On Sunday, my 53rd birthday, I decided to take my friend Myron up on a offer to go tour luxurious old buildings in the Tampa Bay region.

Our first stop was the Vinoy Resort Hotel in downtown St. Petersburg. This was a vintage facility that has undergone restoration and is now a top-notch destination.

We wandered its halls and outer locations for a while and were taken in by its comfort and beauty. I told Myron it reminded me of the peach-colored, mission-style hotel, La Valencia, in La Jolla, California.