In One Week

Florida's Gulf Coast in 1 Week: aka Relaxing Florida

The beaches on the Gulf Coast are infinitely nicer than those in South Florida, with soft sand, stunning sunsets, and a sense of calm that often evades the hustle and bustle of South Florida. A week on the Gulf is akin to spending a month in a city spa. Refreshing and calming, the Gulf Coast is an ideal spot for those looking to recharge their batteries.

Day 1: Arrive in Fort Myers Beach

Check into the Edison Beach House All Suite Hotel and take in the panoramic Gulf views. Waste no time making a dinner reservation at The Dragonfly Bistro, where you simply must try the jumbo lump-crab salad with aged cheddar and a corn blini with tomato vinaigrette. After dinner, consider hitting the rooftop bar at Beached Whale, a locals' favorite.

Day 2: Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Just 14 miles west of Fort Myers are two of Florida's most beautiful islands. Before heading to the wildly kitschy Bubble Room restaurant, be sure to stop at the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, home to alligators, raccoons, otters, and a dazzling array of bird life. Take your car down the Wildlife Drive for a Cliffs Notes version of the park. Then call Captiva Cruises and see if there's room for y'all on the next shuttle out to Boca Grande, sort of the Martha's Vineyard of Florida. After touring Boca Grande, return to Sanibel and check into the Casa Ybel Resort, if your budget allows you to; if not, we highly recommend the Tarpon Tale Inn on Sanibel, or the 'Tween Waters Inn on Captiva. Now you're ready for the Bubble Room!

Day 3: To Naples

Wake up early and do not miss breakfast and the biscuits at the Sanibel Café. Drive south for 40 or so miles, and you'll be in swanky, sleepy Naples. Take the Naples Trolley to get a feel for the place and then, without hesitation, hit the beach before sunset. For a ritzy experience, we recommend The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, one of the best in the entire chain. For a flip-flops-and-T-shirt experience with a hopping bar scene at sunset, you'll love the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. Both have fabulous beaches. After the beach, stroll down 5th Avenue, the city's main drag, where you'll find the only real semblance of nightlife, dining, and shopping. The next morning, head 70 miles north to Sarasota.

Days 4-5: Sarasota

Sarasota's Siesta Key Beach is one of Florida's best. But if culture is your thing, don't miss the Ringling Museum of Art. If you can't stay at The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, consider the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort on nearby Longboat Key. Do not miss dinner at Euphemia Haye. Just don't. For a fun diversion nearby in Bradenton, stop by the Gamble Plantation and the weird and wacky Solomon's Castle. Before heading to Tampa, have breakfast at the Blue Dolphin Café.

Days 6-7: Tampa Bay, St. Pete & Clearwater

Because this is the relaxing Gulf Coast itinerary, we won't recommend Busch Gardens Africa unless you're really craving roller coasters. The same goes for Ybor City, the hub of Tampa's nightlife. It's rowdy and fun, but hardly relaxing. Therefore, we'd like to send you directly to the Saddlebrook Resort-Tampa, where the likes of Jennifer Capriati play tennis and aspiring Tiger Woods-types play golf. If you prefer to be on the beach, however, head over to St. Pete Beach and Clearwater, where we recommend either the historic Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa or the Clearwater Beach Marriott Suites on Sand Key. For arty types, the Salvador Dalí museum in downtown St. Pete is highly recommended. Fly home from Tampa International Airport.