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The Biltmore in Coral Gables, Fla.

A Miami-area hotspot since the 1920s, the stately and historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla. has hosted many a bathing beauty over the years, from hunky swim-instructor-turned-actor Johnny Weissmuller (who would trade in his swim trunks for tree trunks to portray Tarzan) to the hottie on these pages.

At 23,000 square feet, the Biltmore's landmark pool is the largest in the continental United States; everyone from Bing Crosby to Al Capone has dipped a toe into it. When the hotel underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation four years ago, a good chunk of the budget was plunged into the pool: Under landscape architect Emilio Fuster's redesign scheme, the 85-foot diving tower was transformed into a tropical waterfall and the pool itself was resurfaced with polished marble.

What didn't change was the grandness of the space, which caters to both exhibitionists (its poolside loungers make a perfect perch) and escapists (private cabanas edge the area). Visit www.biltmorehotel.com for more information.

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