Travel Tips

Then and Now: St Petersburg, Florida

Locations in this article:  Columbia, SC Detroit, MI New Orleans, LA Orlando, FL

Redington Long Pier

The Pier, which had been a landmark for generations in one form or another since the original was built in 1889, had a couple of shops, a restaurant and an observation deck. Today, it offers a host of entertainment options ranging from an aquarium, colorful gift shops, and a variety of restaurants (including the venerable Columbia which features Spanish cuisine) and as a venue for concerts. A catwalk along the east side offers a vantage point for fishing 24 hours a day and boat and bike rentals provide other options for exploring. A convenient free tram shuttles visitors back and forth from several downtown stops as parking on the Pier is minimal. Currently, a controversial $50 million redesign in the works and the fate of the Pier is still up in the air.

The Renaissance Vinoy Resort

Nearby, the iconic Vinoy Hotel overlooks the bay as it has since its completion in 1925. Once a popular destination for celebrities ranging from Herbert Hoover, Babe Ruth, Jimmy Stewart and others, it was taken over by the US Army during WWII and used as a training school. In 1974 it shuttered its doors and became a haven for vagrants (and an eyesore) until it was rescued in the 1990s by the Vinoy Development Corporation and Renaissance Hotels and Resorts.

Dali Museum Staircase

After a $93 million renovation, it has been restored to its former glory and has earned National Register of Historic Places designation. Today, the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club––the only luxury hotel on the West Coast of Florida offering the combination of a private marina, 18-hole golf course and 12-court tennis complex – is a popular pied-á-terre for visitors and residents alike. Its Sunday brunch and luxurious Spa are legendary.

Today’s downtown waterfront dazzles with a marina, scenic parks, popular bistros, boutiques, clubs, luxury condos, lofts, and museums. Of special note is the Salvador Dali Museum, opened in January 2011 in its present location, which boasts the largest collection of his works outside of Spain.

The Florida Holocaust Museum–opened in February 1998 in its present site–is one of the largest Holocaust museums in the US honoring the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust.

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