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.
ãã®èšäºã¯ OK! UK ã® October 23, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ OK! UK ã® October 23, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUT
Simple lifestyle and dietary changes can improve digestion, boost immunity and enhance your overall wellbeing
I'll cherish my friendship with Vito for the rest of my life'
Last year's Strictly winner Ellie Leach tells OK! about life on tour in Cluedo 2 and reuniting with her dance partner
'If one little thing had gone wrong, my entire path in life would have changed'
TV presenter Charlene White on her strict Jamaican upbringing in southeast London, her own tough parenting style and why she'd love the Princess of Wales to be a guest on Loose Women
I have seen cockroaches the size of terriers'
Joanna Lumley shares travel tales that aren't for the faint-hearted, Ab Fab gossip and other stories from her legendary screen career
'Once you become a parent, the times when you leave the house are extra special'
Comedian Joel Dommett on returning to the I'm A Celebrity jungle and how fatherhood has changed him
'We're so pleased our rainbow baby is here'
Mrs Brown's Boys actor Gary Hollywood and his wife Cherylanne invite us into their home to meet special new arrival Carter
'Ballroom dancing is your real school of life'
Former Strictly star Kristina Rihanoff on why she thought she'd never dance again after becoming a mum and how her daughter Mila is now following in her footsteps
A CELEBRATION FOR THE KING
As King Charles marks his 76th birthday, we hear how our beloved monarch may take time to reflect on a difficult year and look ahead to a busy, brighter 2025
WILLIAM'S 'BRUTAL' YEAR
The Prince Of Wales praises his wife and father as he opens up on the tough challenges of 2024 while visiting Cape Town to present the Earthshot Prize Awards
'Love is there for absolutely everybody'
Emmerdale star James Moore - who has cerebral palsy and once thought he would never marry - and his wife Sophie Edwards chat to OK! about their big day