Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club St Petersburg Florida

Conde Nast Traveler named downtown St Pete's Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club to its Gold List 2007, recognizing it as one of the world's great hotels.

The Vinoy, as all locals refer to it, sits on the north edge of downtown St Pete overlooking the peaceful water of the Vinoy Basin, Tampa Bay, Straub Park, and Beach Drive. The historic hotel was built in the 1920s and has an adjacent new wing that was built a decade ago.

The interior is restored, even the painted wood ceilings were taken down piece by piece, numbered, renovated, and returned to their original positions. The Mediterranean tile floors and many arches create an older, quieter world.

One of our favorite places in St. Petersburg is on the front veranda of The Vinoy, where time seems to stop. We sip our morning coffee or evening cordial and look out over the grounds and the water. The green wicker rockers fit the mood.

Whether you're coming to a boat show, or the Grand Prix - to visit friends or look at property to buy, this is a great place to stay. You can walk to restaurants, shops, the movies - to parks, art galleries and museums. You can take The Looper Trolley to downtown attractions, or catch the one that goes out to St. Pete Beach.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.