Florida Gulf Coast: Best Places to Visit for Beaches, Seafood & Wildlife

Florida's Gulf Coast surprised me. After nearly a year on the road, Mr. Misadventures and I spent three weeks working our way down it – I went in a skeptic and came out a fan. If you're planning a trip, these are the four spots I'd send you to first: Fort Myers for nature and parks, Sanibel for the best beaches I've ever walked, Panama City for retro-beach-town seafood, and Tampa for animal adventures. Here's what to do in each.

When planning for our time, Mr. Misadventures said, “There are a few things to do.” He lied. There aren't a few things to do; there is a lot to do, see, and explore on Florida's Gulf Coast, and in the end, I wished we had even more time!

Florida’s Gulf Coast covers a large area, but of particular note are Fort Myers, Sanibel, Panama City and Tampa. I wanted to share a few of our experiences in each one of these cities and encourage you to take some time to discover this unique area of the Southern United States.

Fort Myers – Paradise for Nature Lovers

Fort Myers is a very popular city. It’s got excellent shopping, delicious seafood, and beautiful beaches. Fort Myers also has a great selection of hotels, all close to the main attractions. But what I fell in love with most about this city is its proximity to many county, state, and national parks, perfect for the nature lover.

We spent many mornings walking the boardwalk of the Six Mile Cypress Slough, enjoying the peaceful sounds of bird calls, peeking at alligators, and marveling at the many shades of green in the plants and trees surrounding this manmade oasis. It was a favorite spot of ours during our visit.

We also really loved Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, where we strolled the entire park exploring the Everglades ecosystem and hunting for owls. We didn't find owls, but we saw many exotic birds, cute raccoons, and traces of a bobcat! Plus a gorgeous green dragonfly that stayed still long enough for me to capture him on film.

There are many other parks in the area, and we visited several, including a day trip from
Fort Myers to Everglades National Park; this city is situated so close to everything!

If you are a sports lover, you might consider visiting Fort Myers in February or March when you can check out major league baseball’s Grapefruit League at its best. I’ve only been to games for the Cactus League in the Southwest, so I’d really like to see some games in Florida. It's so fun to see professional baseball players gear up for a new season!

I can’t leave Fort Meyer’s without mentioning at least one food item. Don’t miss stopping by Norman Love Chocolate for an out-of-this-world chocolate experience. These chocolatiers are a Gulf Coast institution for a reason.

Note for 2026: Sanibel and Fort Myers took a hard hit from Hurricane Ian in 2022, but the islands are firmly back – the rebuilt Sanibel Causeway reopened in 2024, most shops and restaurants are open again, and Sanibel even made the New York Times' “52 Places to Go in 2026.” A few spots (like the Lighthouse fishing pier) are still being restored, so check ahead of time.

Sanibel – The Spot of Beach Bliss

It's obvious that Florida has beautiful beaches. People travel from all over the world to enjoy their little spot of sand in front of the turquoise-hued water. But the beaches on Sanibel Island are extraordinary. We enjoyed a late morning at Captiva Beach on Sanibel after doing a driving tour at the nearby J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

The pristinely clean white sand beaches are breathtaking. Parking is convenient, and we walked along the shore, enjoying the warm waves and hunting for sand dollars. I am not a big beach person, but this is the best beach I’ve ever been to, and I can see why people seek out the beaches along Florida’s Gulf Coast. I would definitely return for Sanibel’s beaches.

We visited the Sanibel Lighthouse and stopped for lunch at one of Sanibel’s many grills. It is a wonderful town with a great sense of community and is accessible by car, bike, or by walking around. I loved this little city! Given its small size, every hotel in Sanibel is a gem near the water.

Panama City – Seafood Heaven

While we stayed in Panama City, I felt like we'd stepped back in time to a retro beach town that kept all the best parts of what a classic beach city ought to be. There are great beaches, ice cream everywhere, and fun trolleys to get you around. It's a very popular resort area, and I highly recommend booking one of the many hotels in Panama City early, or you risk being too far from the action!

What I enjoyed most about Panama City was the fresh seafood. There are delicious seafood markets and tons of restaurants where you can enjoy Gulf Coast shrimp, snapper, and crab depending on what time of year it is. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious! Come for the vintage beach town in Panama City, stay for the fresh seafood.

Tampa – Animal Adventures

Before I dive into the animal adventures, you should note that Tampa is a beautiful city with great architecture. If you like night photography, the downtown area is a cool place to take pictures in technicolor.

I have lots of friends who take their kids to Busch Gardens, and they have always raved about it, but we didn't have a lot of time in Tampa, so the time we did spend was focused on animal-related activities such as ZooTampa at Lowry Park, the Florida Aquarium, and the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center (open seasonally, roughly November through mid-April, when manatees gather in the warm water).

On previous trips to Tampa, I took a boat tour on the bay where I saw schools of dolphins and even a sea turtle. The tropical breeze was a much different experience than my bay tours on the San Francisco Bay, where you need about 10 layers of clothing!

The one thing I did regret missing was a visit to the historic Ybor City, a Tampa neighborhood famous for its coffee and hand-rolled cigars, something I'd really like to see. Plus, I hear the Cuban food is to die for! On my next trip to this city, I will get a Tampa hotel close to this area.

That's it! A few reasons why Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Panama City, and Tampa are 4 of the best places to visit on Florida's Gulf Coast. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and will be back again.

How about you? Have you been to Florida's Gulf Coast area? What was your favorite part?

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