Southwest Florida | Tranquil vacationer & retiree paradise
Southwest Florida boasts endless sandy beaches, turquoise waters and a warm climate all year round. It is particularly known for its relaxed atmosphere as a retiree’s paradise. From Naples to Fort Myers to Sarasota, many seniors enjoy their retirement in the sun. Whether it’s water sports, golf or relaxing beach days, southwest Florida is the perfect place to live and vacation.
Anyone traveling through Florida without making a stop in the southwest is missing out on the tranquility of the state. Countless turquoise-colored and much more secluded beaches than those in the east invite you to relax. Even the water in the Gulf of Mexico is temperate and ideal for traveling with children. The area is prosperous and inhabited by very friendly people.
It’s easy to strike up a conversation because there is probably more time here than on the Atlantic – at least that’s how it seems. Many Germans or Americans of German descent can be found or those who have a close or distant relative who has been to Germany or comes from our home country. If you really want to get to know the region, you should plan to spend a week here. You could easily spend an entire vacation here.
Something for everyone in Southwest Florida
For sun-seekers, the islands strung together like a string of pearls with their gleaming white and/or shell beaches invite you to take a break. Families can still afford to rent a vacation home here, for example in Cape Coral. From the city of canals, the best way to discover the dreamlike surroundings of Sanibel, Captiva or Lovers Key is to spend several days on a boat.
Fishing enthusiasts have to decide whether they would rather fight with the tarpons or catch a catfish for sure. If you don’t see dolphins on a boat trip, you haven’t been looking. Seagulls, sandpipers, herons, pelicans, manatees and many, many fish are constant companions in the area and will be sorely missed on the journey home.
In Fort Meyers , those interested in technology can get up close and personal with the inventors of the past, while their fellow teenagers party on the surf and sand of Fort Myers Beach. Culture vultures are guaranteed to find what they are looking for in Sarasota. John Ringling and his circus of yesteryear also delight children here.
Sophisticated ladies can let the platinum cards of their companions ring in Italian flair. And the less well-heeled ladies can renew their collections in one of the large shopping centers located very close to each other. Afterwards, it’s certainly more fun to take a look at the multi-million dollar villas along the Naples coast.
Everything your heart desires
From the bed to the pool to breakfast by the canal to the boat with the fishing rod to the beach to the fish restaurant to the bar: that’s a brief summary of the perfect day on vacation in Southwest Florida. Anyone who claims that American food is unhealthy and fattening because it is dominated by fast food is right, but here on the Gulf Coast you will find fine, healthy cuisine or, if you are self-catering, great local produce in the supermarkets.
Freshly caught fish, juicy steaks and tropical fruit dominate the menu. There are some very good restaurants in the area, but they are not so easy to find. Once you’ve finally found one and enjoy a mega-fresh, juicy grouper sandwich with herb-buttered gulf shrimp on the beach at sunset, you’ll know why you chose the American Gulf Coast over the Mediterranean region.
Even the water-shy will get their money’s worth: there are virtually tons of perfectly maintained golf courses in the region. Gasparilla Island even looks like a whole large golf course with residents. The golf cart seems to be the number one means of transportation on the island, which many celebrities also appreciate. Those who don’t dare to play on the lawn can visit one of the many beautifully laid out mini golf courses. The little ones will also enjoy this, as long as you can get them away from the shallow bathtub water on the beach.