Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Now head west for the barrier islands. Take their full measure by spending one day on
unspoiled
Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands
, then enjoy the hyper, activity-fueled atmo-
sphere of
St Pete Beach
.
Next, drive down to
Sarasota
for three days. You'll need that long to take in the magni-
ficent Ringling Museum Complex, the orchid-rich Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, per-
haps catch the opera and still allow plenty of time to build sandcastles on the amazing
white-sand beaches of
Siesta Key
. If you have extra time, visit
Myakka River State Park
and kayak among the alligators.
Then skip down to
Fort Myers
for two days of regional exploring. Take the ferry to
Cayo Costa Island
for a beach of unforgettable solitude, or go the party route and hit the
crowded strands of
Fort Myers Beach
.
You need to save at least two days for
Sanibel Island
. World famous for its shelling, it's
also a bike-friendly island stocked with great eats and wildlife-filled bays ripe for kayak-
ing.
Finally, end with two to three days in
Naples
, the quintessence of Gulf Coast beach
towns: upscale, artistic, and welcoming of every age demographic, with perhaps all of
Florida's most pristine city beach. You can eat and shop to your heart's content, and no
question: fit in a day trip to the
Everglades
. It's easy - zip along the Tamiami Trail to
Shark Valley
, and take a tram tour or bike ride among the sawgrass plains and sometimes
countless alligators.
