St Pete Named Top Ten City By Conde Nast. When I began law school in 1969, St. Petersburg was filled with green benches, and was known as a retiree haven. In the Twenties, it became a winter refuge for northerners tired of snow and cold. But, in my time here, I have watched as it became a place where the weather and sunshine attracted a new group of people, with a new dynamic. Now, I am not bashful about telling everyone that St. Pete is the best kept travel secret around. Conde Nast agrees.