St. Petersburg (pop: 248,098), is the quieter twin city across the bay from Tampa, and part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area which has around 2.7 million people. Don't be fooled by the stereotypes about "St. Pete" being only for retired folks. It possesses a charming downtown, with shopping, fine dining, and brand new high-rise condos. With a perfect setting on the water, St. Pete is a real gem in Florida that shouldn't be overlooked.