The Other St Petersburg in Florida

Sometimes great things come together to give you the experience you craved for a while. Maybe St. Petersburg in Florida is not the same as St Petersburg in Russia - but it may be a nice way to confuse your friends. The Gulf of Mexico coast is famous for its breathtaking sunsets. And Holiday Inn where you will be staying is located on Paradise Island. So... how about enjoying sunsets in St Petersburg on Paradise Island?

The accommodation on Sunspree Resort has all the features of a perfect place for a quiet getaway, just in time for the start of autumn. Think of beautiful nature, private beaches, and pearlescent soft sands of the Gulf Coast. Residents of Superior and Deluxe rooms at Holiday Inn will have sea views across the cosy harbour, and you can spend endless lazy hours on a private man-made beach on Paradise Island, or take a stroll around the harbour.

The range of activities at the hotel is focused on water sports, and it would be wrong not to want to take advantage of the azure warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Scuba diving and snorkelling are just some of the activities you can dedicate yourself to. If swimming and diving are not your fortes, then how about playing tennis for free at the hotel? Alternatively still, you can go for golf or resort to whirlpool. If you are travelling with kids, you can rest assured that they have a great time, thanks to a dedicated kids club, with a range of indoor and outdoor activities.

To your service are three restaurants, and two bars. When evening arrives, delight in professional artists and performers coming to the hotel to entertain you. Of course, to be in Florida and not to take pleasure in its nightlife and casinos would make a Florida holiday incomplete, especially when there is the whole Atlantis resort to your service. Leave your kids in the club at the hotel and head to town, to its clubs, bars, and attractions.

But do not get too carried away with all entertainment and sunbathing. The Gulf Coast is ideal for watching the setting sun, and is favourite among holiday-makers for this precise reason. Imagine sitting in the presence of your friends, beloved, or the whole family, gazing at the sky changing colours, while the sun is sinking deeper and deeper into the ocean. The memory of these sunsets will be a glorious finish to a splendid week in Florida's St Petersburg at the very end of the summer season.

This article has been written by Lee Lazarus. For more information on Florida holidays visit The Co-operative Travel.