Indulge in a private, docent-led tour of the Ringling Museum’s 21 permanent collection galleries and rare collection of Old Masters, including Rubens, Titian, Tintoretto and El Greco. After lunch at the museum’s popular new restaurant, Treviso, you’ll tour the original Circus Museum and then view a contemporary exhibition in the stunning new Searing galleries. $100 per tour, plus admission price. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bayshore Road, Sarasota (941) 359-5700.

Hidden jewels in the bay, our mangrove islands are rich in beauty and wildlife. Capture those sights on a photography boat tour of Siesta Key’s mangrove islands with Capt. Terry Frankford and instructor James Corwin Johnson. You’ll learn techniques and tricks of wildlife action photography and may bring back images of herons, pelicans, egrets, ospreys, roseate spoonbills, dolphins, manatees and even bald eagles diving for mullet. $350 for four hours. Reelin’ & Chillin’ Charters, (941) 228-7802.

Arcadia’s Florida Cracker charm is worth the 45-mile trip. Spend a night at the Historic Parker House Bed and Breakfast, close to the downtown antique district (check out the gracious old Southern homes). Things to do? Try the antique fair every fourth Saturday, the farmer’s market first and third Saturdays, the rodeo in March and July, and the Watermelon Festival in May. Or spend some lazy hours canoeing down the pristine Peace River. $95 a night. Historic Parker House Bed and Breakfast, (863) 494-1060.

For the ultimate offshore thrill, go big game fishing with Capt. Chris Seger in his 40-foot, custom-built sports fishing boat. At 130 miles out, the continental shelf ends and the Gulf drops to depths of 6,000 feet, where blue marlin, Atlantic sunfish, mahi-mahi and tuna await your lure. Fish to your heart’s content, then spend the night telling fish tales beneath twinkling stars in an infinite sky. $3,500 for an overnight trip for four people. Tighlines Sportfishing Charters, (941) 915-4877.

View Sarasota and its environs from high above it all on a sunset sightseeing tour on a Cessna 172. You’ll soar above the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as the sun sets into the Gulf, take in the sights of downtown Tampa and then head south to view the skylines of Sarasota and Naples as dusk falls. Your perspective on our region will never be the same. $179 per hour for up to three passengers. Cirrus Aviation, (941) 360-9074.

A kayak trip to Cabbage Key is the perfect combination of exercise and indulgence. A six-mile paddle takes you to this tiny, picturesque island in Pine Island Sound. Wander nature trails, then enjoy a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” at the rustic Cabbage Key Inn, built by author Mary Roberts Rinehart in 1938. Rumor has it this is where Jimmy Buffett penned his infamous ode to Florida. Be sure to add your George Washington to the wall in the Dollar Bill Bar. $125 without lunch. Almost Heaven Kayak, (941) 504-6296.

Explore the deep blue on a scuba diving experience for two. Your sea quest begins with a chauffeured ride to the dive center. Once geared up, it’s off to the Gulf for an undersea exploration of natural reefs and a shipwreck, followed by a fossilized shark’s teeth hunt. Keep your eyes peeled for goliath grouper and, if you’re lucky, lobster and sea horses. Save your appetite for the catered gourmet lunch. $1,300 for two. Florida Underwater Sports, (941) 870-4461.

Take a backstage tour of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium with a marine biologist who will introduce you personally to the underwater denizens. You’ll get to feed the shark and eels, shake claws with the lobster and meet a manatee. The VIP tour continues with a guided tour of one of Mote’s research centers. $250 for a group of four. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. (941) 388-4441.

Combine raw nature with refined luxury on a four-night exploration of the Everglades. This family-friendly journey includes naturalist-led hikes through Big Cypress National Preserve, kayak eco-tours in Everglades National Park, a fishing trip to a secluded National Park beach, a bike trek through Fakahatchee Strand and a visit to the Museum of the Everglades. Feast on stone crab at local eateries and, after a massage, spend the nights at the charming Everglades Spa and Lodge. $1,000 per person (excluding food) for four nights. Everglades Area Tours, (239) 695-9107.