Journey through the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida and you’ll travel along a melange of scenes, from peaceful residential neighborhoods to sleepy beaches on barrier islands to bustling metropolises dotted with towering skyscrapers and lively nightclubs. Covering the entire eastern seaboard of Florida, the Intracoastal Waterway travels 1,200 miles total, from Norfolk, Virginia, to the tip of Key West, Florida, via a series of connecting man-made canals and natural bodies of water, such as bays, inlets, lagoons, rivers and sounds. If you need to stay at a spot on the waterway in Florida, you can watch barges and recreational vessels float down the route from the comfort of a waterfront hotel.
Nestled on Amelia Island in northern Florida, and set in the heart of downtown Fernandina Beach, Hampton Inn and Suites Amelia Island-Historic Harbor Front has some upscale guest rooms outfitted with fireplaces, whirlpool tubs and balconies. Take a dip in the outdoor pool and indulge in a complimentary hot breakfast each morning. The hotel is less than five minutes on foot from casual cafes, art galleries and boutique shops. Less than 90 minutes south of Fernandina Beach, Edgewater Inn is in the historic city of St. Augustine, the oldest European settlement in North America. The casual, bright yellow inn has some waterfront and poolside rooms. The hotel is right next door to a dock for boats and sits alongside the Bridge of Lions, which transports visitors to the city center. Book a special sightseeing package through the front desk staff.
In the central part of the state is New Smyrna Beach, a laid-back beach town with 13 miles of sandy shores and numerous small theaters and galleries. Buena Vista Inn is a small family-owned hotel less than a five-minute drive from the center of town on an island in the middle of the Intracoastal Waterway. Unwind outdoors in the inn’s courtyard with a fountain and barbecue grills. The hotel is also adjacent to fishing piers and a picnic area with views of the water. Each room is outfitted with a galley kitchen and DVD player. Black Dolphin Inn is on the mainland, less than five minutes south of New Smyrna Beach’s city center. The three-story Spanish-style mansion has 14 rooms, most with waterfront views. Warm yourself on a cool evening by the outdoor fire pit; reel in dinner at the fishing pier, or moor your own boat at the private dock.
As you approach southern Florida, make a stop in Palm Beach, in a region that provides opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling and fishing. Most of the guest rooms in Fairfield Inn and Suites Palm Beach have views of the Intracoastal Waterway, and some have private balconies. Take a dip in the heated outdoor pool or relax on the attached sundeck set right on the water. Complimentary hot breakfast is served each morning. The hotel is less than a five-minute drive from Palm Beach Par-3 Golf Course. Set on its own peninsula in the Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach Resort and Beach Club is also a short walk from the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Relax in the waterfront pool, and grill up your meals on the outdoor barbecues, or rent a bike directly from the hotel’s front desk. Some of the larger guest rooms sleep up to six people, and all of them include full kitchens.
Make your way to the glitz and glamor of Miami Beach, where the luxurious Eden Roc Miami Beach has guest rooms with views of the Atlantic Ocean or Intracoastal Waterway, as well as such possible perks as jetted tubs and rain shower heads. Enjoy a massage or body wrap at the on-site spa with ocean views, or relax on the rooftop deck with a drink or light snack as you lounge in a private cabana. The resort also has four pools, including an infinity pool and garden pool with ocean access. Miami Beach Resort is a large hotel where some of the guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the waterway or ocean. Speak to the concierge about arranging deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and yachting excursions. The hotel has three on-site restaurants, including an oceanfront bar and a buffet with views of the pool and garden.
