The Birchwood, A Boutique Hotel in St. Petersburg Fla.

My leisurely walk around St. Petersburg Fl. transported me to the Tampa Bay front area on Beach Drive where there are plenty of local attractions in the area including museums, shops, restaurants, and outdoor bars to name a few. The Florida essence is most certainly captured here especially with the presence of the hot sun beating down and the massive palm trees that line the street....two elements that Florida is distictively know for.

Today, my destination is The Birchwood, a boutique hotel located at 340 Beach Drive. The Birchwood has been around since the early 1900's. The interior was totally remodeled just recently with the goal of modernizing and updating the building but, at the same time, preserving the stylish glamour and 20's era motif that was present before. The result is a fusion of two distinct styles giving the guests a feeling of nostagia with a bit of modern day glamour at the same time.

Consisting of only 18 rooms, the Birchwood is more like a bed and breakfast with a modern twist to it. The staff was very friendly and even let me take a look at one of the rooms. To my surprise, the decor was cheerful and upbeat containing vivid colors. I am a huge fan of brightly colored upholstery so the hot pink velvet arm chairs captivated my attention . The bathroom is also impressive featuring a free standing claw-foot tub with a large, very ornate gold framed mirror hanging above it.

The rooms overall are quite spacious and the one that I looked at had french doors that opened up to a small balcony providing an impressive view of Beach Drive below.

The restaurant, Birch and VIne, has become a favorite amongst the locals in the Tampa area and visually is quite a sight to behold. Containing a vertical water fountain and surrounded by green boxwood plant lined walls, the courtyard provides for the patrons a very intimate and pleasant dining area. There is also an "edible wall" consisting of herbs grown vertically inside the restaurant that are used in the preparation of the menu items giving you the "farm to table" effect.

My tour of the hotel would not be complete without visiting the rooftop lounge, Canapy. An elevator takes you to the top of the hotel where you walk out onto a beautiful setting with a magnificient view of Tampa bay. The open lounging area in the center has modern outodoor furniture and firepits for use at night. Canopy tents line the perimenter of the deck strategically sheilding the patrons form the extremely hot Florida sun. Obviously these spaces are in high demand during the summer months so advanced reservations are required. The entire area is beautifully decorated and landscaped to provide a very cozy, upscale yet relaxing experience. It's the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a refreshing cocktail.

The Birchwood, Birch and Vine restaurant, and Canopy roof top lounge......three great reasons to visit this unique hotel when in the St. Petersburg area.