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Best of the Best Bucket List 2025

Enjoy these award-winners for your best stay ever.

Best of the Best Bucket List 2025

Bowman's Beach

Where to Get Your Beach Fix

The stunning natural beauty and historic charm of Sanibel Island and Captiva Island offers an escape that’s sure to steal your heart. Unwind on pristine Bowman’s Beach, where gentle waves sooth the soul, seashells blanket the shores and magical sunsets fill the sky. And don't miss popular Fort Myers Beach, boasting powdery white sand and festive dining and nightlife.

Sanibel Island

Accolades for Sanibel and Captiva Islands

  • Travel + Leisure Readers' Favorite Islands in the Continental U.S.
  • Sanibel Island - Travel + Leisure's 50 Places to Travel in 2025 and Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2025 - Top Island 

Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Island

Accolades for Bowman's Beach

  • #6 Best Beach in Florida - USA Today 10Best
  • #9 National Geographic’s 100 Beaches of a Lifetime
  • Condé Nast Traveler’s 21 Best Beaches in Florida

Kids running on Fort Myers Beach

Accolades for Fort Myers Beach

  • World Atlas named Fort Myers Beach one of 2025's 10 Best Small Towns to Visit in Florida 

Where to Stay

Where to Stay

For a romantic island getaway, escape to the reimagined South Seas resort on Captiva Island. From expansive homes and villas, elevated experiences and refreshed amenities to 2.5 miles of stunning shoreline and wildlife preserves, South Seas offers an unparalleled mix of luxury and natural beauty.

South Seas resort

South Seas was named one of Florida's Most Romantic Getaway Destinations for Couples by Travel + Leisure. 

Indulge in a stay at the historic Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, an elegant island enclave, family owned and operated, with a century-long tradition of southern hospitality: “Our guest’s loyalty and enthusiasm inspire everything we do.”

Gasparilla Inn

The Gasparilla Inn won the #1 spot on Travel + Leisure Readers' 15 Favorite Resorts in Florida, surpassing thousands of other resorts in the state. It also made the list for Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2025 - Top 15 Resorts in Florida.

Every whim is answered within steps at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, a sanctuary of total relaxation. Treat yourself to a massage at the spa then meander down the lazy river while the kids enjoy the waterslides.

Lazy river at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point

The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa also received rave reviews from Travel + Leisure Readers, ranking #13 on their list of favorite resorts in Florida, as well as Condé Nast readers, also ranking #13 on their list of Top 15 Resorts in Florida.

Nothing rekindles romance like charming Sanibel Island, and the historic Island Inn awaits to sweep you off your feet with $250,000 in upgrades and enhancements. Reconnect under magical sunsets and swaying coconut palms at this idyllic retreat right on the beach.

Island Inn on Sanibel Island

Island Inn also made Travel + Leisure's list of Florida's Most Romantic Getaway Destinations for Couples.

Where to Dine

How about one of the most romantic restaurants in America? Revel in the intimate setting of Angelina's Ristorante and raise a glass to the good life. 

Angelina's Ristorante

Angelina's was named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in the Country and has earned the coveted Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence every year since 2012. 

Cabbage Key Restaurant

Accolades for Cabbage Key Restaurant

Enjoy breezy vibes and a cheeseburger at Cabbage Key Restaurant.

  • No. 5 on TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards for Best Hidden Gems
  • On USA TODAY Network’s List of Charmingly Historic Restaurants

Where to Explore

Where to Explore

Tour the historic winter homes, acres of botanical gardens and fascinating inventions of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford at Edison and Ford Winter Estates.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates

This charming attraction was accredited by The American Alliance of Museums for its quality and credibility, one of only 1,122 museums to earn this honor out of 30,000+ museums across the U.S.

Visit Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery in Cape Coral for a complimentary tour (Tuesdays through Saturdays) to learn how they create their award-winning rums and enjoy tastings. You can also enjoy a variety of refreshing rum cocktails in their Wicked Garden tiki bar.

Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery

The Wicked Dolphin was named the #1 craft rum distillery in the nation by USA Today's 10BEST readers' poll 2025.

Getting Here

Breeze Airways was named #3 domestic airline in Travel + Leisure's World Best Awards and one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. Southwest Florida International Airport here in Fort Myers is one of Breeze's base of operations and offers affordable, nonstop and direct flights to and from 30 cities in the U.S.