Spacious Rooms Overlooking St. Johns River

The St. Johns River-which neatly slices Jacksonville, Florida, down the middle-is one of the only rivers in America that flows north. Along its banks, the Jacksonville Landing has been attracting residents and visitors for more than 20 years with swanky shops, creative eateries, live-music clubs, and more than 300 special outdoor events held every year. The Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk occupies a prime spot directly across the river from the Landing and in the heart of the city's trendy San Marco entertainment district.

Each standard room in the hotel features contemporary and warm decor, with marigold-yellow walls and golden-hued linens. In the morning, you can head downstairs for a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast in the Wyndham's St. John's Cafe, then snooze peacefully in the sun while suspended in a hammock next to the outdoor pool.

Jacksonville, Florida: Sprawling City with Public Parks and Open Squares

Located in northern Florida 25 miles from the Georgia state line, Jacksonville has the distinction of being the largest city, area-wise, in the United States. This doesn't translate to vast expanses of pavement and canyons of skyscrapers, however. More than 80,000 acres of parkland lie within the city limits, surrounding visitors with lush landscaping and squirrel networking opportunities. A particularly nice park is Tree Hill Nature Center. Located five minutes from downtown, this green space is crisscrossed with 50 acres of trails leading through shady forests.

The neighborhood where the Wyndham is located, San Marco, is one of Jacksonville's oldest. Noted for its 1920s-era Mediterranean Revival homes-featuring balconies, terra-cotta tile roofs, and elaborate carvings-the area rewards sightseers with interesting architecture around every turn. As the sun goes down, head over to the San Marco Square, an open piazza surrounded by upscale restaurants and an old-fashioned movie theater.

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Private Beach Bungalows on Island Off Florida Coast

When Beach'n Place owner Rhonda Wyatt first came to Fort Myers Beach on business in 1994, she decided she had found paradise. The town is set on the 6-mile-long Estero Island, located just off Florida's mainland on the gulf side. Because the strip of land is no wider than a block in most parts, the beach is never more than a short walk away. Thought Wyatt was instantly taken with the sunny locale, it wasn't until 2004 that she made her dream a reality by purchasing the Island Hideaway resort, which includes the fully renovated Beach'n Place bungalows.

Set just a five-minute walk from the shore, Beach'n Place is comprised of seven cozy cottages. Each one-bedroom unit features a full kitchen stocked with appliances, dishes, and utensils. You can venture to nearby restaurants for dinner or stay close to home and have a cookout at one of the courtyard's barbecue grills.

The beach package included with this Getaway supplies everything you'll need for a day on the sand-towels, chairs, an umbrella, a cooler, and all the necessary sandcastle zoning permits. With a two-hour bike rental for two, also included, you can circumnavigate the entire island and explore the area at your own pace.

Fort Myers Beach, FL: Barrier Island Town with Wide, Sandy Beaches

Two bridges connect Estero Island to Florida's mainland, but you may find yourself opting to stay put. One of the biggest draws at Fort Myers Beach is its wide, sandy coastline, which is fronted by a boardwalk with tourist shops and restaurants. A popular way to take in the scenery is to board a kayak and paddle your way through Estero Bay's inlets to glimpse mangroves and dolphins.

At the southern tip of the island, Lovers Key State Park was historically accessible only via boat, but today you can also get there by car or tram. Keep your eyes peeled for the abundant wildlife in the region, home to West Indian manatees, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles.

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Party-Centric Hotel on Florida's West Coast

On a typical weekend night at Bentley's Resort Hotel, crowds gather around the Osprey Beach Pool for live music and cocktails. After a dance by the tiki bar, you can kick back on a couch under one of the poolside palapas. The pool deck is undoubtedly the heart of the hotel, but when the ocean calls, Bentley's provides free transportation to some of the best beaches on Florida's west coast, including Siesta Key-Dr. Beach's best beach of 2011-and Nokomis Beach on Casey Key.

The chef at the hotel's ultra-sleek restaurant, Morgan's, uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create dishes such as grouper piccata. After a stunning sunset on the Gulf coast, the party shifts to the Jaguar Lounge and its adjacent Underground Nightclub, where DJs spin classic soul, top 40, and electronic dreidels. Like the restaurant and nightclub, accommodations at Bentley's are modern and sleek. Bold artwork and modern fixtures adorn the Euro-chic rooms, each one named after a station on the London underground.

South Sarasota: Refuge for Endangered Birds and Artists

Just down the street from Bentley's Resort Hotel, you'll find the entrance to Oscar Scherer State Park, where stands of scrubby flatwood trees serve as a refuge for the threatened Florida scrub jay. Keep an eye out for its sapphire and cream plumage while biking or hiking through the park's trails or canoeing the blackwater South Creek (canoe rentals are available at the ranger station).

Bookstores and art venues are plentiful a few miles up the road in Sarasota, an enclave for artists, writers, and musicians. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall-a frequent host of Broadway and ballet shows-stands out as one of Sarasota's cultural hubs. The building's exterior is entirely purple, and the deep ridges of its iconic modern roof turn lilac in the Florida sun.

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Before the advent of the automobile radio, drivers were forced to listen to the symphony of road-the whistles of the wind, the roar of passing cars, and string solos that follow crashing into a violin store. Enjoy mobile tunes without property damage with this Groupon.

$60 for a Car-Stereo Auxiliary Input with Installation ($127.99 Value)

Technicians update your car's existing stereo deck with an auxiliary input that can handle iPods, MP3 players, satellite radios, and other mobile audio and video devices. The jack comes with an on-off switch, and the $7.99 shop fee is included with this Groupon.

Alarms, Etc.

In addition to their eponymous security systems, Alarms, Etc.'s professional gadget gurus augment autos with name-brand audio equipment, remote starter systems, and window tinting. Cars in need of an audio tune-up can belt crystal-clear tunes with a Kenwood CD player paired with four speakers and an auxiliary port to plug in an iPod, MP3 player, or animatronic Frank Sinatra. Sturdy tinting films block 99% of insidious UV rays, and remote-starter systems help drivers ignite engines from the comfort of the own homes. Alarms, Etc. also helps occupy passengers' minds, with mobile video screens that fit securely in the headrest, broadcasting favorite movies' calming dialogue throughout even the most arduous road trip.

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