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INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL
IntervalWorld.com
Southwestern Coasts
Just because you can’t take a
week off doesn’t mean you
can’t enjoy the warm
southwestern Florida sunshine.
With
ShortStay Exchange
you have the flexibility to take
shorter breaks, allowing you to
enjoy the Gulf on your
schedule! Not upgraded? Go to
IntervalWorld.com.
South of the Tampa area, Florida’s west
coast is more laid-back and just as
worthy of your time. Here are some
more exchange and Getaway options:
A luxurious seaside vacation destination
with ample dining options and upscale
shopping,
Longboat Key
is also — as its
name suggests — a great spot for an
assortment of aquatic activities.
Home to Siesta Key — named the best
beach in the U.S. by Dr. Beach —
Sarasota
is also a popular golfing
destination, with more than 30 courses.
Be sure to pay a visit to St. Armand’s
Circle, with its many shopping and dining
opportunities. The Blue Dolphin Café is a local favorite
for breakfast and lunch.
Noted by
Money
magazine as one of the best places to
live in the U.S.,
Punta Gorda
equally impresses
tourists, with water sports, golfing, and a historic
downtown. Stop by lively Fishermen’s Village for shops,
eateries, and a marina offering boat rentals and tours.
Sanibel Island
is just a short drive across the
causeway from the mainland, but very far away in
spirit. Search for colorful seashells and sand dollars,
then enjoy a seaside lunch at the charming Mucky
Duck pub on nearby Captiva Island.
From
Fort Myers Beach
, tour the winter homes and
surrounding gardens of Thomas Edison and Henry
Ford, and see a collection of important artifacts and
exhibits dedicated to the visionaries.
In
Bonita Springs
, relax and sunbathe at Barefoot
Beach Preserve. Or take a park ranger–led tour, enjoy a
picnic, and witness sea turtle–nesting sites.
Like most of the towns on the Gulf Coast,
Naples
is
known for its fantastic beaches. But it also boasts top-
notch shopping and dining in two areas — Fifth
Avenue South and Third Street South. After dinner,
watch the sun set from the Naples Pier.
From
Marco Island
, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to
Everglades National Park, where a variety of sport fish
such as redfish, snook, and tarpon await you.
Orlando:
Experience a dazzling array of rides and attractions in the
Theme Park Capital of the World. Go for Walt Disney World. Go for Uni-
versal Studios. Go for SeaWorld. Just go! (1:25 from Tampa)
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park:
Snorkel in the crystal-clear
freshwater springs, swim into magical grottoes, and encounter the gentle
West Indian manatee (below). (1:20)
Frank Lloyd Wright Complex:
View the largest collection of buildings
in the world designed by the legendary architect at Florida Southern Col-
lege in Lakeland. (:50)