Due South: Five of the Bahamas’ Best Bonefish Lodges

Plus: St. Petersburg; mountain coasters; Biltmore’s King Tut exhibition

PHOTO: THE DELPHI CLUB

Bonefishing at the Delphi Club on Great Abaco Island, Bahamas.

The thrill of sight-casting to bonefish with a fly rod has drawn anglers to the Bahamas for decades, and the archipelago still ranks among the world’s best bonefishing destinations. Spread throughout its seven hundred islands, from the fabled flats of Andros to the untrammeled Crooked Island, these five lodges offer a variety of settings, first-rate guides, stunning scenery, and plenty of shots at the elusive “gray ghost of the flats.”

GO THE EXTRA MILE: Towing your boat for a day on Apalachicola Bay calls for power and stability. Navigating back roads to Alabama’s breathtaking Sipsey Wilderness requires agility and precision. With the Toyota Tundra, no Southern adventure is out of reach. Its advanced technology—like the Trailer Backup Guide and Integrated Trailer Brake Controller—ensures smooth handling, whether you’re hauling a fishing skiff or a fully loaded pontoon. All you have to do is decide where to go. Get inspiration for your next journey with the Toyota Tundra Adventure List, and make every mile unforgettable. Scout the South’s top sights with the Toyota Tundra Adventure List.

St. Petersburg, Florida. When I was growing up, my grandparents wintered in St. Petersburg. Though I never visited, I considered St. Pete as otherworldly as the former Russian capital. When I finally did touch down on the Gulf coast, I discovered a city sparkling with artistic energy, alfresco dining, and tropical ambience.

The wide mural sea. Travel invites us to identify the familiar and encounter the unexpected. I knew about the SHINE Mural Festival, but I had no idea more than four hundred paintings grace the walls, utility boxes, and other public canvases across the city. I explored the Central Arts District on a Florida CraftArt mural tour, a two-hour survey highlighting dozens of wallscapes including Barcelona-based Marina Capdevila’s “Sunshine State,” a brilliant block-wide installation.
Pretty in pink (and greens). With its “Pink Streets” neighborhood, salmon-colored facades, and rose-colored sunsets over the gulf, St. Petersburg takes its fifty shades of coral seriously. The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club’s restoration reflects its 1925 debut in the original floor tiling, exposed timber beams, and Veranda bar. The Vinoy Golf Club continues the nostalgic theme with a traditional layout that hearkens back to its 1920 founding. How fun to learn the Vinoy arose when, on a bet, Walter Hagen drove golf balls off the face of Aymer Vinoy Laughner’s pocket watch.
Terrace town. We enjoyed being able to dine outside, starting with a glass of rosé at Pier Teaki and continuing at Juno & The Peacock, a lively Beach Drive restaurant founded by Drew Dimitrovski. (Chef Drew recently arrived from New York City’s Momofuku Noodle Bar.) Post-dinner, we stepped next door to sample Peruvian cocktails from the cozy Pluma Lounge’s menu before capping the night with a paloma on Vinoy’s Veranda.

PHOTOS: JACK KING PHOTOGRAPHY

We’re on to the Final Four in G&G’s March Madness–style bracket to determine the South’s Best Steak House. Only four steak houses remain—your vote determines who will win. Fourth round voting ends on April 4 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, so check back often to vote.