FLORIDA / OFFSHORE SAILING

Offshore Sailing School, 16731 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 800-221-4326; www.offshore-sailing.com. Programs are offered in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and St. Martin. Children must be at least 7; there's no upper age limit.

Learn to sail program: Rates vary. All programs include accommodations; most do not include meals.

• 3-day/5-day course in Fort Myers Beach, Captiva Island, St. Petersburg and Duck Key, $1,500-$1,895 per person/$1,555-$2,360 per person.

• 4-day/6-day course in the British Virgin Islands (Tortola), $1,865-$1,970 per person/$2,055-$2,200 per person.

• Kids Learn Free program from Offshore Sailing School is being held at Hawks Cay in the Florida Keys through Sept. 27. Pay for five nights' accommodations and tuition for two adults, and up to four children ages 7 to 17 can take the five-day Learn to Sail course free. Package for up to six, including taxes, starts at $3,545 for a standard room, $3,905 for a bungalow and $4,070 for a two-bedroom villa; usual cost for a family of six would be $8,725. Course includes morning classroom sessions and afternoon on-water instruction Monday-Thursday, ending with a practice sail without instructor on Friday. Book by May 1. 800-221-4326, www.offshoresailing.com.

Other courses include Bareboat Cruising Preparation, Live-Aboard Cruising, Fast Track to Cruising, Private Live-Aboard Cruising Course for Two, Coastal Navigation, Performance Sailing, Women-Only Sail Escapes and Private Family Learn to Sail and Cruising Courses.

In Fort Myers, lodging is provided at Pink Shell Beach Resort and Spa, 888-222-7465, www.pinkshell.com.

DINING

• Snug Harbor (1131 First St., Fort Myers Beach, 239-463-4343, snugharborrestaurant.com) overlooking Estero Bay, has an outdoor deck and mainly seafood menu, with everything from local grouper to Alaskan snow crab legs, plus a small selection of pasta and meat dishes. Entrées: $12-$30.

• Cru (13499 South U.S. 41, Bell Tower Shops, Fort Meyers, 239-466-3663, crufoodandwine.com) sits in an unlikely location -- the middle of a shopping mall -- but could blend in perfectly in trendy South Beach. Sit in a ''snug'' and enjoy tapas, sashimi dishes, and a creative selection of entr'es, from sea bass to duck breast. Entrées: $8-$35.

• Doc Ford's Sanibel Rum Bar and Grille (975 Rabbit Rd., Sanibel Island, 239-472-8311, docfordssanibel.com), named after the main character in mystery writer Randy Wayne White's books, is a laid-back, local sports bar that serves surf and turf with a tropical flare. Entrées: $13-$25.

• The Mucky Duck (11546 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva Island, 239-472-3434, muckyduck.com; closed Sundays), located right on the beach, is the place to go for sunset (to see dazzling sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico). Just watch out for the sand flies.