Back to the Beach in Florida: Hotels, Activities and Coastlines in Central FLA

From the brilliant piercing light of dawn on the east coast to the sultry orange glow of sunset on the west coast, Florida's beaches are back both in tourism and in restructured beauty. Billions of dollars in renovations are transforming Florida's beachfront getaways. The following resort reviews include the latest information on where to stay, what to eat and how to relax in luxury this summer. Kick off those flip flops, don that terry hotel robe and get ready to be pampered. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, Volusia/Brevard Counties, and the St. Augustine/Jacksonville areas are all within a short driving distance and are now offering new and improved summer vacation experiences.

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Getaways

About two hours west of Central Florida, nestled along the Gulf of Mexico, is one of the nation's most beautiful beaches. Dubbed as "America's Best Beach 2005" by coastal geologist Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Fort De Soto is also close to Caladesi Island State Park, which ranked no. 4. Clearwater Beach continues to be the top city beach in the gulf region. With high ranking natural attractions, what better reason is there for visiting the high class hotels and resorts in St. Petersburg and Clearwater?

When the Gandy Bridge, linking St. Petersburg and Tampa, first opened, it was the longest automobile toll bridge in the world. Around the same time, the 9.5-mile causeway from Clearwater to Tampa became the nation's longest causeway built over water. Today, the sweeping ocean view from these roads is just one of the indications that luxury, fine art and great museums are close by.

Don CeSar Beach Resort

The Don CeSar Beach Resort overlooks seven and a half miles of beautiful Florida powder and now has a recently renovated penthouse (more than $800,000 worth). For 25 years in a row, AAA has awarded this fairy tale resort its highest rating. Also known as the legendary Pink Palace, probably due to its rosy color and sandcastle architecture, the Don CeSar has been called "One of Florida's grandest hotels…unmistakably Floridian" by the Travel Channel. Even its restaurant, The Maritana Grille, boasts a four-diamond rating for its refined experience. Dining on succulent "Floribbean" cuisine while surrounded by 1,500 gallons of blue saltwater aquariums in this elite restaurant is not to be missed.

Also new to the Don are the Beach House suites. Newly renovated, this all-suite, 70-room structure is a luxury stay right next door. Offering more privacy and just as much decadence, the Beach House Suites complement the elaborate amenities and special pampering of Florida's Legendary Pink Palace. It features 50 one-bedroom, two bath suites and 20 one-bedroom, one bath suites, as well as a heated swimming pool/whirlpool and conference room. Guests of the Beach House Suites share privileges with the resort, including its 4,000-square-foot spa specializing in thalassotherapy (the associated and simultaneous use of the beneficial effects of the seawater and its components). If you have a spare moment amidst the flurry of resort activities, take a minute and try to figure out where the hidden staircase is located. It seemingly rises two ghostly flights to nowhere, one of the many mystiques of the Don.

If you love the water, but not the sand, the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club may be the best option. Just four blocks from downtown St. Petersburg sits a 360-room, seven story waterfront getaways. The ornate stucco entrance leads into a two-story lobby where you are greeted by smiling faces. Situated on a private marina with an 18-hole golf course and 12-court tennis complex, visitors can make this resort experience as active or as restful as they want. Sailing lessons, charters and rentals are available with one call to the concierge desk.

The Vinoy, 1920's Mediterranean Revival architecture and balmy salmon color, earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places designation. This amazingly restored resort, fully equipped with wireless, is speckled with cozy nooks where you can sit back and be transfixed by the azure horizon. Some of the guest rooms even have a private patio whirlpool spa. There are also three outdoor whirlpool spas, along with two rather large, heated swimming pools and one cascading waterfall. Of course, if you want the full service spa, the Vinoy Salon & Day Spa is happy to accommodate, featuring everything from paraffin treatments to fitness counseling. You can even order food in while having your hair done at the salon.

The guest rooms blend the use of muted pastels and natural wood coloring in a spacious interior. The Presidential suites are laid out in an open, airy format with crown molding and the latest kitchenware. Enjoying the comforts of home while keeping your mind in a state of relaxation is just one of the great features of this four diamond resort.

Tradewinds Sandpiper Hotel & Suites is newly opened following a $10 million renovation project. All 159 guest rooms and suites have been completely redone. There are even new "Romance Rooms" with oversized hotel space, king-sized beds and whirlpool tubs overlooking the Gulf and beachfront pool. The AAA four diamond Trade Winds Island Grand Resort just completed a series of upgrades including renovation of its kid's club activities center.

Additional improvements included enclosing The Banyan Breezeway, a popular open-air space for exhibits and social functions, so that it can now be climate-controlled. The TradeWinds has also added colorful new paddleboats for the guests to cruise through the resort. Additional improvements include an updated Bermudas Restaurant menu - complete with a Caribbean flair - and the new color-coordinated pool deck pavers and bright blue pool loungers at four pool areas.

New Luxury on the Horizon

It's hard to believe that in the late 1880's Clearwater was only accessible by boat. Now the city is absolutely booming with construction. Mainly, it's the billion dollar boardwalk, which when finished will be home to more than 1,000 upscale resort rooms.

The SandPearl Resort is a 253-room experience with 50 resort suites and 117 condominium homes on the former site of the Clearwater Beach Hotel. Skirting along 700 feet of the gulf's beachfront, this soon to be opened resort expects to become known for its unparalleled pampering while maintaining its distinct heritage. The property will also encompass 9,000 square feet of retail space and 20,000 feet of meeting and event space, some with ocean views.

SandPearl's spa will be nothing less than extraordinary. Ocean water drawn from the Gulf of Mexico, will be treated and used throughout the spa. Activity programs will include Tai Chi, cooking lessons and sunset yoga. Oceanside massages and scented candles in the rooms are another commitment to relaxation and pampering that this resort has made.

Indigo Beach Residences and Indigo Beach Suites, on the former site of the Adam's Mark, are a 112 condominium project with 78 units that will be rented. All suites promise a gorgeous view of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Kiran Grand Resort & Spa and Aqualea Resort & Residences are also under construction. The Kiran is a 350-condomunion project with 75 permanent residences, while the Aqualea is a 250- resort condominium with 18 permanent residential units.

The SandPearl, Indigo, Kiran and Aquala resorts are all part of an unprecedented revitalization project totaling more than $1 billion in construction. Beach Walk will reshape the look and feel of the area with the purpose of bringing visitors closer to the beach. The builders expect it to provide an environment that will draw new hotel, retail, entertainment and restaurant business for out-of-town visitors, residents, and day visitors. Phase I of IV is scheduled to be completed in January of 2007.
The $35 million Hilton St. Petersburg of Carillon Park opens in June 2006 overlooking the Carillon Preserve in the Gateway area of north St. Petersburg. The new hotel will hold 227 guest rooms and 20,000 square feet of meeting space.

Maderia Bay, a $50 million development including a condo hotel is scheduled to open mid-2006. This Mediterranean-style building sprawls across three waterfront acres.

Must See...

From fine art to fine grains of sand, there are many beautiful sights to see on Florida's "Culture Coast."

•Tarpon Springs, a Greek enclave north of Clearwater, is celebrating 100 years of Greek influence in 2006.
•The Salvador Dali Museum is featuring Picasso to Plensa: A Century of Art from Spain May 5 to July 31.
•A special Tuesday evening tour at Jungle Prada in St. Petersburg is now available. Explore the area where the Conquistadors first landed.

Volusia and Brevard County Area Getaways

Close to the heart of Orlando lie three different beaches, with three very distinct personalities. Daytona, New Smyrna and Cocoa Beaches all have a come back story dating from the time of the first hurricane of 2004. Many of the hotels and resorts took an opportunity to either sell out to a larger chain or upgrade their existing facilities. Both choices are serving to benefit the beach-going consumer.

Daytona Beach

A rip current, which is fairly common on Florida's East Coast, is a powerful stream beneath the surface of the ocean that carries sand and water from the shoreline out to sea. While it's undetectable from the shore, the effects are unmistakable. On the surface of Daytona Beach, along the busiest sections of AIA, the rip current of change going on amid its hoteliers is virtually invisible. What luxury resort-goers will notice in a few short years is how drastically this destination has changed.

One telltale sign that has already surfaced is the refurbishing of The Plaza Resort & Spa - the first high end condominium on the market in Daytona. More than four years and $70 million later, this condo-hotel is progressing slowly but surely to a four-star resort. If you had seen the Holiday Inn Sunspree during spring break in the late 1990's, you would hardly believe this was the same hotel. What's great about these renovations is that they were done with care over time - a sign that owners Joe Gillespie and Charles Brea are invested in this hotel for the long term.

From imported white marble tile from Jerusalem in the lobby, to 42-inch plasma screen televisions in all the rooms, The Plaza has several distinguishing features. Suites are furnished with high count Egyptian cotton sheets, marble counter tops, pedestal sinks and stainless steel appliances. This 322-room hotel was in the final stages of selling out its condo units in April and May.

Also in May, Daytona's only full service salon and spa, Ocean Waters Spa, located below the lobby began rolling out its brand new line of spa products called "Beauty from the Sea." Featuring a Peppermint Sea Twist, this new line of products will be incorporated into existing treatments for the first time this summer. Services will be custom designed for each guest based on their skin care needs. The Four Layer Facial, for example, uses natural and ocean-based components to leave the skin looking radiant. They even offer a hydrotherapy session for guests who may have gotten a little bit too much sun.

The most notable change, however, can be found in its culinary reputation. Chef Paul Dirks has helped orchestrate a completely new, totally overhauled breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Magnolia Café's menu offers "the perfect crab cake" with three delectable sauces, one of which hints a light wasabi. The Caribbean inspired dishes feature a Macadamia-Nut encrusted grouper with chutney of pineapples, melons and a coconut rum sauce. The smoked chicken flat bread with sweet onions and Boursin cheese is also a favorite. Many of the menu items can be served in the Ocean Waters Spa while you're enjoying a day of pampering.

The Veranda, a bar located just off the lobby, has the best martinis in Daytona Beach (ask the bartender which one they are famous for). Greg makes a super cool iced dirty martini. With live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, The Veranda offers a "Cheers" like atmosphere that helps you relax.

But The Plaza is only the first step. Owners Gillespie and Brea, known for shutting down the infamous club 600 North, are shaping the future skyline of America's Most Famous Beach. Blu, a 33-story, 336-room condo/hotel will rise up in a white and blue building along the shore within the next few years. Mimicking the blue waves it towers over, the blue glass along the sides of the hotel will be its distinguishing feature. Also, in an architectural style never before seen on Daytona Beach, The Grande will break ground as a 42-story, 550-room condo/hotel with one, two, and three bedroom units later this year.

Also premiering this year is the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort's $20 million refurbishment project. The north and south towers hold new furniture, bedding, carpeting, wall coverings and bathroom fixtures - all small but telling signs of Daytona's changing shoreline.

Up the Space Coast, development is taking shape in the form of new Marriott and Carlson hotels. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide opened a hotel with a distinct surfing theme. Four Points by Sheraton is a 75-room hotel with rooms depicting surfer themes from the 1960's and 1970's. Ironically, a surfer's greatest fear, the shark, is a featured guest at The Shark Pit Bar & Grill a casual dining bar and restaurant looking on to a shark tank that holds 5,600 gallons of water - home to three live sharks, a 40 ft cascading waterfall and 15 oversized plasma screen televisions.

Must See...

New Smyrna's shoreline has also changed, but it's more of a result of hurricanes and dredging. No beach getaway article would be complete without a brief mention of certain tradition worthy experiences in New Smyrna.
•Breakers, otherwise known as the pink house, was badly damaged from the hurricanes. Thankfully the owners have reopened the bar and restaurant, which sits at the beach entrance on Flagler Ave. They make some of the best burgers in New Smyrna.
•If seafood is more your speed, the best crab can be found at JB's Fishcamp, located further down AIA.
•Finally, the ride home just isn't the same without Frozen Gold, a completely unsuspecting shack with the best frozen yogurt in Volusia County.
•Daytona's new Ocean Walk Village recently completed the Ocean Walk Shoppes and Movies. Anchoring the complex is the RC Theatres' Ocean Walk Movies 10, the most state-of-the-art cinema in the area.
•At Cape Canaveral, guests can now go behind the scenes to see modules being processed for the International Space Station.

Jacksonville Area Getaways

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

In the morning, watch the sun come out of the Atlantic Ocean like a ball of fire. At lunch, feast on the freshest seafood while the ocean breeze glides across your table. Before retiring for the evening, enjoy a full bodied glass of red wine by the fire place. But this isn't a faraway destination. This is Amelia Island. Just north of Jacksonville on Amelia Island, sits a sprawling Ritz-Carlton. Travelers have easy access from Interstate 95, or fly into Jacksonville International Airport and the hotel can arrange a sedan to pick you up.

From strolling down the beach to lounging under a private cabana, The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island is the most peaceful beachfront resort north of Central Florida. Recreational activities include horseback riding, fishing, aerobics classes, and a nine-court tennis complex. Hugging the shoreline, this luxury getaway offers casual and fine dining, indoor and outdoor pool with an ocean view - not to mention the amazing PGA layout. These 18 meticulously manicured holes were designed by Mark McCumber and Gene Littler.

Get the royal treatment no matter what room you stay in by enjoying the marble tubs and comfortably furnished patios - each with picturesque vista of the sea. This 449-room resort also has two Presidential suites and in-room dining is also available 24 hours a day.

In the mood for something a little more formal? The Grill Room has great service and very good food - so good in fact that both the restaurant and the hotel are rated as the top, not just in Florida, but in the U.S. It's one of three AAA Five Diamond Award winners in the state. Worth noting about this restaurant is the elaborate gold chandelier and a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. Extraordinary menu items include the yellowfin tuna tartare, prime aged beef sirloin and a selection of more than 500 bottles of wine. Other eateries include Café 4750, The Gourmet Shop and Ocean Bar & Grill. New for 2006 is a two-day cooking school. Work side by side with the chef to learn award-winning cuisine secrets.

Casual and elegant at the same time, this Ritz is one of the best Florida luxury getaways on the beach.

The Casa Monica Hotel

Further inland however, and 45 minutes south of Jacksonville, The Casa Monica Hotel sits in the heart of St. Augustine. Rich in both history and culture, this renovated building has an interior just as interesting and unique as the history of the building itself. Additionally, it's the only AAA Four-Diamond Award winner in St. Augustine.

The hotel was originally built in 1888 by Henry Flagler, as a luxurious turn-of-the-century destination. You can actually reach through the existing wood paneling in the lobby and touch the original brick still structurally supporting the front entrance? Just through the art gallery on the first floor, there is a small square that opens up to a cement wall. Black and white photographs next to it show the original location of where those structures once stood.

Rich fabrics and Moroccan entry ways in the interior further serve to transport guests to another time and place. Mahogany wood paneling and the original fountain, give the hotel an almost Casablanca-type feel. To the hotel's credit, this otherworldly essence is thoughtfully carried through each of its 137 guest rooms.

It is an eclectic combination of blue, green and white tropical décor which mixes with antiques reminiscent of mid-century Spain. From the outside, five castle-like towers sit atop the hotel. Encompassed in four of those five are suites decorated with as much comfort as character. The one with a spiral staircase leading up to the bedroom is a favorite among return visitors. The corner tower features a three-story two bedroom penthouse with the city's best panoramic view.

Worth visiting, even if you're not staying at the Casa Monica, is 95 Cordova, an elegant dining experience in a small setting that fills up very quickly on the weekends. Unusually high back booths and heavy felt curtains, combined with the VIP service of the staff, create a truly urethral getaway experience. It's clearly deserving of its AAA Four-Diamond Award. Headed by Executive Chef and Culinary Director Rene Nyfeler, 95 Cordova was also named to Florida Trend magazine's 2005 Golden Spoon Luxury Resort Restaurants Awards.

Must See...

•Palace Saloon. Built in 1878, it is the oldest saloon in Florida still remaining in its original location, and is rumored to be the last tavern in the country to close during the era of Prohibition. As a result, the Palace Saloon began serving ice cream instead of spirits during those "dry" years. The Palace Saloon was a favorite for socialites (like the Vanderbilts, Carnegies and Rockefellers).

•Island Aerial Tours. There's a good chance you'll see right whales swimming through the ocean while you delight in the contrast of turquoise water lapping white sands.

•Kelly Seahorse Ranch. For a sunset ride across miles of deserted, pristine beaches, it's the only location in the Southeast offering horseback rides on the beach.

•Paper and Light Photography Exhibit. Through June 2 at the Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, see photographic works of Jay Shoots, Dominick Martorelli, and Paul Karabinis. This exhibition features photographs realized through a variety of techniques and processes.