With the recurring and onset snow storms in the Northeast and Midwest, St. Petersburg welcomes more and more tourists seeking refuge from the bone-chilling cold.

More commonly known as the ‘Burg, the city illustrates the idyllic coastal destination with year-round sunshine and some of the country’s best beaches.

Due in part to the unpleasantness of the recent polar vortex in the Northeast and Midwest, St. Pete – with its ideal climate –  has seen a rise in tourism that can be credited to strategic advertisements placed in Pinellas County’s top feeder-markets: Chicago, New York and Toronto. Some of the ads read, “Never mind Wall Street. Invest in some sun,” or “We salt margaritas, not sidewalks.”

Thanks to the clever ads of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, business in St. Pete (and Pinellas County overall) is booming and is expected to continue increasing throughout the winter season. In fact, Tony Satterfield, vice president of operations for Alden Suites in St. Pete reported a 25 percent increase in room occupancies compared to the same time last year. On top of that, other beach-front hotels and resorts have already reached full capacity for the next four months.

In the recent past, St. Pete was named an underrated city by EscapeHere, and it should come as no surprise to those who live in the Tampa Bay region. According to EscapeHere:

“Although not as popular as Miami or Tampa, this city is the perfect example of why Florida is called the “Sunshine State.” The warm, clear weather lasts nearly year-round. True to its coastal nature, St. Petersburg has some of the most beautiful beaches in the state. Those in search of culture can also visit the Salvador Dali Museum, which holds the largest collection of his work in the western world.”

Here are some quick facts about the ‘Burg you may not have known!

Driving, St. Petersburg is…

• Five minutes from the Gulf of Mexico Beaches.
• 40 minutes from Bush Gardens.
• 90 minutes from Disney World.

St. Petersburg was awarded the…

• Best community for Young People by America’s Promise.
• Fourth Largest City in Fla., with 224,746  residents.
• Most Beautiful and Understanding Cities and Towns by EscapeHere.com.
• Most Livable Community of the Decade by Partnership for Livable Communities.
• Most Livable Downtown in the Southeast by Southern Development Magazine.
• No. 4 Best U.S. Metro Area in Which to Live by Places Rated Almanac.

St. Petersburg is home to…

• 9,000 businesses.
• An art community that fuels an annual economic impact of more than $23 million.
• The largest Salvador Dali collection in the western world.
• The largest outdoor market in the Southeast.
• The Tampa Bay Rays.

Reprinted from:  http://www.tampabay.org/about-us/news-media/partnership-blog/2014-02-06/st-petersburg-visitor%E2%80%99s-paradise-resident%E2%80%99s-dream