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Everyone loves a trip to Florida. But sometimes, the nightlife culture in Miami — or even Key West, to a lesser extent — just doesn’t hit the mark for total and utter relaxation. When you just want — scratch that, need — to bliss out on a pristine beach where the aquamarine water laps the soft sand, Gasparilla Island delivers.
Ideal for a family vacation, romantic getaway, or girls weekend, this low-key barrier island on the southwest coast of the Sunshine State is a splendid place for catching rays, collecting shells, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, and leisurely strolling along the seaside. It’s also steeped in Florida folklore. Legend has it, the island was named after the mythical Spanish swashbuckler José Gaspar (nicknamed Gasparilla), who terrorized the waters during Florida’s second Spanish period.
Travel + Leisure