With sandy beaches and wooded retreats just a few hours from almost every Florida city, finding the perfect weekend getaway may be a problem of too many choices. From cabins snuggled amid sun-dappled forests to sugary sand-front beach cottages, Florida has a plethora of excellent weekend getaways.
South Florida's Pine Island missed the boat with developers; somehow, no high rise ever made its way to this island. Ringed with red and black mangroves, five towns comprise this island that has no beach. People don't come to Pine Island for beaches; they come for fishing and the kayaking. Matlacha bridge, called the "World's Most Fishingest Bridge" lures anglers of all ages. Likewise, paddlers put in at Bokeelia, the island's north end, and paddle to Cayo Costa State Park. Bokeelia has several bed and breakfasts and inns, as well as several cottages on state land. The state's cottages come with the essentials: air conditioning, beds, linens and basic kitchen equipment and utensils.
Jug Creek Cottages
Barrier Islands Geo Park System
8135/8145 Main Street
Bokeelia, FL 33922
(239) 283-0015
TropicStarCruises.com
Siesta Key is a west central Florida small town that evokes old Florida at every corner. Homes hide behind dense walls of tropical foliage; miles of cream sand join the green of the Gulf with the bright colors of the homes. Spending a weekend on Siesta Key might consist of sun, sand and surf all day and fish, oysters and crabs for dinner at night.
Many beachfront condos here don't offer rentals for less than a month, but a few cottages with beach views have shorter rentals. Beach Palms has a suite that will get you to the beach in less than a minute's walk; the proprietor requires a two-night minimum stay from May through mid-December and three nights the rest of the year.
Beach Palms
153 Beach Road
Siesta Key, FL 34242
941-349-9900
BeachPalms.com
The Florida Panhandle has an abundance of two things: springs and forests. The Florida Division of Forestry manages the Wakulla Forest, which boasts tall pines, springs, fox squirrels and tortoises. Edward Ball Wakulla State Park abuts the forest and visitors there can hike through the hardwood forest trails. The park also has a 1937 lodge built by the park's namesake. Wakulla Springs Lodge, listed on the Natural Register of Historic Places, has a full-service dining room for day visitors and overnight guests alike. The park has a riverboat tour and a swimming area in the springs.
550 Wakulla Park Drive
Wakulla Springs, FL 32327
850-926-0700
FloridaStateParks.org/wakullasprings
