Like any other couple who've been together 18 years, my wife and I still experience the occasional squabble.Here's what we've agreed on. The kids will visit other family. We'll have a weekend to ourselves. And we'll use that time to enjoy a few of the finer things. No birthday parties or playdates. No soccer practice or swim class.
Nothing to it, right? Well, here's what we disagree on. We've each got our own favorite spots for pampering. Mary's idea of "The Good Life" doesn't always equal mine. Luckily, along Florida's Beach this is an "argument" with no wrong answers.
Here, then, is a luxurious battle of the sexes. A decadent duel, designed to wring every last blissful moment out of a precious, kid-free opportunity.
We might injure ourselves attempting to out-enjoy each other, but oh, what a chore it'll be trying.
Round One
The stay-over part of the discussion breaks down nice and easy. We'll stay at my choice for one night, then Mary's the next. With the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in downtown St. Petersburg and the Don CeSar Beach Resort on St. Pete Beach, it's like arguing about who's got a better serial number on their $100 bill. Both are equally excellent.
They've each got their own feel. The Vinoy: stately and classic, with its 1920s-era Mediterranean Revival architecture. It fronts lush open parks and the waters of Tampa Bay. And The Don – the pink palace – another restored gem. With its airy, beach elegance that opens onto the sands of the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition to spacious, modern rooms with spectacular views, both spots afford us prime chances for a favored ritual – the post-check-in cocktail. At the Vinoy, it's a 12-year-old Macallen for me and a cabernet for Mary from Marchand's, a posh dining spot on property. We follow our drinks with a
sit-down on the rockers on the veranda.
Over at the beach, the Don CeSar's Lobby Bar provides a bright, wide-open panorama in a sort of "grand hall." And it's just a step outside to take in a Gulf Coast sunset.
Round Two
With a place to stay now settled, attention turns to the issue of where to go. In a nod to each other's tastes, we'll play golf and visit a museum.
As three-time major tournament winner Ernie Els knows, the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club provides the Florida's Beach area with a superior layout. "The Copperhead course is the best golf course the PGA plays in Florida," Els has said. An impressive referral, considering the competition of Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill in Orlando, the Doral in Miami and the TPC course in Ponte Vedra Beach.
But Innisbrook is outdoor luxury at its finest. Designed by Lawrence Packard and honored by Golf Digest (ranked in America's Top Resort Courses), it presents challenge and beauty. Elevation changes, tall pine-lined fairways and service that matches the course level,
with clubs loaded onto your cart for you and impeccable shops and facilities. Not quite pros, Mary and I still feel lavished with attention.
Back near the Vinoy, St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts is more a reflection of Mary's sensibilities. Remarkably varied, it touches all the bases with classic oils, ancient pottery and carvings, and stark photography. Modern and ancient rotating exhibits complete the spectrum of offerings, with the current From The Fire display of Korean ceramics turning her head with its vast colors and comprehensive designs.
But Mary's must-visit spot is a "secret" garden, just off the Marly Room that's used for special events. For her, the foliage and sculptures that dot the courtyard area represent total peace.
Round Three
The argument about dinner plans isn't an argument at all. The question just depends on mood.
For traditional fare, prepared and presented at the highest level, Salt Rock Grill in Indian Shores is a treat to revisit. Like plenty of guys, I pat myself on the back a bit for my prowess around the backyard grill. But the steak here reduces me to the rank of amateur – a delicious humiliation I'm only too willing to swallow. Mary generally gravitates to seafood, a choice which, considering the chef and the Grill's proximity to water, is too tempting to ignore.
The other avenue is international. At Tío Pepe in Clearwater, the fawning service (they pledge to "treat you like royalty") and Paella Valenciana prove that Mary and I have no difference of opinion at all. Over the traditional Spanish masterpiece, we gently toast with wine glasses, avoid talking about kids and marvel at the constructive nature of a good, healthy debate.
Source : http://www.visitflorida.com/
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