6 days in Southwest Florida Itinerary

Take a trip to Sanibel Island if you like pretty sunsets and luxurious resorts.

Kick off your visit on the 4th (Thu): identify plant and animal life at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and then pause for some serene contemplation at St. Isabel Catholic Church.

To see where to stay, maps, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Sanibel Island road trip planner.

New York City to Sanibel Island is an approximately 6-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Prepare for much hotter weather when traveling from New York City in March: high temperatures in Sanibel Island hover around 81°F and lows are around 59°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Thu) so you can go by car to Naples.

On the 5th (Fri), look for all kinds of wild species at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, then admire the natural beauty at Edison and Ford Winter Estates, and then kick back and relax at Fort Myers Beach. On the next day, get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour, then admire the natural beauty at Naples Botanical Garden, and then take in the waterfront at Naples Pier.

To find maps, traveler tips, where to stay, and tourist information, refer to the Naples trip itinerary builder app.

Getting from Sanibel Island to Naples by car takes about 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 79°F in March, and nighttime lows around 61°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Sat) to allow time to drive to Sarasota.

Sarasota is a city in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. Sarasota is known for museums, adventure, and zoos & aquariums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: admire the masterpieces at The Ringling, buy something for everyone on your list at St. Armands Circle, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, and explore the different monuments and memorials at Sarasota National Cemetery.

For ratings, traveler tips, and more tourist information, use the Sarasota holiday planner.

You can drive from Naples to Sarasota in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or do a combination of bus and taxi. In March in Sarasota, expect temperatures between 77°F during the day and 57°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Tue) to allow enough time to travel back home.