Your Buenos Aires of the North? Your Paris in the snow? Your frozen Venice?

It’s St. Paul — voted the “Best Romantic North American Getaway” by 10Best and USA Today after nearly a month of online voting.

Described as the “smaller, quieter and, many say, the more sophisticated” of the Twin Cities on its official voting page, St. Paul beat the likes of tropical Honolulu, historic Savannah, Ga., and picturesque Victoria, British Columbia.

St. Paul’s entry readily admits it’s “not an obvious choice” for a romantic getaway, but its leisurely paddlewheel rides on the Mississippi River, beer tastings and ice skating won voters’ hearts.

Voting opened Dec. 30, and fans could vote once a day.

While the city was tops nationally, local Internet users seemed skeptical. A poll on TwinCities.com asking “Is St. Paul truly the Paris of the North?” drew 1,819 responses by late Wednesday afternoon. More than 52 percent of respondents chose the answer “Not Really.”

Nevertheless, a third chose “Yes. Have you walked through Rice Park Lately?” More than 10 percent conceded “Huh. Maybe.”

The season’s intense cold actually may have served to boost St. Paul’s chances in the USA Today contest. Adam Johnson, vice president of marketing for Visit St. Paul, said Twin Cities television and newspapers helped spread the word about online voting.

“I don’t think any of the other cities went the local media route like we did,” Johnson said.

He’s well aware that skeptics unfamiliar with the capital city still will doubt the romantic draw of St. Paul over warmer destinations such as Honolulu. That’s one reason he’s hoping an out-of-state resident wins a new contest, which was announced Wednesday.

Visit Saint Paul is running an online drawing for a romantic getaway for two in St. Paul — which also includes airfare for far-flung St. Paul fans. The giveaway will include a stay at The St. Paul Hotel, car service and gift certificates to restaurants.

Enter at visitsaintpaul.com/romance. And naturally, the winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day.

In a congratulatory statement to the USA Today mention, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman touted the city’s “beautiful open spaces, historic architecture, best restaurants and diverse activities” like ice skating outside the downtown Landmark Center or strolling through Rice Park when ice sculptures are on display. “It’s hard to beat St. Paul’s charm,” Coleman said.

Good tidings also arrived from across the river. Saying the Twin Cities support each another, Kristen Montag, a spokeswoman with the Meet Minneapolis convention and visitors bureau said: “Minneapolis gets lots and lots of accolades, and it’s great that St. Paul can take this and run with it.”

The contest was different than the typical lists magazines and travel sites publish to generate interest, Montag notes. This one was driven by online voters, and the results reflected local pride and growing outside interest.

With the exception of the more labor-intensive “best city” lists generated by comparing data such as cost-of-living and crime rates, most such rankings are culled by travel writers and website editors. And the Twin Cities are coming out on top in many of those lists, too.

“Forbes named us one of the ’10 Most Unexpectedly Romantic Cities,'” Montag said. “We were No. 5.”

A nod from New York City or Los Angeles-based media professionals who may have once regarded St. Paul and Minneapolis as “flyover” country speaks to the increasingly positive impression the Twin Cities are making on out-of-state residents, she said.