1. Sarasota

• Best For: Cultivated beachgoers. It's a panoramic postcard when you travel across the John Ringling Causeway Bridge—downtown Sarasota behind you, inky bay waters on either side and palm-fringed islands ahead—leading to Lido Key directly on the Gulf.
• Shop & Sip: St. Armands Circle is a hub of specialty stores (great finds at Terra Nova, Shore and FantaSea Seashells) and restaurants (Le Macaron, a new Parisian-style pastry shop, and Cork & the Bottle Shop).
• Don't Miss: The Ringling Estate is home to Cà d'Zan, the Venetian-style former mansion of Mabel and John Ringling, and the Ringling Museum of Art, with Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens' floor-to-ceiling paintings.
• Nature Tip: Feed the pink American flamingos at the Open Garden at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
• Sleep: Lido Beach Resort's tropical lagoon setting replete with bamboo chaises boasts double pools (one adult-only) and perfect piña coladas at the tiki bar. sarasotafl.org

2. Anna Maria Island

• Best For: Families. Less than one mile wide and 7½ miles long, Anna Maria is the laidback little sis to its posh neighbors, Sarasota and Longboat Key.
• Explore: Enjoy it like the locals: Rent a bike from Beach Bum Billy's and cruise on over to Ginny & Jane's at the Old IGA for morning coffee and muffins. Part café, part florist, part secondhand-furniture shop, the quirky former market has a downright warm and fuzzy vibe.
• Sleep: Pineapplefish is a new rental agency with immaculate, spacious homes bragging flat-screen TVs and top-notch appliances. The bayside Honeyfish has a pool and kayaks tied to a dock.
• Sunset: No trip would be complete without paying a visit to the Sandbar, the beachfront restaurant and bar that has lured locals since 1979. Order a frozen concoction and peel- and-eat shrimp as the sun dips into the ocean. floridasgulfislands.com, pineapplefish.com

3. St. Petersburg Mainsail Art Festival

• Best For: Casual art lovers ready for that great first-time purchase. A downtown St. Pete staple, the April 17-18 art fest attracts aspiring talent to breezy Vinoy Park. Ceramics, glass, wood, mixed media, metal and watercolors tempt festival-goers.
• Sleep: La Veranda Bed & Breakfast offers old-world charm, with canopy beds and wrap- around porches for laid-back afternoons. It's a five-minute stroll to the festival, the Beach Avenue specialty shops and the Museum of Fine Arts.
• Best Eats: Downtown's Red Mesa Cantina, a modern Mexican taqueria and ceviche bar, is tops for a hibiscus margarita (light and not too sweet) and authentic south-of-the-border soft tacos made with homemade corn tortillas. mainsailartsfestival.org, floridasbeach.com

4. Tampa

• Best For: Museum lovers. The new Tampa Museum of Art opens this February. Architect Stanley Saitowitz's glimmering shuffle of crisp cubes and soaring spaces sets off the curves of Tampa's minarets and riverbanks.
• Fellow Traveler: Henri Matisse will be its first guest (through April), a master of line and shadow himself.
• Museum Town: The playful toy box next door is the Glaser Children's Museum (opening late 2010). A mile down the Riverwalk, the Tampa Bay History Center resembles a shining glass chest of drawers stuffed with ancient Tocobaga tools, cigar wrappers, fruit-crate labels and 400 years of Florida maps.
• Choice Eats: Stay downtown for Malio's Prime Steaks and Taps' sleek drinks, or take Bayshore Boulevard to the casual gourmet nabe at Bay to Bay for Byblos' chic Lebanese, Pane Rustica's artisan Italian, Datz' lusty deli and more.
• Sleep: The 27-story Marriott Waterside has big rooms and bigger views across the city and down to the port. tampamuseum.org

5. Hillsborough River

• Best For: Escaping civilization. Paddling Tampa's Hillsborough River's tree-strewn, tea- stained water past birds and gators, some 13 feet long, is an unofficial graduation requirement for University of South Florida students.
• Explore: Canoe Escape's guided and go-it-alone trips cover a 16-mile stretch that offers National Geographic-worthy photo ops as it winds through a 15,000-acre preserve, migratory habitat and lakes thick with water-lettuce plants. Look for roseate spoonbills and some 30 other species of wading birds.
• Best Eats: Mike's Southern Classic BBQ on U.S. 301 serves slow-smoked pork ribs or a "redneck platter" of frog legs, gator and catfish.
• Sleep: Not too far from the launch site, the Tahitian Inn offers a boutique experience with cozy rooms featuring sleigh beds and plantation shutters. Lounge poolside in a hammock for two. canoeescape.com, tahitianinn.com

6. Clearwater Beach

• Best For: Weekend beach bums. This quintessential Florida beach town's fabulous Beach Walk promenade leads to fish shacks, surf shops, a pier and a bustling marina—and oh yes, a nice stretch of sand that puts Clearwater Beach on the A-list.
• Fish Fry: At the marina, deep-sea fishing vessels return daily with catch that's promptly cleaned on the dock; make sure yours is filleted, and the cook at neighboring Crabby Bill's restaurant will prepare it for dinner.
• On the Water: Not into casting a line? Book a sunset cruise, dolphin-watching excursion or dive boat at the same marina.
• Sunset: Gather at Pier 60 with fire-eaters, break dancers and vendors selling art as well as jewelry to watch the fireball drop behind the horizon.
• Sleep: Wake up at the new 17-story Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach to a palm-tree-studded view of the Gulf of Mexico. The eighth-level pool deck has built-in cabanas (no flapping canvas walls) with flat-screen TVs and air conditioning; the rooftop sky terrace boasts a hot tub and bar. crabbybills.com, clearwaterbeach.hyatt.com

7. Waldorf Astoria, Orlando

• Best For: Doing Disney in style. After a full day of trekking through Walt Disney World, spoil yourself with the ultimate in luxury at the first resort Waldorf Astoria. On the edge of Disney property, the hotel provides door-to-door shuttle service to all of Walt's theme parks.
• Relax: Adults love the sleek infinity pool, while kids can romp in the lazy-river pool and water slide at the adjacent Hilton Bonnet Creek.
• Tee Time: Hit the links at the new course, where the greens are near perfection; the Waldorf's course has five tees.
• Pamper: Enjoy a soothing massage in one of the many outdoor treatment areas at the renowned Guerlain Spa.
• Eat: Breakfast at Oscar's is French toast coated in cornflakes topped with banana and caramel drizzle. Dinner is steak at the Bull n Bear after a double martini at Peacock Alley. (No, you are not in New York City.)
• Don't Miss: A late-night chess game and a cordial at the stylish and sophisticated Harry's Lounge. waldorfastoriaorlando.com

8. Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes, Orlando

• Best For: An unusual mix of luxury and adventure. This sprawling resort offers so much to do, you'll be tempted to skip the theme parks down the road.
• Fresh Air: Start your day with an open-air hammock massage at the spa's all-new rooftop garden, and then take in a game of golf on manicured greens that hug Shingle Pond, also a top spot for fly-fishing.
• Plan Your Meals: Primo features Mediterranean dishes infused with fragrant ingredients from the resort's herb garden. Blanketed in glass and class, Norman's is the ultimate spot for memorable dishes like smoked trout, mini duck burgers and a grilled pork Havana with creamy plantains and black-bean-and-corn salsa that's the epitome of New World cuisine.
• New: Test your physical and mental strength with the resort's new Adventure Course, where you'll tackle a series of climbs and traverses (sometimes walking on nothing but a tight rope). The grand finale is a zip line so exhilarating that you'll line up to do the whole circuit again—instantly. the-ritz-carlton.grandelakes.com

9. Space Coast

• Best For: Space cowboys. The countdown is on for the final space-shuttle launch in 2010.
• Best Seat: Aim your binoculars from Space View Park, across the Indian River from Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. Entry and parking are free, but arrive early, at least three hours before take-off.
• Best Eats: A blast from the past, Titusville's Moonlight Drive-In offers the classic Apollo- era burgers and milkshakes complete with curbside service. You can picture Buzz Aldrin pulling up in his signature red corvette.
• Sleep: Double Tree Ocean Front Hotel on Cocoa Beach, south of the launchpads, boasts newly renovated rooms with a private-access beach and ocean views.
• Don't Miss: The cape's U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and the nearby Space Walk of Fame Museum will put you in the mood. kennedyspacecenter.com/events-launches.aspx

10. Daytona Beach

• Best For: Wannabe surfers. Learn to hang 10 in one of the former spring-break capitals of the world. Emerging from an era of saucy student antics, Daytona is now home to select sporting and spa centers.
• Surf's Up: Try your luck on a long board, riding or even falling into some of Florida's most challenging waves. Daytona Surfing School offers private or group lessons.
• Lunch Spot: Definitely opt for the signature fish Reuben sandwich (fried or blackened) at Bay Street Seafood (386.255.8650) near the International Speedway Bridge. It comes piled high with homemade coleslaw, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing on marbled rye—delicious.
• Sleep: Cap the day off with an expertly mixed martini at Azure, the Shores' luxurious restaurant, before hitting the hotel's cushy beds.
• Spa Time: Reward yourself with a Thai or Balinese treatment at the Shores Resort & Spa, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. daytonasurfingschool.com, shoresresort.com