Florida’s 5 Sexiest Off-Shore Islands

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A peacock struts about the Fisher Island Club. (Photo: Handout)

By Beth Landman

At the tail end of a punishing winter, an island’s sun and seclusion provide the perfect relief.

Most options require a long haul,change of planes, and a passport, but you don’t need to leave the U.S. to find a peaceful sandy enclave surrounded by the sea — Florida has a wealth of retreats off the mainland that offer the perfect balance of action and relaxation.

Here are five easy-to-reach Sunshine State isles to check out now.

Fisher Island

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The spa at the Fisher Island Club. (Photo: Brantley Photography)

You instantly feel privileged stepping off the 7½-minute ferry ride from South Beach onto this intensely private property that Carl Fisher foolishly traded away to William K Vanderbilt for his yacht.

The Fisher Island Club (from $1,150) has just 15 keys; the island’s other occupants are all residents. Since each guest needs a code to board the boat, and resort staff know everyone’s name from day one, there is a sense that you could leave your wallet on the sand, come back two days later and find it in the same place.

A recent $60 million renovation has elevated the resort to a new level: Villas and historic cottages have been renovated with light stone floors, restored chandeliers and private patios equipped with Jacuzzis. The beach club has also been given an update and the spa spruced up. Peacocks and pink flamingos roam freely on the grounds, and there is an aviary filled with colorful tropical birds.

Guests are given golf carts to cruise around the 216-acre island — to head to the general store (which looks like a mini Citarella), drive along the coast or hit the links. If you prefer tennis, there are courts of every surface that were good enough for Serena Williams to practice on this winter. You can walk for an hour on the beach and rarely run into another soul; so it’s a bit of culture shock to go from one end of the island where you look out at endless water, to another where you can see the Miami cityscape.

If you tire of the tranquility, the party scene is just a ferry ride away.

Related: The Perfect Game Plan for 3 Islands on the Florida Keys

Key Biscayne

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Poolside at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. (Photo: Ric Stovall)

About a half hour southwest of South Beach, Key Biscayne has served as a retreat for men as disparate as President Nixon and Brad Pitt, and is home to the Miami Open (through April 5). From the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne (from $499), take a two-mile run or bike ride past Crandon Park to the oldest lighthouse in Florida and climb to the top for a spectacular view of the island.

The hotel boasts the largest tennis center of any Ritz-Carlton in the world, as well as separate pools for families and adults, and a beautifully appointed spa. The resort’s beach has that sense of isolation islands are all about, and extremely shallow water at the shore allows you to walk far out on the ocean without losing footing. Oceanfront dining options at the hotel include the casual Mexican Cantina and romantic Italian Cioppino, while the lobby has a new marketplace café.

Club level service has been upgraded this year, so there’s food and beverages provided throughout the day. A private concierge is so attentive you’ll feel like you have a personal assistant.

Related: The World’s Most Irresistible Islands

Singer Island

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An indulgent spa treatment at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort and Spa. (Photo: Jeff Herron)

Originally purchased by Paris Singer, son of sewing machine creator Isaac Singer, this peninsula is just three miles from North Palm Beach and close to the new Harbourside complex of shops and dining options, which include the fun Tommy Bahama restaurant and Tiger Woods’ first eatery, due in May.

The Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island (from $429) is a chic all-suite resort with a tony spa, waterfront restaurant, and creative activities. Beginning this month, you can watch baby turtles hatch on the beach and scramble to the ocean, or try flying via a futuristic jetpack that propels you up to 30 feet above or below the water’s surface.

Staff organizes treasure hunts for kids — handing out metal detectors to help them find prizes that have been buried in the sand. It’s worth going off-property, to Riviera Beach, on Thursday nights for Sunset Celebration, where local bands and vendors gather, or every other Friday night when food trucks serve items like fried lobster sushi rolls.

Longboat Key

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Play in the surf at the beachfront Resort at Longboat Key Club. (Photo:  Don Riddle)

There are few things more magical than doing morning asanas on the beach while watching dolphins frolic in the water, but if yoga isn’t for you, there are lots of other physical pursuits on this barrier island surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, about a half mile from downtown Sarasota.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club (from $499), the island’s premier hotel, offers 50 fitness classes each week, a 9½-mile jogging and biking path, two golf courses, tennis, a pool overlooking the sea and a large marina.

The property has six restaurants and two lounges of its own, but if you want to venture off property, there is complimentary shuttle service to St. Armands Circle, a collection of 130 galleries, shops, restaurants and bars just 10 minutes away.

Also close by is the Mote Marine Aquarium and the Ringling Museum. Where else can you find a hybrid of fine art and circus memorabilia?

Related: Hiding From the Weather: Island Retreats for Hurricane Season

Marco Island

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The palmed entrance at the Marco Island Marriott. (Photo: Handout)

East Coasters can only marvel at the sheer width of white powder beaches on this 24-square-mile island, just a short drive from Naples.

The Marco Island Marriott (from $669) has an optimal vantage point at the center of a three-mile crescent of sand; since it was built before the Carter Wetlands act, there’s no sea grass or boardwalk to separate you from the Gulf. The hotel takes advantage of its exotic feel, lining the beach with grass huts and positioning rooms to gaze over the vast panorama.

The island’s focus is on water activities, so the nights tend to be low-key. Don’t miss para-sailing, which takes you 300 feet in the air and offers a bird’s-eye vista, or a WaveRunner tour of the surrounding 10,000 islands — all except Marco are uninhabited, so you can stroll, go shelling and hear only the sounds of the sea.

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