Follow the sun: pick-up & take-off for 10 great hot-time vacations! From Florida to Arizona, these winter escapes will soothe your soul and thaw your spirit - Cover Story

Travel America, Nov-Dec, 2001 by Diane Bair, Pamela Wright

For many of us, it's not just the icy windshields and sodden skies that get us down when Old Man Winter settles in. It's that sluggish, cabin-fever feeling that does it. What we really miss is playing in the sunshine, whether on our bikes, on a leafy nature trail, on the beach, or on a golf course. (Note to diehard skiers: Yep, tried that. Not the same! And we can't really kick up our heels with those clunky boots on!)

Here are some great winter escapes. Bring your favorite toys, strip off a few layers of fleece, and enjoy!

When the North is covered in white stuff, it's hard to resist the allure of Florida, where the `white stuff' is a baby powder-soft sand. The St. Petersburg-Clearwater area boasts two of the top-rated beaches in America, Caladesi Island State Park and Fort De Soto Park. Those sandy stretches on the Gulf of Mexico make this area one of the grandest places we know to toss a frisbee, play some beach volleyball, and (only if you don't mind looking like a tourist!) take a quick plunge into the foamy, not-terribly-warm stuff. But that's not all. Thanks to the recent completion of the Pinellas Path bike trail, you can pedal your way through several neighboring towns without worrying about traffic. The 37-mile multi-use path meanders through Scots-influenced Dunedin, the Greek fishing village of Tarpon Springs, and more. No need to bring a bike; you can rent one here, and do as much or as little of the trail as you wish.

And if you haven't visited Daytona Beach in a while, get ready for a surprise. The wild spring break party scene has morphed into a mellower landscape that attracts sun-loving families and conventioneers. A convention center and several new high-rise hotels have sprouted on, or near, the famous 23-mile-long, 500-feet-wide beach. That, and the opening of Daytona's own international airport, has made this beachy getaway easier to enjoy than ever. With an average January temperature of mid-60s to low 70s, it's nearly always a good day for surf-fishing. Hard-fighting species like pompano, redfish, flounder, and Jack Crevalle thrive here. Deep-sea fishing is a big deal, too. Rent a boat, or join a charter trip, and get ready for plenty of action. Marlins, especially blues, are abundant in the Gulf Stream. The golfing is great in Daytona Beach, too; in fact, the Ladies Professional Golf Association is headquartered here. There's a beautifully-manicured course nearly everywhere you look, for all skill levels. Whatever you do, don't miss the area's best "hike," a climb to the top of Ponce de Leon Lighthouse, where fabulous views await.

If you prefer a more "Old Florida" feel, consider a destination in the Northwest (Panhandle) section of the Sunshine State. The shimmering white beaches are among the best in the nation, and there's a low-key, casual ambience. The fishing village of Destin makes a lively base for exploring the outdoors here. Great golf, fishing, and shelling are among the enticements, plus they host more than 20 festivals and celebrations each year, so there's always something going on. This region is also rich with state parks and recreation areas. A favorite place to get away from it all--the nature trails at St. Andrews State Park. Just over the East Pass causeway is the pristine Gulf Islands National Seashore, with more great places to wander, picnic, camp, and dolphin-watch.

For a change of pace, head northwest to Tallahassee, Florida's capital city, home to the largest concentration of original Southern plantations in America. (Who knew?) On the way, stop at Wakulla Springs, where everybody takes a glass-bottom boat or river cruise to check out the alligators and anhingas, or snake birds, with their distinctive black-and-white wing feathers that look like piano keys.

Of course, the folks in Tucson, Arizona will tell you that their climate rivals Florida's any day. With an average of 350 sunny days each year and winter high temps of around 70 degrees, it's easy to see why this southern Arizona hotspot earns bragging rights. We like it because it is a truly knock-your-socks-off place to play. The city is spread out over a 500-square-mile valley surrounded by five mountain ranges, making it the ultimate backyard. The Santa Catalina and Chiricahua mountains are sky islands, offering great hiking trails with spectacular views of the desert floor, amidst dazzling vegetation and wildlife. At Saguaro National Park, the giant cacti seem to be waving hello and beckoning you to great hikes to Indian petroglyphs. Saguaro National Park is also a favorite destination for mountain biking, as is Coronado National Forest; ask a ranger for tips on where to go. Rather do it on horseback? Tucson offers numerous riding stables, as well as spreads like White Stallion Guest Ranch, where you can play cowpoke and ride to your heart's content.

If the most exercise you've had lately was walking the path from couch to refrigerator, a visit to Silver City, New Mexico, might be the perfect tonic. Nestled in the foothills of the Pinos Altos Mountains at an elevation of 6,000 feet, Silver City has been ranked as one of the healthiest places to live and retire in the U.S. It does get chilly here in the mountains in winter, but there's plenty of sunshine. Plus, you'll be moving around a lot. There's so much to explore. Silver City is the home of 3.3 million-acre Gila National Forest, one of the nation's largest wilderness areas. Camping, picnicking, and hiking are among the most popular ways to enjoy the park, especially the Catwalk trail, a steel walkway suspended 250 feet above colorful Whitewater Creek canyon. Outfitters are happy to take you deep into the wilderness, on foot or on horseback, for wildlife-watching and nature photography. Outside the forest, check out the awesome volcanic boulders at City of Rocks State Park.