The Don CeSar is a grand, pink palace that stands out like a rose-tinted beacon on the shore of St. Petersburg Beach, one of St. Petersburg's barrier islands. Infused with European and roaring twenties styles, the Don combines refined elegance with the lavish touches of a beachside resort. With its own private stretch of sugar-white beach, four-diamond gourmet restaurant, stunning ballrooms, and airy lobby replete with cigar bar and grand piano, one feels transported back to a time of affluent, Gatsby-esque abandon, while remaining firmly rooted in the modern amenities and touches of the present.

Mythological Mystique
This aura could not be better manifested than through the lore that pulsates through the hotel today. The hotel was built in 1928 by eccentric entrepreneur Thomas Rowe. It is believed that the hotel was testimony to Rowe's unrequited love for a European opera singer named Lucinda. In fact, the hotel's name comes from the hero of La Maritana, the operetta in which Rowe first spotted his love. Decades later, after the pair had died, hotel staff and guests started spotting ghostlike figures greatly resembling Rowe and Lucinda--perhaps united at last.

In another chapter of its history, lasting from World War II through the mid-1960s, the hotel was given over to the government. During this time, the palatial building was used as a recuperation center and sanatorium for U.S. airmen returned from the war. After the Don had been restored to its original guise as hotel, apparitions of nurses were spied in areas of the building known to have been infirmaries.

Not to worry--however potent these tales of the past may be, they're certainly told with an air of benevolence. The Don relishes its mythological past, and even offers history and ghost-story tours.

Perhaps most tangible is the spirit of the hotel's original glory days--alive and well today. In the late '20s and even through the depression era, the affluent gathered within its walls to savor the area's pleasant weather and the heady revelry of the time. Tallulah Bankhead and the F. Scott Fitzgeralds were regular visitors, as were other various dandies and socialites. The Don has not relinquished its status as a vacation playground for the well-to-do and famous. Celebrities ranging from Britney Spears to former President Bill Clinton have slept in its cushy suites, and during Tampa's hosting of the 2001 Super Bowl, several football greats graced its corridors. Of course, the resort's accommodations are fit for visitors of all kinds. On the heels of its recent $20 million dollar resort-wide renovation, anyone would be tickled pink at the chance to frolic around its newfangled interiors.

What's on at the Don
Indeed, the Don has something for everyone. Whether guests want to relax in the cool Southern comforts of the lobby lounge or hunt for the perfect shell on the resort's private stretch of beach, a range of amenities and activities awaits their every desire. Two pools (with underwater stereo systems!) and a hot tub rest among palms and oleanders alongside the beach. Guided yoga, water aerobics, power walking, and beach trekking are held daily. Catamarans, aquabikes, kayaks, and paddle cats are available on the beach, and guest services can organize a variety of water sports excursions--including parasailing, snorkeling and diving, fishing, sailing, and jet-skiing. Beach volleyball and hockey are other popular pastimes in the sand. Complimentary shuttle service is provided to the nearby Isla del Sol golf course and clay tennis courts. Guests can work out in the fitness room, or opt for soothing massages, scrubs, wraps, and facials at the spa. A full-service beauty salon is prepared to pamper, while a promenade of shops offers sundries, gifts, and clothes galore. In an extra special effort to create a personal, elegant ambience, the hotel can arrange afternoon tea parties upon request.

The recent renovation heralded a $65,000 per-room makeover for all rooms and suites. The Mediterranean-styled accommodations are festooned with 1920s artwork and large windows affording views of the Gulf of Mexico or Boca Ciega Bay. In-room amenities include cable TV with pay-per-view movies, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, two phone lines with high-speed Internet access, desk, and radio alarm clock. High speed dataports and computer keyboards have also recently been installed, providing back-up for guests with laptops. Bathrooms are simple yet elegant with granite vanities, marble tile floors and walls, and bath tubs. Suites also feature stereos and DVD players, as well as telephones and mini-TV sets in bathrooms.

Simply Delicious
Dining options range from casual to gourmet at the Don. The Beachcomber Grill serves simple lunches poolside with bar service. The Sea Porch Café has a savory breakfast buffet and lunch menu, but really shines in the evening with its dinner selections. Its selection of fresh fish prepared any way you please proves a big hit. Even more mouth-watering is the upscale Maritana Grille, an acclaimed restaurant with an underwater ambiance--aquariums bursting with psychedelic fish line the walls, and seafood-oriented "Floribbean" cuisine highlights the oft-changing menu. Guests can reserve an extra-special meal at the Maritana's chef's table, where the house chef unleashes his new, experimental dishes for an extra-special price tag. Other tasty treats can be found at Uncle Andy's Ice Cream in the shopping arcade (great for kids, and open until 11pm), and at the special Sunday brunch in the King Charles Ballroom (reservations are required).

For libations, guests can head to Sunsets Lounge (adjacent to the Sea Porch Café), where casual atmosphere and live music take center stage. Or you can unwind in the lobby cigar bar, where an full bar--including a grand selection of single-malt scotches--and soothing live piano create a classy, intimate setting.

It's a Family Affair
The Don caters to the needs of families with its kids program. Children can enjoy daily supervised activities, including pizza parties, painting, beach walks, and time in the game room. Parents can get connected to their children via a special pager service--children's supervisors will be equipped with a pager, where parents can reach them at any time. Kids services are available by appointment, can be arranged for the entire day, and are aimed at children ages four to twelve. Baby-sitting can also be arranged. The resort also recently expanded its kids' program to include a special environmental program focusing on local sea life, a kids' spa program with beach activities and swimming, and a creative program including costumes and snack-making.

In addition to family-sized suites at the resort, the Don's sister property--Beach House Suites by the Don CeSar--offers condominium-style suites just one third of a mile up the beach. Spacious apartments feature a master bedroom, two bathrooms, laundry facilities, pull-out sleeper sofa, kitchen and breakfast nook, and private balcony. Beach House Suites has its own pool, snack bar, convenience store, and grocery-shopping concierge service--a grocery checklist enables guests to order listed goods in advance for a pre-stocked pantry and fridge. Guests of the Beach House Suites have full access to all the amenities at the Don as well, and can take advantage of the frequent, complimentary shuttle service between the two properties.

Special Events
Hosting 350 weddings a year, the Don is no novice when it comes to helping couples tie the knot. Its fairy-tale ambiance makes it a favorite venue. The Don's own wedding planning staff can make all necessary arrangements for weddings big and small, customized to the wishes of the bride and groom. Special honeymoon packages, as well as elopement packages (which include a ceremony) are both available.

The Don's meeting-planning staff can take care of all business needs. One floor of the Don is entirely devoted to meeting and conference space, spanning over 36,000 square feet. Moreover, an outdoor, tented deck adjacent to the beach can hold up to 250 people for open-air business events. The resort's business center holds PCs with Internet access, as well as state-of-the-art audio/video equipment.

Future Fun
The Don's ever-forward-looking attitude has many plans in store. The resort plans to expand the Beachcomber Grille and get new, elegant poolside furniture. The spa will be remodeled, with the addition of new European- and Asian-style treatments. And the Don's already fantastic service record will be enhanced, with a new and improved service training.

So when you're planning your next vacation in the Sunshine State, think pink. Have a blast at the Don CeSar!•