By Kara Franker
Whether you take the day or just an hour, here are eight Florida-inspired travel ideas for treating yourself with any of these relaxing Florida vacations.
1. Salute the Sun
Lounging against sugar-sand coastline, the ultra-chic and luxurious W Fort Lauderdale Hotel offers namaste-inspiring yoga classes with a view of rolling waves and sweeping South Florida skies. Certified trainers lead beachfront classes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
2. Play Golf
Tee off in style at Marco Island Marriott’s Hammock Bay championship golf course, designed to provide an enjoyable challenge to golfers of all skill levels. Visit the resort’s three-mile stretch of white-sand beach, two pools and mouth-watering restaurants to round out a relaxing day on the fairways.
3. Have a Picnic
Can you think of a better idea relaxing Florida vacation than a picnic? The Hotel Zamora's “Beach Butler” can pack a picnic for two to enjoy pool- or beachside, filled with treats from its Spanish-influenced restaurant, Castile. Try the Butler Sunset Basket, which includes Mediterranean cheeses and charcuterie, assorted crackers, chocolate-dipped local strawberries, and wine or champagne. Silverware, plates and beach blanket are included.
4. Enjoy a Spa Day
Try the Island Mojito Body Scrub at The Resort at Longboat Key Club. You’ll be lathered in an intoxicating blend of fresh mint, freshly squeezed lime juice, sugar and salt with a hint of rum, followed by a generous application of coconut oil. The treatment ends with a Mojito served in the newly renovated Relaxation Room.
5. Take a Coffee Break
At 3:05 p.m. head to Marriott Stanton South Beach for a complimentary Cafecito and admire the view while you're there. Since Miami city dwellers rely on their daily caffeine fix at 3:05 (not-so-coincidentally, the Miami area code), the hotel invites guests to join in on the tradition for an extra jolt and a “taste” of the local lifestyle.
6. Lounge in a Hammock
Kick back in a hammock at Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa with a Cucumber Breeze cocktail in hand. You’ll have oceanfront seats to 1,000 feet of secluded Atlantic shoreline, so grab a friend and settle into two hammocks swaying side-by-side to get a feel for why this is one of “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns.”
7. Catch the Sunset
Check out the sunset while sitting around the Sandpearl Resort’s gigantic wood burning fire pit, situated on the powder-white sands of Clearwater Beach on any given evening. Looking for something more intimate? Grab a private fire pit rental and a do-it-yourself s’mores kit. Either way, just as the sun touches the Gulf, you’ll hear the ringing of the historic “Sunset Bell” that signifies the end of the day.
8. Dinner with a View
Dine at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa’s Sea Level restaurant. Here you’ll find a relaxed setting where you can indulge in a creative menu while taking in panoramic views of the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. Try the popular Caribbean Jerk Chicken Sandwich and sip on Sea Level’s refreshing White Sangria all while enjoying the gentle sounds of the waves and warm ocean breeze.
