Interesting Facts

Downtown St. Petersburg, home to the museum district, boasts the Florida International Museum, Salvador Dali Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and Museum of History. Works housed in the Salvador Dali Museum make up the world's largest collection of his masterpieces and are worth more than $125 million. For economical transport, hop on one of St. Pete's teal-colored trolleys, which make stops at each museum.
It's gonna be a bright, sun-shiny day! The Guinness Book of World's Records ranks St. Pete as having the longest run of consecutive sunny days. From February 9, 1967 to March 17, 1969, St. Petersburg had 768 days of uninterrupted sunshine!
That's some kind of hotel! The Renaissance Vinoy Hotel opened in 1925 and was the first hotel in the country to pamper guests with steam heat! Many famous figures have patronized the property, including Jimmy Stewart, George Bush, and Bill Clinton.
When in St. Pete, a trip to the Sunken Gardens is a must! An area of lush tropical vegetation nourishing more than 50,000 varieties of plants and flowers, the Sunken Gardens is one of Florida's original attractions. While the gardens capture the interest of green thumbs, alligator wrestling shows enthrall the children!
St. Pete is Florida's fourth largest city and has the largest city marina in the United States. Takamatsu, Japan has been the Sister City since 1961 and the two cities participate in cultural exchange programs.
It's for the birds! One of the best places to catch a glimpse of the endangered wood stork and the bright pink roseate spoonbill is adjacent to the Pinellas County incinerator. Yes, the incinerator! Along with the storm water storage area are numerous insects and fish � food for birds!
Whoever said you can't get something for nothing had never been to Weedon Island. Once home to the Timucuan tribe, a movie studio, and an airport, this area has been transformed into a 1000-acre reserve on Tampa Bay. Complete with all varieties of nature, the reserve is home to fish, snakes, raccoons, and dolphins. For a great vantage point, hop in a canoe and view the area from the water!
To get a real feel for the city, there are walking tours available that visit 25 historical buildings and when the night shadows arrive, there are ghost tours that tell a history of people and places where strange activities exist such as the Detroit Hotel, Blocker Mansion, Vinoy Resort and Williams Park.
Life's a beach ... in St. Pete! Beautiful sunsets and fun activities abound at beaches in the St. Petersburg area. Why not try a little fishing, swimming, boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, or even relaxing on the warm sands. Just a reminder ...fishing licenses are required for anyone who fishes in Florida's fresh or salt waters, unless they do so from a bridge, pier, or chartered boat.
Bridge over troubled waters? No, just a connector between St. Pete and Tampa. The Sunshine Skyway was Florida's first suspension bridge and cost $244 million. This 4-mile-long bridge was built in 1987 and was modeled after the Bretonne Bridge spanning France's Seine River. It's one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the western hemisphere.