Exploring the Coast

South Florida's beaches have been more photographed -- we think -- than Paris Hilton. In addition to the sand and sparkling waters of the Atlantic, the beaches have various personalities, from laid back and remote to year-round MTV Spring Break. It may be fun to get a taste of all of these, if not for an hour or two at a time.

Day 1: Arrive in Islamorada

Check into the Cheeca Lodge and Spa and take in the panoramic ocean views. Park yourself on a chair and enjoy one of the Florida Keys best -- and only -- private beaches. Waste no time making a dinner reservation for an outside table on the upstairs verandah at Pierre's where you must, must try the potato-crusted black grouper with seasonal greens and a roasted tomato sauce. After dinner, park yourself on the beach at the Morada Bay Café and listen to some live music while sipping a piña colada.

Day 2: Bahia Honda State Park

Just an hour south of Islamorada is one of South Florida's most resplendent beaches. Spend the day on the 524-acre park and lose yourself in the mangroves, beach dunes and tropical hammocks. Head back to Cheeca and have dinner at the Atlantic's Edge, which also happens to be, figuratively speaking, over the top.

Day 3: To Key Biscayne

Take the scenic, sleepy, and often slow moving Overseas Highway north to Key Biscayne and check into either the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne or the Sonesta. On this, Miami's only bona fide Florida Key, you will be able to beach hop until the sun goes down. For the party people, Crandon Park Beach is the place to be, with 2 miles of beach and lots of salsa emanating from various sunbathers' boom boxes. Grab some much needed peace and quiet at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park where you will forget you're in Miami thanks to the miles of nature trails and completely unfettered beach. Do lunch at the park's charming Lighthouse Café before heading over to Virginia Key and Jimbo's, the place where Flipper was filmed and old Florida cracker-style houses serve as a backdrop to a beach front bacchanal.

Days 4 & 5: South Beach/Miami Beach

Going to "the beach" takes on a totally different meaning when you're on South Beach. Not only does it mean sunbathing on Lummus Park Beach, aka South Beach, for a cornucopia of half-naked beautiful people, but also enjoying the surrounding sights, sounds and tastes of the areas bars, restaurants, shops, hotels and Art Deco relics. There's a plethora of places to stay, whether you're on a budget or are willing to splurge; and best of all, the beach is free and a great place to crash and watch the sun set after spending the night out in the clubs!

Days 6 & 7: Swanky and Annette -- aka Fort Lauderdale Beach

Your dad may have spent Spring Break here with his frat buddies when the Beatles were just a random group of country bumpkins from Liverpool, but if he saw it now, he'd be completely surprised. Sure, the beach is beautiful, clean -- no dogs allowed except on a special pet beach nearby -- and visible from A1A, but the surrounding area -- the infamous Fort Lauderdale Strip -- has matured into a sophisticated cafe society with outdoor eateries, bars, and more. If you must enter a beer-drinking contest, however, we're sure you'll find one nearby.