Whats the best to see areas,bars & marinas ? I am picking my boat up in Miami and going to the west coast..any help ?

It's all beautiful riding on this side, from Marco Island up to Cayo Costa. Lots of bars on the intercoastal. Naples Bay is cool as well as the area on Fort Myers Beach/Sanibel area.

I vote for Sanibel/Captiva area, great area and nice water. Get a cheeseburger @ Cabbage Key.

Sanibel. Where to stay Hotel-Marina ?

It looks like the marinas are in Ft Myers. Any suggestions. I'm also going to visit Tampa area.suggestions there?

Tampa area- head over to the southern tip of Pinellas and head north. Shell Isle and Fort Desoto are nice stops on the south end. Heading up the intercoastal are all kinds of restaurants and pubs to stop at, check out Gators, Green Streets, or others near John's Pass. Further north is Sand Key Park and Clearwater Beach. Sunday afternoons at Shepards on Clearwater Beach is a blast especially around spring break. Another 40 minutes north of Clearwater Beach is a nice Hooters restaurant on the Withlacotee (sp?) river. Several choices for marina/hotels and food etc... what kind of sites do you want to see and we'll give better suggestions.
Rick

What is a good resort hotel/marina around Sanibel ? Later in the week I want to go north perhaps to Sarasota or Tampa and spend some time there. Suggestions on hotels/marinas in that area? Thanks

South Seas Plantation on Captiva is nice.