Southwest Gulf Coast
This 1381-acre state park has 15 miles of sandy off-road tracks, lake swimming and a handy campsite ($33 per tent) midway along the Legacy Trail.
Must-see attractions in Southwest Gulf Coast
Sarasota
Conceived by John Ringling in the 1920s, St Armands Circle is an upscale outdoor mall surrounded by posh residences on St Armands Key. More so even than…
Southwest Gulf Coast
Fort Myers Beach is long, long, long. The southern end is dominated by condos, with very little public access. The low-key middle has a large number of…
Southwest Gulf Coast
Built in 1927 the historic Venice Train Depot was the last stop on the line for the Seaboard Air Line Railway that extended south from Tampa to Sarasota…
Southwest Gulf Coast
Off Harbor Dr 1.5 miles south of W Venice Ave, this long, wide beach with a huge parking lot is the most popular, especially for sunset. The adjacent pier…
Southwest Gulf Coast
A tidy museum dedicated to how Florida's coast has defined its past and will shape the future, including a shell collection from the Gulf of Mexico, an…
Naples
North of Old Naples, this is a family-friendly beach park with picnic tables, vending machines, restrooms, and volleyball courts showcasing some of the…
Southwest Gulf Coast
Once a quiet fishing village, the 12 long miles of Longboat Key are now lined with upscale resorts and condos. A few teeny-tiny public parking lots don't…
Southwest Gulf Coast
The most photogenic of the beaches, Lighthouse Beach sports Sanibel's historic metal lighthouse (1884) on the eastern tip of the island. There's also a T…
Sarasota
This community-oriented nonprofit gallery has four exhibition spaces that mix local and out-of-town artists. Hosts frequent events, including a lecture…
Sarasota
A short stroll north along the Island Park waterfront is this towering statue of WWII's most famous kiss.
Southwest Gulf Coast
A 10-acre, dog-friendly park at the east end of Bay St in Osprey that serves as an end point to the 20-mile cycling route, the Legacy Trail. There are…
Southwest Gulf Coast
Home to charter boats and a sightseeing fleet, and also the jumping-off point for boat tours, a pirate cruise and fishing trips.
