobil three-star Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club. Its waterfront locale promises great vistas from every room and the 18-hole adjacent golf course isn't too shabby either.

After a few days in St. Petersburg, you'll be relaxed, rejuvenated and probably wondering why you didn't discover this backyard paradise sooner.

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