Travel Planner: Stuart, FL

Addison Mizner built this Mediterranean-style hotel in 1926, and additions over time have created this sparkling, sprawling resort. There are many lodging options: traditional rooms are small but warmly decorated; beachfront rooms are light, airy, and contemporary; yacht-club rooms are the most luxurious, with custom-designed Venetian-style canopy beds and carved gold-leaf lamps. The beach is accessible by shuttle. In addition to a redesigned golf course with a two-story clubhouse, there's an expansive tennis and fitness center and the largest spa in Florida. It has 44 treatment rooms reserved for guests and offers treatments that take advantage of local flora. Chef Angela Hartnett opened a restaurant here, immediately drawing locals. Pros:

historical property; loaded with luxury; plenty of activities.

all this luxury is costly; conventions crowd common areas. www.bocaresort.com. 1,047 rooms, 134 suites, 60 1-bedroom bungalows. In-room: a/c, safe, kitchen (some), Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurants, bars, golf course, pools, tennis courts, gym, water sports, children's programs, parking. Credit cards accepted.

If golf is your game, this smaller resort is an excellent choice. Guests can play the outstanding course at the adjoining Ocean Breeze Golf & Country Club, otherwise available only to club members. Rooms are in a three-story building, and most have a patio or balcony. Pros:

great spot for golfers; bargain rates.

rooms are dated. www.oceanbreezegolf.com. 46 rooms. In-room: a/c. In-hotel: restaurant, golf course, pool, tennis courts, laundry facilities, parking. Credit cards accepted.

Despite its name, this triple-tower landmark is actually in Manalapan, halfway between Palm Beach and Delray Beach. A huge double-sided marble fireplace dominates the elegant lobby and foreshadows the luxury of the guest rooms, which have richly upholstered furnishings and marble tubs. Most rooms have ocean views, and all have balconies. A 2006 expansion added a 3,000-square-foot oceanfront terrace, a second pool, two restaurants, and a grand spa. Coconut palms shade the pools and courtyard—all of which are served by attendants who can fulfill whims from iced drinks to cool face towels. Pros:

gorgeous rooms; magnificent ocean views; shops across the street.

not close to golf course; 15-minute drive to Palm Beach. www.ritz-carlton.com. 310 rooms. In-room: a/c, safe, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurants, bars, pools, tennis courts, spa, beach, water sports, children's programs, business center, parking. Credit cards accepted.

Here at the museum, which includes the Aldrin Planetarium and McGinty Aquarium, there are hands-on exhibits with touch tanks and laser shows with music by the likes of Dave Matthews. Galaxy Golf is a 9-hole science challenge. Weather permitting you can observe the heavens Friday night through the most powerful telescope in South Florida. www.sfsm.org. Admission: $9, planetarium $4, laser show $5, galaxy golf $2. Hours: Weekdays 10-5, Sat. 10-6, Sun. noon-6.

Drive your own vehicle along 8 mi of paved roads through a 500-acre cageless zoo with a thousand free-roaming animals. Lions, elephants, white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, chimpanzees, and ostriches are among the wild things in residence. Lions are fenced away from roads, but there's a good chance you'll have a giraffe or two nudging at your window. Exhibits include the Kalahari, designed after a South African bush plateau and containing water buffalo and nilgai (the largest type of Asian antelope), and the Gir Forest, modeled after a game forest in India and showcasing a pride of lions. (For obvious reasons, no convertibles or pets are allowed.) A walk-through area has bird feeding and a petting zoo. You can also take a pontoon-boat tour, go paddle boating, play miniature golf, or send the kids off to the play area with rides and sports fields. There's also a restaurant and a snack shop. www.lioncountrysafari.com. Admission: $26; $5 parking fee. Hours: Daily 9:30-5:30; last entrance 4:30.

Dating from 1896 and on the National Register of Historic Places, this Italian Renaissance-style resort, owned by Henry Flagler's heirs, sprawls over 140 oceanfront acres. Cupids frolic at the main Florentine fountain, and majestic frescoes grace hallways leading to restaurants. For added luxury, cabanas come with personal concierge. More than an opulent hotel, the Breakers is a modern resort packed with amenities, from a 20,000-square-foot luxury spa and beach club to clubhouses for the 10 tennis courts and two 18-hole golf courses. One of the most extensive wine collections in the world is housed here, keeping the hotel's three sommeliers busy. Pros:

fine attention to detail throughout; beautiful room views; top-rate golf and tennis facilities.

big price tag. www.thebreakers.com. 540 rooms, 68 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurants, bars, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, beach, water sports, children's programs, business center, parking. Credit cards accepted.

With five championship courses, this resort has hosted more championship tournaments than any other golf destination in the country. A top-to-bottom renovation has made the facilities even more attractive, as is clear once you step into the massive clubhouse. But while golf is a big draw, only 40% of guests are golfers. The rest come for the other amenities, such as the extensive sports facilities, the excellent dining, and the 240-acre nature preserve. At the pool, simply raise a flag and a server rushes over to take your drink order. The spa is in a building styled after a Mediterranean fishing village, and six outdoor therapy pools are joined by a collection of imported mineral saltwater pools. Guest rooms have luxurious maple furnishings, flat-screen TVs, and private balconies. Pros:

short drive to shopping; excellent service; top choice for outdoors enthusiasts.

not on the beach; expensive rates. www.pgaresort.com. 280 rooms, 59 suites. In-room: a/c, safe, kitchen (some), Internet. In-hotel: restaurants, bars, golf courses, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, parking. Credit cards accepted.

With a 77-slip marina, a full water-sports program, a golf course and tennis courts, and a wide range of restaurants, this self-contained resort is excellent for families. Many of the rooms are in a trio of four-story buildings that form an open courtyard with a large pool. Additional rooms and apartments are scattered throughout the 200-acre property; some overlook the Intracoastal Waterway, others gaze at the ocean or tropical gardens. Pros: attentive staff; challenging golf course. Cons: drinks at the pool bar are very pricey. www.marriott.com. 213 rooms, 70 suites. In-room: a/c, kitchen (some), Internet. In-hotel: restaurants, bars, golf course, pools, tennis courts, gym, spa, beach, laundry facilities, parking, some pets allowed. Credit cards accepted.