1. Hyatt House Naples
Fifth Avenue in Naples? We like to think of it as the Las Olas of Florida’s west coast. And Hyatt House Naples is right smack in the middle of it. It’s walking distance to the beach and on the Gordon River, with boat and paddleboard rentals. There’s resort-like poolside luxury, and all the shopping and dining of Naples’ main drag. It all makes for a perfect balance between city break and resort getaway. naples.house.hyatt.com
2. The Ivey House Bed and Breakfast
On the far southern end of Collier County, just before the national park, Everglades City offers the sort of old, outdoorsy Florida that many out-of-state tourists overpay for in the Keys. Made up of several Old Florida buildings, Ivey House is quaint but comfortable. It also offers canoeing and kayaking, including guided trips and transportation deeper into the Everglades. If you’re looking for the true Florida as it once was, you’ll find it here. iveyhouse.com
3. Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel
Some people are relaxed by spa treatments; some, by golf. Just northeast of Tampa, Saddlebrook offers all the various methods – plus a pool that’s really about three pools, upmarket on-site shopping, diverse dining options and tennis. It’s the sort of spa resort where you can check in with your significant other at the end of the day for a checklist of all the relaxing things everybody’s done. saddlebrook.com
4. USSSA Pride, Viera
Want a fun sports weekend away that costs less than Major League Baseball? Try the USSSA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch League. (The team’s owned by the United States Specialty Sports Association, hence the name.) The team plays in Space Coast Stadium – just inland from Satellite Beach and Merritt Island, and just down from the Kennedy Space Center. (And surrounded by plenty of hotels.) Professional women’s fastpitch is quick and exciting – and the most expensive tickets are $10. Take that, Jeffrey Loria. usssapride.com
