The Corridors: the Gulf Coast from Miami to Pensacola

Miami stretches along the south-eastern coast of Florida, overlooking turquoise waters and blessed by a subtropical climate that makes it one of the most beloved seaside destinations in the United States. A glamorous and deeply Latin city, it blends the energy of its beaches with an effervescent cultural and nightlife scene. Its emblem is Miami Beach, the barrier island linked to the mainland by scenic causeways, home to the historic district of South Beach. Here, along Ocean Drive, the famous pastel-coloured Art Déco buildings line up beside open-air restaurants and white-sand beaches dotted with brightly painted lifeguard cabins. The neighbourhood of Little Havana, heart of the Cuban community, offers the city's most authentic flavour: along Calle Ocho the air fills with salsa music, the scent of coffee and cigars, while the cafés serve traditional Caribbean dishes. Further north, the Design District and Wynwood reign as the realm of contemporary art and street art, with spectacular murals and avant-garde galleries. Modern Downtown, with its mirror-clad skyscrapers, looks out over Biscayne Bay, from where boat excursions set off towards exclusive islands and floating residential enclaves. Miami is also a gateway to extraordinary natural wonders: a short distance away lie the Everglades, a boundless park of marshes and mangroves teeming with alligators, and the Florida Keys, the coral archipelago reaching south along a scenic overseas highway. Between beaches, luxury shopping, fusion cuisine and an atmosphere that pulses day and night, Miami invites you to live the very best of the American tropical lifestyle.

Only one road, the Overseas Highway, with an endless series of bridges, connects these long and narrow islets from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico. The first and northernmost of the Florida Keys, Key Largo is the gateway to this tropical archipelago, linked to the mainland by the scenic Overseas Highway. Known as the “diving capital of the world,” it owes its fame to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater park in the United States, which protects a vibrant coral reef teeming with colourful fish, turtles and shipwrecks. The crystal-clear waters invite snorkelling, diving and boat trips, while the sunsets over the bay offer unforgettable colours. Among mangroves, lagoons and a cinematic atmosphere — the famous “Key Largo” with Humphrey Bogart was partly filmed here — the island is a paradise for lovers of the sea and the outdoors. A short distance from Key Largo is Islamorada, a paradise island with sparkling blue waters, fabulous restaurants with sea views, and unparalleled fresh seafood. The island is a perfect stop on the way to Key West. Key West closes the Florida Keys archipelago to the south, the southernmost point of the continental United States only 90 miles from Cuba, where the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico. Linked to the mainland by the scenic Overseas Highway, which glides over the sea for more than 160 kilometres, it is an island with a Caribbean soul and a free spirit. The streets of Old Town are lined with colonial wooden houses, including the Hemingway Home where the writer lived with his six-toed cats. Each evening Mallory Square celebrates the sunset with street performers and music. Crystal-clear waters invite snorkelling along the only living coral reef in North America, while local cuisine offers conch fritters and the inevitable key lime pie. Amid pastel colours and a bohemian atmosphere, Key West is an invitation to the tropical dolce vita.

Only one road, the Overseas Highway, with an endless series of bridges, connects these long and narrow islets from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico. The Everglades extend into the far south of Florida, in a vast and unique ecosystem of marshes, mangroves and freshwater prairies protected as a national park. Nicknamed the river of grass, they are the realm of alligators, manatees, herons and an extraordinary tropical biodiversity. Among airboat tours, raised boardwalks and silent canals, they offer total immersion in subtropical wild nature. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Naples stretches along the southwestern coast of Florida, a refined seaside resort facing the Gulf of Mexico. Its beaches of fine white sand, lapped by calm warm waters, are famous for the sunsets that set the sky ablaze each evening, admired from the city's long pier. Elegant Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South are home to boutiques, art galleries and fine restaurants, while tropical gardens and palms set the town's unhurried rhythm. A short distance away open the vast expanses of the Everglades and the Big Cypress preserve, realm of alligators, manatees and extraordinary wildlife, explored by boat or aboard the characteristic airboats. Golf, fishing and sunset cruises round out the appeal of a sophisticated destination. Naples is the most elegant and relaxed face of Florida's Gulf Coast.

A bridge connects the island of Sanibel to the mainland. On Sanibel, you can experience the Florida of the past, before the advent of mass tourism and skyscrapers. The vegetation is dense, the streets are quiet, there are no traffic lights, and the beaches are covered in seashells. Don't miss the Darling National Wildlife Refuge to observe alligators, birds, and other wildlife. Sarasota rises on Florida's Gulf Coast, a refined seaside town blending white-sand beaches, culture and a laid-back atmosphere. Its emblem is Siesta Key, repeatedly named among America's finest beaches for its powder-soft, dazzling white sand, perfect for long sunset walks and swims in the warm Gulf waters. At the heart of city life stands The Ringling, the legacy of circus magnate John Ringling: the opulent Venetian-style mansion Ca' d'Zan overlooking the bay, an art museum with Baroque masterpieces and a museum devoted to circus history form a unique complex. Nearby, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens hold an extraordinary collection of orchids and epiphytes among mangroves and waterfront gardens. The historic Towles Court district, with its colourful houses turned into galleries and studios, captures the city's artistic soul, while downtown offers fresh seafood restaurants, Gulf catch and a lively cultural scene of theatres and festivals. Sarasota is the ideal destination for those seeking sea, art and the good life under the Florida sun.

Fine white sand and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico make St Pete Beach one of the most beloved seaside resorts on Florida's west coast, set on a slender barrier island just a few kilometres from St. Petersburg and Tampa. Its beaches, regularly ranked among the best in the United States, invite days of pure relaxation amid umbrellas, water sports and spectacular sunsets over the horizon. The town's symbol is the historic Don CeSar, an elegant pink Mediterranean-style hotel nicknamed the "Pink Castle," an icon since the 1920s. Along Pass-a-Grille, the charming historic district, colourful houses, boutiques and fresh seafood restaurants line the streets. From here it is easy to reach Fort De Soto Park, with its pristine beaches and mangrove trails, or the museums and vibrant arts scene of St. Petersburg. St Petersburg faces Tampa Bay along Florida's Gulf coast, a sunny city known for its lively arts and cultural scene. The famous Dalí Museum holds the largest collection of the surrealist master outside Spain, while the waterfront, murals and creative neighbourhoods enliven the centre. The white beaches nearby and an enviable climate round out the appeal.

Clearwater Beach stretches along Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast, home to one of the most famous white-sand beaches in the United States. Its calm turquoise waters and blazing sunsets make it a quintessential seaside destination, with the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival bringing buskers and craft stalls to the waterfront. From the heart of town you can stroll the lively Beach Walk promenade, lined with palms, seafood restaurants and waterfront bars. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, devoted to rescuing dolphins and sea turtles, is a family favourite, while the marina offers dolphin-watching trips and sunset cruises. The warm waters are ideal for snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding, and just offshore lie the unspoiled barrier islands of Caladesi and Honeymoon, natural havens reached by ferry. Clearwater Beach is the perfect portrait of sunny Florida, blending lazy days on the sand with easy living overlooking the Gulf. Crystal River is a picturesque town on the Gulf coast of north-central Florida, famed worldwide as one of the few places where it is possible to swim with manatees. Each winter hundreds of these gentle marine mammals gather in the warm-water springs of Kings Bay and Three Sisters Springs, creating a unique nature experience. The area also offers kayaking, snorkelling and fishing among crystalline springs and mangroves. Between manatees, transparent waters and protected nature, Crystal River is an authentic sanctuary of Floridian aquatic wildlife.

Wakulla Springs preserves, in northern Florida, one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, the heart of a state park of rare beauty. Its crystal-clear waters host manatees, alligators and abundant wildlife, explorable on evocative cruises among cypresses and water lilies. An imposing subtropical forest frames the scene. A natural sanctuary where the magic of the springs and the wild nature of Florida meet. Apalachicola faces the bay of the same name along Florida's Forgotten Coast, an authentic fishing village famous for its prized oysters. The historic centre preserves period houses, cotton warehouses and workshops, while the harbour and pristine estuaries teem with life. Empty beaches and Gulf sunsets complete its charm. Apalachicola is the ideal destination for those seeking maritime traditions, the freshest seafood and the genuine atmosphere of Florida's forgotten coast.

Destin spreads along Florida's Emerald Coast, famous for its dazzling white-sand beaches and the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Once a fishing village, it is today a lively beach destination nicknamed "the world's luckiest fishing village" for the richness of its waters. Deep-sea fishing, watersports and golden sunsets make it a holiday paradise. Destin is a luminous pearl of the Panhandle coast. Pensacola stretches along Florida's western coast, a city of Spanish origin famous for its bright white sand beaches and emerald waters. The historic centre, with its colonial houses and forts, tells five centuries of different rule, while the naval air station hosts the Blue Angels aerobatic team. Pensacola Beach and the Gulf Islands National Seashore shoreline invite swimming, snorkelling and relaxation. Pensacola is the perfect destination for those seeking white beaches, colonial history and the sun of the Gulf of Mexico.