Plantation-Style Comfort on the Florida Coast

Lush green grass rolls out from under crisp white, open-air verandas, and overhead, an unseen bird breaks into song from atop a stately palm tree. Visitors take in this placid beauty while stepping through the front doors of the Pirate's Cove Resort & Marina, marveling at the plantation-style palace's soaring wooden ceilings, effortless Floridian style, and prime location on the water next to boats bobbing in the private marina.

The spacious, tropically decorated standard room welcomes tired travelers and any toted-along pets ($20 extra/night) with its blooming floral prints and laid-back white wicker furnishings. A large, private balcony overlooking the pool invites in balmy ocean air, and king-, queen-, or full-size beds sit waiting for the moment when guests decide to unwind. Relaxing indoor getaways begin as TVs click on via remote control or mind control, laptops log onto complimentary in-room Internet, and a mini fridge cools drinks from the hotel's gift shop.

After waking up to a glowing pink sunrise, adventurers can head downstairs, where the lobby beckons with a hubbub of activity. A complimentary continental breakfast sates hungry diners, promising to fuel the day's dips in the outdoor pool or the night's open-air dancing at the on-site Pirate's Loft Restaurant, which proffers seafood-centric lunch and dinner, live music, an attached tiki bar, and sweeping views of the marina.

Stuart, Florida: Charming Historical Downtown Alongside Tropical Beaches

The Pirate's Cove Resort sits directly on the Manatee Pocket, an inlet of the Atlantic Sea dotted with restaurants, fishing charters, and marinas—one of which is owned by The Pirate's Cove, hosts boat-trailer parking at no extra charge, and opens directly into nearby waterways. Nearby, explorers board tour boats for a half or full day of guided nature watching—sea turtles, manatees, and bottle-nosed dolphins all frolic in the state's warm, clear waters. Beaches, too, are a popular way to spend the afternoon, as Stuart's strips of sand are expansive, white, clean, and relatively uncrowded. After rinsing off the suntan oil and demolishing several sandcastles, visitors can head to historical downtown Stuart, where sumptuous flowers and fountains gild quaint shops, tempting restaurants, and elegantly preserved old theaters.