Share the article
Last updated
Now that we are in the middle of winter, sunny destinations become all the more attractive. A big advantage for American travelers this time of year is that some of the best vacation destinations don’t require a passport.
Florida is always a popular getaway, due to its easy access, beautiful beaches and spectacular weather all year round.
Mega-popular cities like Miami and Orlando often overshadow incredible places worth a winter vacation.
Along the west coast, Southwest Florida is making a name for itself with top beaches, underrated cities and brand new luxury resorts.
Here are 5 reasons why Southwest Florida should be your next sunny getaway:
Siesta key
Picturesque beaches surround the entire oddly shaped state of Florida, but Siesta Key might be the best of them all, depending on who you ask.
This quiet beach is the ideal place to relax and recharge. Maybe taking one siesta in the sun, as the name suggests.
Once you’re done snoozing, the beach also lives up to its name with nonstop ways to fill your day, like jet ski rentals, bike rides, and a sunset booze cruise.
Called the second best beach across America according to TripAdvisor, this sunny paradise has soft, powdery sand and majestic blue water to enjoy.
Not only is there a beautiful beach, but the island is fun to explore with shops and cheap happy hours, especially with the free trolley provided.
The brand new Sunseeker Resort
Ever heard of Punta Gorda? Maybe not, but a highly anticipated resort has just opened its doors to showcase this lesser-known Florida city.
Located on Charlotte’s scenic harbor, this resort is not your typical waterfront destination. On the contrary, this place oozes luxury with nearly 200 suites, a world-class spa, more than 20 dining options and a few expansive glistening pools on site.
Sun seeker is the kind of place where you don’t have to leave the hotel grounds, because everything is already set up for you to enjoy a sunny escape.
@laurielivinlife Sunseeker Resorts is now open #charlottehavenflorida 🎉🌴🌊 One of the best staycations I’ve had!❤️ #puntagorda #portcharlottefl #floridvacation #floridaresort #floridahotel #visitflorida #hotelsandresorts ♬ Everywhere (remaster 2017) – Fleetwood Mac
The dining and drinking options are seemingly endless, including a sprawling 7,000-foot dining hall and delightful shops and restaurants along the harbor, perfect for sunsets.
Guests have that too exclusive access to the famous Aileron Golf Club, an 18-hole golf course. Backed by Allegiant Air, this landmark resort hopes to add the allure of Southwest Florida.
Cheap flights
Speaking of Allegiant, this region is a huge hub for the low-cost carrier. Offering nonstop flights across the country to Punta Gorda, it only makes sense to open a luxury resort here, right?
Whether you want to escape the cold from Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio and many other cold weather cities and states, it’s easy to escape the cold on the cheap.
However, Allegiant isn’t the only budget airline flying to Southwest Florida.
These are all the low-cost US airlines in the region:
- Wind – Sarasota, Fort Myers
- Avelo Sarasota, Fort Myers
- Border – Sarasota, Fort Myers
- Sun Country – Sarasota, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda
- Spirit – Fort Myers
- Allegiant – Sarasota, Punta Gorda
Many major airlines also fly to the region, but these tend to be the best value for your travel money. Who wants to spend all their pocket money on plane tickets?
Underrated pristine beaches
While Siesta Key is a great place to visit, there are also plenty of beautiful, lesser-known beaches in the area that are definitely worth a beach day.
Southwest of Cape Coral are a series of island beaches full of white sand and blue water: Sanibel and Captiva.
Further south to Naples is Residents Beach, where recent beachgoers rave about ‘heaven on earth’.
The caveat is that membership is required, but booking a Marco Island Airbnb is a proven loophole to gain access.
Sunny State Parks
When you look at a map of Southwest Florida, you might be surprised that the first thing you notice isn’t the vast blue ocean, but all the greenery surrounding the main cities.
This region is home to sunny state parks – another great way to spend time outdoors and get a change of scenery.
Get up close and personal with wildlife and historic sites at top-rated state parks, including:
- Fakahatchee Beach Preserve State Park
- Gasparilla Island State Park
- Koreshan State Park
- Collier Seminole State Park
- Myakka River State Park
Read more:
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans from $10 per week
How to easily earn points for free travel
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
