The Vinoy Basin in downtown St. Petersburg provides a safe place for traveling boaters to drop anchor for a few hours or a few days, protected from the more open waters of Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico. On the day that I took this photograph last week, there were about a dozen boats anchored there. But sometimes, you can look out at the basin and imagine that there’s not room for even one more anchor! With all that there is to do downtown, it’s not surprising that this is a popular spot. There’s a dock along the Pier approach where boaters can dock their dinghies, paying a $5 fee, on the honor system, for the privilege. Once docked, shops, restaurants, movies, museums, bars and more are within a few minutes walk.
Next time you’re downtown on a beautiful day, park your car and take a walk along the edge of Vinoy Basin. It’s fun to watch the activity and to imagine that maybe, someday, I’ll be anchored in some sheltered spot in another part of the world as I explore new places… (for a better view, click on the photo to open a new window with a full-sized image)
