Ideas for Florida trip in September
 

My husband and I are thinking of an almost-last-minute vacation to Florida next month. Kids will be back in college. They'll kill us if we go to Orlando without them, but we might want to spend a day or so there. We've also thought about Tampa or Sarasota as a base for exploring the Gulf coast. We want to rest and sit in the sun, but we'd also be interested in doing some exploring: different scenery, anything like botanical gardens, etc. We don't have to go super-economy, but we can't do a big splurge. Any advice welcome! (We're looking at the third week of September.)

Have you been to the Pennekamp Coral Reef Park? http://www.pennekamppark.com/
It's located in/around Key Largo and offers snorkeling/scuba diving/glass bottom boat tours of the Coral Reef. We did the glass bottom boat tour a couple of years ago and are going in December to try snorkeling.

Have you thought of the Panhandle? Destin has great beaches, blue water, inexpensive condos and hotels, excellent food. For less trafic, try Santa Rosa just east of Destin.

I would chose Sarasota. It's pretty and upscale, it's easy to get into Tampa for things you want to do there, and you can even make day trips to points south such as Boca Grande. There is great shopping around St Armands Circle, plentiful good restaurants, and Selby Gardens, with their orchid collection is out of this world!! You'll enjoy the grounds there on the edge of Sarasota bay, but the greenhouse with the orchids are the bigger draw. The beaches are lovely. Perfect getaway.

Yes to Sarasota. Lovely beaches and lots to explore including the Marie Selby Gardens. The Ringling museum is nearby - Ca'd'Zan (the Ringling home) is not to be missed.