Gulf Coast Holidays

There are some fantastic Gulf Coast beaches. These sandy shores aren’t just the best in Florida – they’re the best in the whole of the USA. Clearwater Beach takes the crown, with its turquoise waters and pearly shore. You can swim in the clear-as-could-be sea, or paddle out in a kayak and admire the shore from afar. Families will find plenty of child-friendly restaurants, too, while couples can sip cocktails in the beachfront bars.

Charming St Pete Beach is another popular stop on Gulf Coast holidays. You can learn to surf or jet-ski, go on a dolphin-watching trip, and dip your toes in the balmy Gulf of Mexico. Further south, Sanibel Island is ideal for families with its pretty shell-speckled beaches, playgrounds and picnic tables. Or you could head to Fort Myers Beach for endless watersports. Meanwhile, Barefoot Beach County Preserve – just north of Naples – regularly crops up on lists of the ‘Best Beaches in America’ thanks to its sugary dunes, which are criss-crossed by scenic boardwalks.

The beaches are undoubtedly the main draw of Gulf Coast holidays, but there’s plenty more to discover. Keen golfers will be in their element, as this part of Florida is peppered with manicured fairways and greens. The area surrounding Naples, in particular, has dozens of courses to choose from, including Old Corkscrew Golf Club – designed by Jack Nicklaus – and the hugely popular Naples Grande Golf Club.
If nature’s more your thing, why not watch wild dolphins playing in the clear waters around Fort Myers Pier?

Alternatively, see some of the USA’s famous animals in J.N ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, where you might spy bald eagles, alligators and bobcats. Or take a boat trip to Pine Island in search of gentle manatees and loggerhead turtles.

Thanks to the Gulf Coast’s tropical climate, you can also expect to find lots of interesting gardens here. In St Petersburg, you can stroll around the Sunken Gardens amidst 50,000 exotic plants, along with tumbling waterfalls and a butterfly house. Or head south of Clearwater to Florida Botanical Gardens. This place boasts more than 25 gardens, with sections dedicated to roses, butterflies and tropical plants.

The cities along Florida’s Gulf Coast feature all sorts of things to do. Naples is ideal for shopaholics, and children of all ages will love Naples Zoo. Elsewhere, baseball fans will love the games on offer at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, where the Boston Red Sox play every winter. 

If you’re into culture, though, make tracks for the museums dotted across Clearwater and St Pete. You can visit the Dali Museum, Morean Arts Center and the St Petersburg Museum of History.

Foodies should also do a beer-tasting in at least one of St Pete’s craft breweries. Make sure you try a freshly poured Florida Weisse – it’s the most popular beer in Tampa Bay.

Speaking of Tampa, this large city has loads going on. If you’re taking the kids on holiday, you can make the most of the fantastic waterparks and theme parks, including Adventure Island® and Busch Gardens® Tampa. Alternatively, catch a dazzling show at Straz Center or stroll around the Tampa Museum of Art.

Holidays to the Gulf Coast are best planned between December and May, when this part of Florida is generally dry and sunny. Temperatures hover between the late teens and mid-twenties, and the Gulf of Mexico remains balmy enough for swimming and watersports. Clearwater and Fort Myers are popular destinations for spring break, though, so the weeks around Easter can be crowded – and perhaps livelier than you may like. So if you’re keen to avoid the crowds and enjoy great weather, March or May is your best bet.

Summer is when American holidaymakers flock to Florida, so you can expect the Gulf Coast to be busy. Between June and August, temperatures soar to the mid-thirties. And the humidity can become very uncomfortable, so this time of year may not suit everyone, especially families travelling with young children. June to November is officially hurricane season, too, so you can expect intermittent downpours and tropical storms.