After some initial itinerary advice, I originally planned a portion of our tripin Levanto. I figured it would be less crowded, we could do the bike path one day, and my husband and I would still get the same overall feel without it being completely overrun like CT (especially because we're going in 1st week of July).
However, after talking to a few friends who have lived in Italy, I was given a few suggestions on some other locations that they thought might be a little more picturesque and along the lines of what I was looking for:
Tellaro
Lerici
Portovenere
and of course, Levanto is still an option.
The main point of our stay in the coastal area (besides to be on the ocean) is to enjoy some nice down time before heading into the very busy (and very hot) Florence. We would be staying 3 nights (2 full days, leaving mid-afternoon on the 3rd day). Our priorities are to soak in the sun (and hopefully take a swim in the ocean), enjoy walking around the area during the day and evenings, get my first taste of "real" Italian food (first trip to Italy and Europe!), get some great pictures of our beautiful/romantic surroundings, and just relax before the craziness of the city.
Also, if this affects any decision making, we would be arriving after several days in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and would be taking about a 7/8 hr train ride to get into the La Spezia area. We would also plan on getting a car service from La Spezia to whatever town we end up in to prevent the hassle of a longer bus ride with luggage.
So with all of that in mind, would love your input on the other towns. Also, if there is a place en route to Florence that we haven't thought of, suggestions are still appreciated. That being said, we definitely are looking for the rustic/laid back/intimate coastal town vibe as opposed to the palm tree/resort feel.
Thank you as always for your help! I promise to somehow pay it forward! :)