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Florida Beach Primer
Take our abbreviated beach trip around Florida and add a few new beaches to your scrapbook. From Pensacola to Amelia Island to the Florida Keys, there is a new beach for you.
Tags: beaches, Pensacola, Perdido_Key, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Panama_City_Beach, Apalachicola, Cedar_Key, Steinhatchee, Crystal_River, Tampa, St_Petersburg, Clearwater_Beach, Egmont_Key, Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna_Maria_Island, Charlotte_Harbor, Fort_Myers, Sanibel_Island, Captiva_Island, Naples, Marco_Island, Florida_Keys, Key_West, Miami, South_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, West_Palm_Beach, Fort_Pierce, Vero_Beach, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, New_Smyrna_Beach, Flagler_Beach, Palm_Coast, St_Augustine, Jacksonville_Beach, Amelia_Island,
A Ship-Shape Trip
As we lounged on the sand, the kids busied themselves with sandcastle building, swimming and searching for shells.
Tags: Sanibel_Island, family, resorts, beaches, Captiva_Island,
Unwind on Island Time
We shuffle our piles of pamphlets, almost overwhelmed at the possibilities: hiking, kayaking, dolphin cruises, canoeing.
Tags: Sanibel_Island, Captiva_Island, nature, beaches,
Island Style in Sanibel and Captiva
While Captiva is noted for its quaintness and quietude, Sanibel is where you can find a little more action.
Tags: Sanibel_Island, Captiva_Island, resorts,
Romance and Luxury, Hand in Hand
For the ceremony, choose an intimate spot on the beach or a sunset cruise on the resort's 100-foot luxury yacht. Along the way, the sun-streaked sky and Gulf waters create the postcard-perfect backdrop.
Tags: Fort_Myers, romance, luxury, weddings, spas, Sanibel_Island,
Nature's Finest
With more than 400 rooms and suites, the resort also has five outdoor cascading pools, concierge and valet services and championship tennis courts.
Tags: resorts, luxury, nature, Sanibel_Island, Fort_Myers,
Mixed (Beach) Bag
Every beach has its story. In Hillsboro Beach, just below the Hillsboro Beach Lighthouse, is a statue of the Barefoot Mailman.
Tags: Sanibel_Island, beaches, weddings, Key_West, parks, Florida_Keys,
Five Ways to Live it Up in Fort Myers
Enjoy an intimate, moonlit dinner on the beach, a couples massage and a bottle of Dom Perignon, all part of the Sensual Sanibel Sunset package.
Tags: Sanibel_Island, resorts, luxury, cruises, spas, Fort_Myers,
Florida Beach Survey
A painfully obvious but nevertheless satisfying thought crossed my mind the last time I was there; the refreshing sea breeze you feel has crossed the entire Atlantic before making landfall, making it some of the cleanest, freshest air on earth.
Tags: beaches, parks, St_George_Island, Dunedin, Fort_Myers_Beach, Clearwater_Beach, Anna_Maria_Island, Longboat_Key, Siesta_Key, Sanibel_Island, Marco_Island, Boca_Grande, Florida_Keys, Fort_Lauderdale, Cocoa_Beach, Flagler_Beach, Palm_Coast, St_Augustine, South_Beach, Daytona_Beach,
Winter Wonderland
With flame-red bougainvillea and hibiscus blossoms, green coconut palms hung with oversized bulbs and mistletoe draped in cypress trees, Florida flora puts on its own holiday display.
Tags: Walt_Disney_World, events, Orlando, theme_parks, Fort_Lauderdale, Sanibel_Island, Captiva_Island, Delray_Beach, Fort_Myers, St_Augustine, Vero_Beach, Sarasota, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, Busch_Gardens, Lake_Buena_Vista,
Generation M (for Museum Going)
Imagine leaving your home forever to travel halfway around the world and battle the enemy in a strange land of alligators and dark-skinned giants.
Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Homestead, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Marathon, Miami, Naples, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, Panama_City, museums, family, St_Augustine, aquariums,
Kayaking 101
A young camp worker drives us upstream to our launch point, unloads our boats, gives us some landmarks and wishes us fun. We want nothing more.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Crystal_River, Fernandina_Beach, Key_Largo, Milton, Palm_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Vero_Beach, White_Springs, kayaking, nature, Everglades_National_Park, sealife, manatees,
Fantasy Islands
It's a place where nothing is too extravagant when it comes to wowing your partner. As the Resort reminds, "all you have to do is ask."
Tags: Amelia_Island, Anna_Maria_Island, Clearwater, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Marco_Island, Miami, Palm_Coast, Panama_City_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Sebastian, parks, romance, beaches, spas, resorts, St_George_Island, weddings,
Ports of Call
Nature trails, safe harbors, cabins, tent sites, hiking and biking trails and miles of deserted beaches make this a must-see location.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Apalachicola, Captiva_Island, Carrabelle, Charlotte_Harbor, Coconut_Grove, Fernandina_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key_Largo, Miami, Panama_City_Beach, Sarasota, South_Beach, Venice, nature, parks, camping, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, St_Augustine, hotels, resorts, Sanibel_Island,
Birds of a Feather
The unique refuge was established in 1931 to provide a wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl and is one of the oldest in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Tags: Fernandina_Beach, Key_West, Merritt_Island, Micanopy, Orlando, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Titusville, wildlife, trails, birding, St_Petersburg, parks, nature, Homosassa,
Insider Tips to Florida's Beaches
And lest we forget, it's beautiful! It continually makes several of America's Top 10 lists of best beaches based on sand, water quality and facilities.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Naples, Palm_Beach, Sarasota, Sebastian, South_Beach, Venice, Vero_Beach, beaches, shelling, water_sports, snorkeling, romance, historical_sites, family, wildlife, surfing, sunsets, New_Smyrna_Beach, Daytona_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, birding, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, equestrian, Sanibel_Island, Hollywood,
Beaches 101
Seekers of relaxation and tranquility go to Dunedin's state-protected Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island for a serene visit with nature.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Anna_Maria_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Cape_San_Blas, Captiva_Island, Cedar_Key, Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Dunedin, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Fort_Walton_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marco_Island, Miami, Naples, Navarre, New_Smyrna_Beach, Palm_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sebastian, St_Pete_Beach, Venice, beaches, parks, camping,
Walk on the Wild Side
The grand sight of a whale splashing in the water is not usually associated with Florida. But northern right whales choose our northeastern coastal waters, almost exclusively, to give birth in winter months. They are among the most endangered species of large mammals in the world.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Crystal_River, Marco_Island, Naples, Orlando, Oviedo, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, Tallahassee, Titusville, Vero_Beach, nature, wildlife, manatees, dolphins, Everglades_National_Park, Florida_Keys,
The Art of Doing Nothing
The sky became a canvas of pastel stripes as a perfect rainbow appeared and shimmered on the black bay waters.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Fort_Myers, Sanibel_Island, bed_and_breakfasts, dining,
A Beach for Each
Getting to Captiva Beach is a romantic adventure in itself; quaint restaurants shaded by tropical foliage, cozy bed & breakfasts and colorful boutiques dot the path to seductive seclusion, breathtaking sunsets and romance.
Tags: Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, beaches, family, parks, water_sports, museums, romance, shelling,
Park It!
Heading back, we were not alone. To our right, two gray snouts emerged from the water, so close we could see black nostrils and pink tongues. These manatees were actually smiling at us, alternately revealing heads and huge, fan-shaped tails.
Tags: Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, nature, wildlife, parks, sealife,
Reunions Warm and Unfussy
Mix and match your family for a Lee County reunion vacation that runs smoothly, warmly and, best of all, without a lot of fuss.
Tags: Bonita_Springs, Captiva_Island, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, reunions, family, resorts, hotels,
Sensible Sanibel
That's the great thing about Sanibel Island; nobody seems in a hurry. Slow pace and ample space are just two reasons why more than a million visitors from all over the world flock to this tiny beach community every year.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Sanibel_Island, nature, beaches, wildlife,
Treasure Hunt
The islands above Sanibel also hold treasure troves but are less accessible due to a lack of bridges. Good news: that makes their shell hoards less plundered.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Fort_Myers, Sanibel_Island, nature, beaches, shelling, tours, birding, wildlife, family,
Meet the Natives
An anhinga calls, his voice a rusty, rhythmic quack. When he stops, the sound of absolute quiet penetrates the mangroves
Tags: Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, nature, wildlife, sealife,
From Sunrise to Sunset
Captiva is tropical and relaxing and reminds me of Jimmy Buffett songs. Among the brightly-colored houses, sea grape trees, palms and bougainvillea spring up.
Tags: Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Captiva_Island, beaches, sunsets,
Street Smart, Nature Wise
No matter how involved you and your children become, Lee County's wealth of family attractions strike the perfect balance between street smart and nature wise.
Tags: Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, family, nature,
Family Fare
This is also the place to rent bikes for pedaling around Sanibel's 23 miles of paved bike paths.
Tags: Bonita_Springs, Estero, Fort_Myers_Beach, Palm_Beach, Sanibel_Island, family, resorts,
City Profile: Sanibel Island
Sanibel's main street is Periwinkle Way, a picturesque, lush thoroughfare framed by a canopy of Australian pines and tall, graceful palms.
Tags: Sanibel_Island,
Fort Myers and Beyond
Thomas Edison discovered Fort Myers as a cure for what ailed him, built a winter home and set up shop. He planted a garden full of exotics, including a banyan tree that has now reached 450 feet in diameter.
Tags: Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Everglades_National_Park, driving_tours, historical_sites, parks, theater, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
Tropical Paradise: The Captiva Island Inn, Captiva Island
Because the inn is in the heart of this tiny town, most everything - shops, restaurants, and of course, the beach - is within walking or bicycling distance. Anything else is minutes away by car, including the sunset cruise we scheduled.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Fort_Myers, Sanibel_Island, beaches, bed_and_breakfasts, kayaking, nature, hotels, dining,
Fort Myers Area Beaches
Recently, biologist and beach expert, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, recognized Captiva's beaches as among the "most romantic" in the U.S.
Tags: Cape_Coral, Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, beaches, disabilities_travel, shelling,
Fort Myers/Sanibel Area
With its gentle Gulf of Mexico waves, shell-strewn beaches, neighborly attitude and laid-back tempo, Fort Myers and its islands coerce a mood of creativity and inspiration.
Tags: Cape_Coral, Captiva_Island, Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, parks, beaches, nature, history,
Islands of Romance
Undulating white dunes and golden sea oats, just the two of you, and miles of sand, blue-green sea and sky.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Fernandina_Beach, Key_West, Sanibel_Island, St_George_Island, romance,
Small and Family-Friendly Lodgings
I loved the answer I received when I called the B&B owners and asked if they accepted children. "Why of course, they're people, too," came the answer in a friendly Southern drawl.
Tags: Cape_San_Blas, Fernandina_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Steinhatchee, Wakulla_Springs, bed_and_breakfasts, hotels, resorts, family, Englewood,
Kinder-Kind Resorts
Plays, beach walks, water balloon soccer, language-learning and scavenger hunts are among the activities incorporated into kid-appealing theme days such as Natural Wonders, Wet 'N' Wild, Messy Mania and Space Day.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Lake_Buena_Vista, Orlando, Sanibel_Island, Tampa, Tarpon_Springs, family, Florida_Keys, dolphins, hotels, resorts, Homosassa,
Florida Spa Sampler
Succumb to the luscious Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap or the Exotic Flower Bath.
Tags: Bonita_Springs, Fort_Myers, Islamorada, Key_West, Kissimmee, Miami, Miami_Beach, Naples, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, spas, resorts, luxury, Sanibel_Island,
Places to Propose
Have a dolphin do it. Discovery Cove in Orlando can have a buoy personalized with your proposal delivered by a dolphin, along with a video recording or photographs of the special moment.
Tags: Captiva_Island, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, romance, weddings, Florida_Keys, beaches, Sanibel_Island,
Hands-On Fun
The ultimate hands-on sea experiences take place where special programs allow you to swim with dolphins and other marine creatures as you learn about their behaviors and habits.
Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Clearwater, Daytona_Beach, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Marathon, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, museums, family, nature,
Wildlife Calendar
Nowhere else can you see reclusive alligators, playful manatees and beautifully plumed water birds all in a single day.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Crystal_River, Gainesville, Key_Largo, Marco_Island, Melbourne, Merritt_Island, Navarre, Orlando, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, Titusville, nature, kayaking, hiking, canoeing, wildlife, parks, Everglades_National_Park, dolphins, Florida_Keys, manatees,
Best Beaches For...
The grains are so fine, so white that you'll feel you are on packed sugar.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Daytona_Beach, Estero, Fort_Lauderdale, Hollywood, Key_West, Melbourne, Naples, New_Smyrna_Beach, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, South_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, Venice, Vero_Beach, parks, shelling, snorkeling, romance, historical_sites, water_sports, beaches,
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