STATE OF SUNSHINE
Skip the crowds at Disney and plan a vacation in one of FLORIDA’s idyllic off-the-radar spots
LIKE many Manhattan natives, I used to alternate spending spring break in Palm Beach to visit cousin Marge and spinning my parents into oblivion on Dumbo the Flying Elephant at the Magic Kingdom. Only as an adult have I come to appreciate Florida’s lesserknown locales. For your next trip, consider these underrated gems — the rides will still fly next year.
PENSACOLA
A bull rodeo welcomed me to Flora-Bama ( FloraBama.com), which has been dubbed the world’s best beach bar. (The establishment is on the state line between Florida and Alabama, hence the name.) Next came oceanfront oysters and a chalky orange sunset, piggybacked by a punk band mosh pit and acoustic Eric Church covers upstairs. I’ve convinced three friends and two bachelorette parties to visit Pensacola with my tales from this five-stage roadhouse.
Adults-only fun after the kids have gone to bed isn’t the only draw. If you need more persuading, here goes: The Gulf Islands National Seashore dazzles as you hike or paddle alongside dolphins, sea turtles and blue herons. Big Lagoon State Park inspires with stargazing and birdwatching. Gulf seafood rivals a fancy omakase dinner in New York City (and for about onetenth of the price).
Reserve a room at the Holiday Inn Resort (from $89; Holiday InnResortPensacolaBeach.com), which delights young’uns with a lazy river, mermaids, pirates and plenty of activities.
VENICE
Welcome to Venice — Forida’s, not Italy’s. “While a suburb of Sarasota, Venice’s beauty, culture, beaches and charm are all its own. Visitors from all over the world grace its streets and return again and again,” says former professor Dr. Barbara J. Gruen, 69, a Manhattan visitor turned resident. “It’s a small city with an intimate feel. It’s relaxed, with many beaches (all free!) and a thriving downtown of beautiful stores, independent restaurants and live entertainment.”
As visitors saunter along the city’s main street, Venice Avenue, elegant 1920s homes — which line the streets straight to the Gulf of Mexico — beg for a Jazz Age soundtrack. Bust a sweat biking from Shamrock Park to the historic train depot for a guided tour or to Caspersen Beach for collectible seashells. Recount the day’s adventures soaking up a ragtime band or oldies singer at T.J. Carney’s ( TJCarneys.
com) or at The Zebra Lounge piano bar ( TheZebraLoungeFl.com), ideal for people-watching as throngs of patrons fill sidewalk tables. Finally, post up at Inn at the Beach, a 49-room tropical hideaway (from $183; InnAtTheBeach.com).
FORT MYERS
Head farther south on the Gulf Coast for Fort Myers’ beaches along gin-clear water. Stay for downtown’s Spanish-Floridian feel, especially in the historic river district ( MyRiverDistrict.com), where cobblestone pathways usher visitors towards restaurants, art galleries and indie shops.
You may be in Florida, but this is a land where y’alls reign. For traditional Southern hospitality, dine at Veranda, two grand homes linked together with a lively courtyard ( VerandaRestaurant.com). Bunk at the Pink Shell Beach Resort (from $228; PinkShell.com).
The next day, refresh your jibing skills at the hotel’s sailing school or bring the fam to Millennial Brewing for yoga. Post-namaste, kids can hit up the bounce house while adults sip on brews.
CAPTIVA ISLAND
Bookend your Fort Myers jaunt with this sliver of tranquility off the coast, where writer Anne Morrow Lindbergh found inspiration for her book “Gift from the Sea.” First, drop off your bags at South Seas Island Resort — a 330-acre retreat and wildlife preserve (from $263; SouthSeas.com).
Now, it’s all aboard for a stellar meal at the
Bubble Room ( Bubble RoomRestaurant. com), where vintage trains chug along the walls. Slurp on she-crab soup as hits from the 1930s play, all while sitting under decor that could put a tacky souvenir symposium to shame. For something fancier, feast on lobster spaghetti at Old Captiva House ( OldCaptiva
House.com). There, note the 1940s illustrations of a late local editorial cartoonist J.N. “Ding” Darling. Later, carve out time at his namesake wildlife refuge, which sprawls over 6,400 pristine acres on neighboring Sanibel Island. Or see some of the coast’s 100 barrier islands with Captiva Cruises, which embarks for secluded spots like Cabbage Key (from $40; CaptivaCruises.com). No matter what, heed Lindbergh’s advice: “The beach is not a place to work; to read, write or to think.”
PANAMA CITY
Panhandle fun continues in Panama City. Shangri-la on the half shell awaits on the town’s 13-stop oyster trail, weaving you through pearls like Bayou Joe’s on Massalina Bayou ( BayouJoes.com). When you’re bivalved out, take a shuttle to Shell Island, where you can snorkel and swim from a 7-mile-long uninhabited peninsula. Come evening, why ditch the water when you can stay on a sailboat or yacht overnight? Check Airbnb for listings (from about $60).
SEBRING
Perched on Lake Jackson, smack in the middle of the state’s peninsula, Sebring sits between Highlands Hammock State Park and Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge. Rev up at Sebring International Raceway before winding down at Inn on the Lakes (from $109; InnOnTheLakes.com). Tee off at several nearby championship golf courses or take a scenic tour with Airboat Wildlife Adventures (from $45; AirboatWildlifeAdventures.com). We’ll leave gator hunting tours to locals.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH
If your ideal Florida getaway means never leaving the resort, descend upon Ponte Vedra Inn & Club (from $269; PonteVedra.com). Just southeast of Jacksonville, the town was named after the landmark property, which extends over 300 acres of beachfront and celebrates its 90th birthday this year. With two golf courses, nine eateries and a spa, why leave?