FLORIDA'S TREASURE ISLANDS

Discover the tranquil isles off the Sunshine State's West Coast - little pieces of paradise with unspoilt white sand beaches, lush landscapes and exotic wildlife

- AMY JONES

Florida isn’t all Mickey Mouse ears and theme parks – it’s also a slice of paradise offering island-hopping adventures and beautifully vibrant beachfront hotels, well away from the crowds of Disney World.

To find the hidden beauty of America’s Sunshine State, you need to do as we did and head for the tranquil isles scattered off the West Coast in the southern stretches of the Gulf of Mexico.

The city of Fort Myers, nestled between Tampa and the Everglades National Park, is the gateway to a string of tiny islands including Pine, Sanibel, Cabbage Key and Captiva, where crystal clear waters lap on the golden sands.

Further up the coast, at the southern mouth of Tampa Bay, you’ll find the seven-mile long Anna Maria Island. It is home to the luxury golf coast resort of Longboat Key and the white sand beaches of Bradenton, where brightly coloured homes nestle alongside friendly beachfront restaurants. Here, we browsed the stores along the charming Pine Avenue, which spans the width of Anna Maria Island, and sipped fresh coconut juice in the sun, soaking up the sunny vibes.

“OLD FLORIDA” CHARM

Our first hotel stop was the laidback Pine Island, where we experienced the comfort of “Old Florida” at the traditional Tarpon Lodge. Accommodation includes the 1926 Historic Lodge, the Cottage, the Boathouse or the white stilted Island House. We stayed at the latter, where six of the 12 rooms boast views of the water from a private porch.