CHARLOTTE HARBOR, Fla. - My friends and I had enough of grumpy husbands, psycho cats, goofy dogs, piles of laundry, grocery shopping, and for two of us, kids -- so Paula and Deborah (the two with kids) and me (the one with psycho kitties) decided to hit the road for a girlfriends' getaway.

We wanted nothing more to worry about than just how deeply we would stick our toes into the white sands of Gulf Coast beaches, how many rum cocktails we would sample and how much seafood we could devour without sending our daily caloric intake into orbit.

No place was better suited for us than Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Islands of Florida, a short drive from either Sarasota or Fort Myers. We flew into Sarasota, then rented a snazzy convertible.

Deborah's friend Rebecca, who lives in Charlotte Harbor, joined us and became not only our instant pal, but also our local guide during our few days in Florida.

We began our getaway at Palm Island Resort, a secluded barrier island resort accessible only by ferry, where we had rented a three-bedroom condominium. With incredible views of the Gulf of Mexico landscape -- turquoise water, silvery sands, azure skies, tangerine-and-strawberry-hued sunsets, coral-colored shells and nonstop green foliage -- we couldn't have selected a better home base.

Serene Charlotte Harbor comprises the seaside communities of Boca Grande, Don Pedro Island, Punta Gorda, Englewood-Cape Haze, El Jobean, Manasota Key, Palm Island, Placida and Port Charlotte.

The real enticement to visit Charlotte is the sheer volume of things to do, especially if you're a sun worshipper and a water baby. The area has 830 miles of shoreline that includes 200 miles of Blueway Trails for canoeing and kayaking adventures.

If you've never tried your hand at kayaking, this is the place for peaceful pilgrimages among the mangrove-edged sounds, creeks, rivers and bays. The sport is easy enough, and if you're fortunate like us, you might come upon a few manatees, dolphins or spectacularly pink roseate spoonbills sharing the journey with you.

And there's no need to be apprehensive about kayaking, for if four very young-minded yet sort of middle-age ladies can do it without bumping into a manatee, crashing into one another, or flipping over and going bottoms up, then it's a fair guarantee that anyone can do it. And there's more:

Swimming? The warm, clear Gulf of Mexico is inviting.

Boating, sailing and cruising? Yep, with rentals and charters for saltwater and freshwater excursions.

Fishing? Just bring your pole or rent equipment locally, then cast for trophies such as redfish and tarpon.

Golf? Duh! This is Florida.

Nature? Ha! Just try not to see an exotic bird, slow-moving manatee or other wildlife as you bike, hike, swim or generally explore Charlotte County's profuse beaches and nature centers.

Seeking food? Then seafood! As a semivegetarian, I was as happy as a fat clam with both the quantity and quality of seafood restaurants.

My friends are definitely not vegetarian of any sort, so rest assured all the usual suspects such as steak, chicken and pork dishes are available, but it's almost purely sinful not to taste the local seafood specialties such as scallops, shrimp and grouper pulled fresh from these waters.

Our stops included the acclaimed Rum Bay Restaurant on Palm Island; the historic Fishery Restaurant; a light gourmet lunch of quiche and dessert at Punta Gorda's amazing Pies & Plates; and a fine sunset meal at Portofino Waterfront Dining.

We also factored into our fun equation shopping and spas.

In the quaint shopping districts of Punta Gorda, Boca Grande and Englewood-Cape Haze, we found eclectic boutiques and specialty shops brimming with all kinds of goodies, including jewelry, handcrafted clothing, artwork and kitchen wares. After a morning of browsing the stores, we splurged at Emmett's Spa & Beauty Center, one of the many spas in the area and which came highly recommended by Rebecca.

If arts and culture define your soul, don't let Charlotte Harbor's reputation as nature's playground fool you.

Among the offerings are the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Cultural Center of Charlotte County, Sea Grape Artists Gallery, and Center for Performing Arts & Education. The Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County is also headquartered here, which can guide you to more area museums, artists' galleries and historical attractions.