My folks (now both passed) wintered in St Pete's for many years.
St Pete was very hospitable to snow birds back then with the local bank hosting an annual snowbird 5-7 welcome party.
Dad golfed* every day and mother attended the many workshops given by the university.
Most 'snow birds' were Canadians simply avoiding snow.
As my folks said, they did not mind a sweater or jacket as long as they did not have to face snow.
Back then they wintered in a Holiday Inn about 50 ft from the beech and at a cost that was less than heating back home.
Times sure have changed as I visited the area a few years back and it had become a wall to wall neon alley that mainly hosted the 'spring break crowd'.
*Golfers were warned not to collect balls from the rough due to water moccasins.
Dad would sweep ahead with an club to shoo any snake and collect bags full of balls that he'd bring home to practice drive into the lake from his front yard.
LOL, he'd usually have 100 or so.