7 days in Southwest Gulf Coast Itinerary

Sarasota is a city in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Start off your visit on the 11th (Sun): tour the pleasant surroundings at Venice Beach, then enjoy the sand and surf at Stump Pass Beach State Park, and then enjoy the sand and surf at Caspersen Beach. Here are some ideas for day two: stop by The Market Boutique and Events, browse the different shops at St. Armands Circle, and then glide peacefully along the water with some of the best stand-up paddleboarding in the area.

To see more things to do, reviews, ratings, and tourist information, read Sarasota tour itinerary builder site.

Houston to Sarasota is an approximately 4-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Houston to Sarasota, you'll lose 1 hour due to the time zone difference. In June, daily temperatures in Sarasota can reach 89°F, while at night they dip to 75°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Mon) to allow time to drive to Sanibel Island.

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

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Tue): stop by Three Crafty Ladies, look for all kinds of wild species at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and then kick back and relax at Bowman's Beach.

To see maps, photos, reviews, and tourist information, refer to the Sanibel Island trip planner.

You can drive from Sarasota to Sanibel Island in 2 hours. Another option is to do a combination of bus and taxi. June in Sanibel Island sees daily highs of 91°F and lows of 74°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 13th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Fort Myers Beach.

Fort Myers Beach is a town located on Estero Island in Lee County, Florida, United States. For shopping fun, head to Miromar Outlets between Naples & Fort Myers or The Curiosity Shop. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs Public Beach. Change things up with these side-trips from Fort Myers Beach: Fishing Charters & Tours (in Punta Gorda), Lowdermilk Beach (in Naples) and Barefoot Beach Preserve (in Bonita Springs). The adventure continues: immerse yourself in nature at Lovers Key State Park, admire the masterpieces at Bob Rauschenberg Gallery, and relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas.

To find more things to do, other places to visit, ratings, and tourist information, use the Fort Myers Beach trip planner.

Fort Myers Beach is just a stone's throw from Sanibel Island. In June, plan for daily highs up to 91°F, and evening lows to 74°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 16th (Fri) so you can go by car to Marco Island.

Marco Island is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States, located on an island by the same name in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Southwest Florida. On the 17th (Sat), get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports and then enjoy the sand and surf at Tigertail Beach.

To see photos, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, refer to the Marco Island online driving holiday planner.

You can drive from Fort Myers Beach to Marco Island in 1.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Expect a daytime high around 90°F in June, and nighttime lows around 74°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 17th (Sat) so you can fly back home.