Visit the Don CeSar Hotel in St. Petersburg

By Kara Franker

Situated on the sugary white sands of the Gulf of Mexico, the Don CeSar was built in the Great Gatsby era of the 1920s.

Today the Mediterranean-style castle by the sea, also known as the Pink Palace, is a luxurious landmark on St. Pete Beach.

The resort was the dream of Thomas Rowe, who opened the Don CeSar in 1928. Construction costs totaled $1.2 million, which may not sound like much today, but it certainly was a boatload of cash for the Roaring Twenties.

Listed among the Historic Hotels of North America and the National Register of Historic Places, the resort features 277 luxurious rooms, including 40 spacious suites.

The Don CeSar has been hosting families from around the world for decades. Notable guests throughout history have included American author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, baseball great Lou Gehrig and mafia gangster Al Capone.

Ready to plan your own family vacation? Here are just a few of the ways to have the most relaxing vacation you can imagine at the Pink Palace...

White Sand Beach

Toast to a little romance while you’re on vacation and kick back on the white sand beach.

Oceanfront Pools

Go for a swim in one of the sparkling oceanfront pools. Or book a spa treatment at Spa Oceana.

Views of the Gulf of Mexico

Enjoy the year-round perfect weather that Florida is famous for and soak up those spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Private Luxury

A good book and a private beach. Need anything else?

Old-Fashioned Ice Cream

Indulge your sweet tooth at Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor. This old-fashioned ice cream shop offers yummy banana splits and strawberry shakes that are homemade and deliciously authentic.