Staying at the Gasparilla Inn

Above: Dress (similar) || Sandals || Clutch || Earrings || Bracelet

Not all hotels are created equal. Some are a great place to lay your head while you explore a new destination. Others are the destination themselves. They instantly create a mental picture and are the ultimate definition of relaxation. The Gasparilla Inn falls into that second category. Located on the tiny barrier island off the Gulf Coast of Florida, so much detail has been poured into every square inch of this marvelous hotel. They’re several dining options, opportunities to get outdoors, and the ultimate Florida marvel, a pristine beach with turquoise blue waters. It’s the kind of place that could make Eloise move from the Plaza Hotel to live the simpler life.

Originally built in 1911, the Gasparilla Inn is one of the oldest and largest surviving resorts in the Sunshine State. Even from the very beginning, it rubbed elbows with some of the wealthiest families in the country. Household names that made our nation would opt to stay here as an escape from the harsh northern winters. The Rockefeller’s, the Astor’s, and J.P. Morgan are just to name a few. More recently you could run into a political dynasty, champion football coaches, and award winning actors.

The hotel and island that it sits on both get their name from the infamous, and probably fictitious, pirate, Jose Gaspar. He was thought to have been the last buccaneer and loved to sail the Gulf of Mexico. I say fictitious because there’s actually no record of him ever existing. Despite the numerous folktales, his name didn’t appear until 1900 in a tourism brochure. All the same, the namesake is also attached to the biggest event in Tampa Bay, the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Even though it was our first time visiting the Gasparilla Inn, we were welcomed as if we’d been going our whole lives! Everyone here, staff, fellow guests, and locals, will mostly like say hi to you. On our morning coffee runs, we would chat with the regulars who clearly are at the hotel’s bakery every morning. As one man said to me, “this place is the ultimate meeting spot.”

No matter how you want to spend your day, there is an option for you. The resort boasts a waterfront golf coarse, tennis courts, croquet, and bike rentals. We preferred to relax the day away at their beach club. Just for guests and club members, it’s a private slice of beach with sugary sand. While on the lounge chairs, we definitely sipped our fair share of frozen cocktails. You can also choose to do nothing at all at the hotel. There are several peaceful rooms, all extremely picturesque, and a huge array of board games to get off your electronic devices.

One of things I was most excited about witnessing was the decor. Not to sound too vain, but practically every corner of the hotel is photo worthy. That’s thanks to Palm Beach based Kemble Interiors. They designed it with Old Florida in mind. Think an endless array of seashells, palms, and flamingoes. It’s eclectic without being over the top, with countless touches of wicker and rattan. In truth, it makes me think of my growing up in Florida and spending time at my grandma’s house, but brought into the modern era. Seeing it in person unleashed a huge wave of inspiration, both style and decor.

The hotel’s motto is ‘Florida as it was meant to be’. I think there are no better words to describe the experience of staying at the Gasparilla Inn. As a born and raised Gulf Coast Floridian, this is the kind of Florida that made Florida what it is. Forget the theme parks and crazy stores in the news. True Florida is about the beach, amazing weather, and spending time outside. I can’t wait to visit again!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.