Southwest Florida has everything you need for the perfect kayaking trip: warm, sunny climate, equipment rentals, sheltered inland waterways, shallow waters, and lots of native wildlife. It is also home to the Great... Read more
By Susan Finch If you’re neglecting your hard-earned vacation days, you’re not alone. According to Gallup research, only six in ten Americans took a vacation, showing a drop in previous years. Deciding you need... Read more
By Laurén Ettinger Creating a road trip checklist is an easy way to ensure that you do not forget any items for your upcoming vacation. Use this handy list and hit the road... Read more
There’s no better way to experience local history than by touring a historic home. Southwest Florida has its share, including the last surviving antebellum plantation home in South Florida, the Italianate Ca’ d’Zan, the... Read more
Florida has a relatively short settler history, but the Gamble Plantation in Ellenton, Florida packs in plenty of famous names, Civil War history, and settler lifestyle. This grand mansion is the oldest building in... Read more
If you want a day filled with color, fragrance, and fresh air, why not plan to stroll around one of these top Southwest Florida gardens? The tough part will be choosing which one... Read more
By Laurén Ettinger Located just two hours from Sarasota, Florida, Bok Tower Gardens transports visitors into a tranquil respite. Guests can wander through 50 acres of meandering pathways and gardens, listen to the... Read more
One of the must-see animals for residents and visitors to Southwest Florida is the manatee and Lee County Manatee Park has a great viewing area for spotting them. Also known as “sea cows” due... Read more
By: Vanessa Caceres You don’t need to travel overseas to go on a safari. Your wilderness journey is less than two hours away from Sarasota to visit Safari Wilderness in Lakeland, Florida. Safari Wilderness—a working,... Read more
By: Susan Finch You’ve been planning your Florida family vacation for months and are ready to hit the road. But then the reality sits in during a long day battling the airport, sitting in... Read more