Pristine gardens and powdery white sand beaches are just some of the best places to visit in Florida.
Photo courtesy of Naples Botanical Garden
If your idea of “scenery” is limited to snow-capped mountains and lush, rolling hills, Florida may not be for you. While we’ve got more than our share of gleaming white beaches set beside calming turquoise water, our general lack of elevation and cold temperatures means our scenery is limited to stuff you can find at ground level. Or, in some cases, below it.
Dig beyond the beaches and you’ll find Florida has plenty of pretty places to enjoy, from mysterious cenotes (or as we call them, “sinkholes”) to rough limestone formations spewing water along the coast. We’ve also got highways covered in canopies of oak trees, and other roads running right over the ocean. As well as charming small towns and one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. So come along and discover the part of the Sunshine State that hasn’t yet been turned to condos, as the most beautiful places in Florida might give you a new perspective on America’s vacationland.
These botanical gardens on the border of Delray Beach and Boca Raton are the odd slice of Eastern tranquility in South Florida that don’t come with an overpriced sushi bar attached. The onetime Japanese farming community of the early 1900s is now a meticulous journey through six traditional gardens, where ornate bridges cross bubbling streams and bamboo forests clatter in the soft tropical breeze. Guests can also peruse a grove of bonsai trees, and learn about the delicate art of cultivating them. Additionally, Morikami is a fantastic place to learn the intricacies of Japanese culture, where taiko demonstrations, crafting classes, and movie screenings are all part of the experience.
Oftentimes, the Big Cypress Preserve gets lumped in with Everglades National Park, since both are protected swamplands established to save South Florida’s delicate ecosystem. But because Big Cypress sits a little further north in the Everglades, its landscape is slightly different with an abundance of cypress domes and elevated islands that make it a wonder to explore. During summer, a drive down the Tamiami Trail takes you through a sea of Big Cypress trees which shade the road beneath. Though to best experience the park head to the visitors center from about October to April, where rangers lead swamp walks into the heart of the terrain. The short hikes take you through waist-deep water into some of the most peaceful parts of the state, and give you a new appreciation for the wetlands that make Florida so special.
Carved out of a swath of Southwest Florida suburban sprawl, the Naples Botanical Garden is one of the low-key prettiest places on the Gulf Coast that doesn’t involve a beach. Inside its gates you’ll find idyllic lakeside walks through 90 acres of natural preserve, along with a lily pad-dotted water garden and a carefully manicured Asian garden. You’ll also find botanical showcases from Brazil and the Caribbean, and special places set aside for orchids and succulents. It’s a beautiful place to get lost in nature, but still be close enough to the gift shop for a post-stroll coffee.
The quiet little town of Grayton Beach is what would result if someone carved Mayberry into a forest of pine trees, as its shady streets lead to a small, colorful downtown and a perfect powdery coastline. What makes the adjacent state park so special are the natural sand dunes along the shore, where inland freshwater runs between the dunes leading out to the Gulf of Mexico. This means you can post up there with a beach chair in about three inches of water when the tide is right, and let the gulf breezes blow over you. Underwater, the park is also home to the Underwater Museum of Art, where sculptures by artists from around the globe sit submerged in 58 feet of water, creating one of the most provocative artificial reefs in the world for scuba diving.
The beaches that sit off Jacksonville might be the most underrated in the state, and none stands more spectacular than the eerie landscape along Boneyard Beach. It sits in Big Talbot Island State Park, just south of Amelia, where a short stroll through thick forest brings you to a mile-long stretch of toppled oak and cedar trees. The epic graveyard of windblown wood was created by fast tidal shifts that caused saltwater to encroach on the trees, which fell as they died. What remains is one of the most popular photo shoot locales in northeast Florida. You’ll feel absolutely miniscule while you step over the hulking limbs and remaining roots of these mysterious giants. And it’s only about half an hour from downtown Jacksonville, making it an easy side trip whenever you’re in the city.
Granted, seeing the true beauty of Biscayne National Park is going to require either a snorkel or a scuba certification. But Dade County’s other national park—the one that’s 95% underwater—is the best preserved piece of our reefs-and-wrecks history. The Florida Reef acts as the park’s seaward border, and the limited fishing and diving have left it more intact than almost anywhere else in the Keys. The colorful fish and coral are only part of the park’s draw, though. The rest lies in its trail of shipwrecks, the remains of boats that met unfortunate finishes against the reef. Recently, the Biscayne National Park Institute began running dive trips leaving from Coconut Grove, so you can experience the park without having to drive past Miami—a big time bonus.
Once upon a time, one could board a train along the East Coast in the dead of winter, fall asleep, and awake to find themselves click-clacking above turquoise water and swaying palm trees. That magical tourism experience died with the hurricane of 1935, unfortunately, but lives on for motorists along the Overseas Highway. The final 113 miles of US-1 are a rolling trip through mangroves, beaches, and bridges set over pristine tropical seas. It’s the odd traffic jam you won’t mind sitting in, as congestion just means more time to take in the epic views. The road is also filled with hidden pull-offs only frequent travelers know about, from stunning white sand beaches to biker bars with the best pizza in the state.
Telling someone there’s a waterfall in Florida sounds a little like bragging about the surf breaks in South Dakota. But tuck off I-10 between Pensacola and Tallahassee and you’ll find the only thing rarer in Florida than a fourth-generation Boca resident: a waterfall. The 70-foot cascade is flanked by tropical ferns and lush hillsides, a veritable taste of Puerto Rico in the Panhandle. How did this wonder of nature get here? It’s a sinkhole, of course, because this is Florida, after all. But the 100-foot deep, two-foot wide circular fall is one of the most impressive geological formations in the state. And gives us a waterfall we can visit without jumping on a plane.
Dry Tortugas National Park | Jorge Moro/Shutterstock
This tropical Alcatraz was once used as a protective fort during the Civil War, and then as a prison for about a decade after. Now, it’s an impressive burst of red against the turquoise water and green trees of the island. And, even if you don’t get in the water, it’s a majestic site after a long morning at sea. Under the water, you’ll find some of the most abundant marine life in the Keys; since it’s nearly impossible to dive Fort Jefferson nearly everything here is undisturbed. With natural beaches to lay out on once you’re done snorkeling, it’s a calming trip to heaven in a place that used to be hell.
Though Florida is best known for its soft, powdery sand beaches and flat shoreline that goes on forever, just south of Jacksonville you’ll find a beach that feels more like Madagascar than Miami. It’s the golden sands along the beach at Guana River State Park, where massive grass covered dunes separate the sand from the highway, and the isolation they provide gives you the sense that you’ve traveled a lot further than 45 minutes from downtown Jax. The beach is rarely crowded, as northeast Florida beachgoers often opt for more lively stretches up north in Ponte Vedra and Atlantic Beach. So a summer wade into the water here will have you coming out of the surf and feeling like you’ve crossed onto another continent.
Mexico really knows how to brand its holes in the ground a lot better than Florida. Because where they’ve managed to convince people to spend thousands of dollars to come and bask in their majestic cenotes, we’ve just labeled them sinkholes. Call it whatever you want, Devil’s Den is downright spectacular. This underwater river boasts bright, blue-green water that stays at a consistent 72 degrees, a popular weekend lounging spot for UF students who forgot the campus is nowhere near a beach when enrolling. For a few glorious hours a day, the sun shines in the hole in the roof, giving the Floridian Cenote the look of a heavenly lake. It’s possibly the most stunning waterfront in Florida that doesn’t have a beach.
Debates abound over the prettiest beach in Florida, but one would have a hard time arguing against Bahia Honda. Located off the Overseas Highway at Mile Marker 37, the beach is the Keys’ most stunning stretch of sand where turquoise waters creep up and allow for easy wading and snorkeling. Adding to Bahia Honda’s scenic allure is its abandoned railroad bridge, adding a touch of tropical urban decay to the landscape. You can walk to the top of the bridge from inside the park, where you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the beach, the Keys, and the glimmering waters of Florida Bay.
If you’re into dripping Spanish moss, grand old manors, and a downtown that could double as the set of a deep south horror movie, look no further than Micanopy. The streets winding through this antiquer’s paradise are lined with massive live oak canopies, where moss drips down to the street like a lime-green veil over the city. That’s probably why anyone in North Central Florida doing an engagement shoot has their pictures taken here, and mini-mooners are commonplace at the B&Bs housed in Micanopy’s historic homes.
As soon as you hit the city limits of this cozy beach town—the northernmost of a trio that sits on a seven-mile-long island just south of St. Petersburg—you feel immediately relaxed. The old Florida charm abounds in the form of sun-faded architecture and beachside seafood shacks, but the best part about this place is that all you really need is a lounge chair and a smile, because its simple beauty takes care of everything else. First and foremost, the sunsets are unparalleled. And despite being a truly sleepy town, outdoor adventure-seekers can take advantage of the slew of paddleboarding and kayaking tours, plus snorkeling excursions to nearby spots like historic Egmont Key. Back on land, you can explore the historic Spanish-American-era fort and by sea, swim through abandoned shipwrecks and get up close and personal with stingrays, manatees, and dolphins. The “no shoes, no shirt, no dice” rule certainly does not apply in Anna Maria, as almost all of its fare (like the signature grouper sandwiches) are devoured from the docks of Rod & Reel Pier or in the actual sand at Sandbar.
Photo courtesy of Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing
The swampland around Central Florida is the kind of scenery one might call an “acquired taste.” But hiding in the Allapattah Flats between Okeechobee and Palm City is a stretch of highway that’s one of the most stunning in the state. The Martin Highway runs 12 miles along State Route 714, where a canopy of oak trees dripping with Spanish moss covers the way. It’s like speeding through a tunnel of pure Old Florida nature, with herons and egrets flying overhead and the odd alligator by the side of the road. It ends in the Allapattah Flats Nature Preserve, where you can delve deeper into the region’s beauty on hiking, biking, and horse trails.
From its cozy quarters (opt for one of the beachside rentals) to watersports, the chill island of Siesta Key is a stunning eight-mile stretch of pure quartz-white sands and sapphire waters. Let’s just say there’s a reason this town was chosen to be the backdrop for the misadventures of over-privileged teenagers. Siesta Key Village’s centerpiece is its main drag, which basically transports you back to the ’50s with its lineup of homemade ice cream parlors and pint-sized seafood joints. The Siesta Key Oyster Bar will likely have a wait, but post up with a drink and you’ll barely notice your table took an hour. This elegant barrier island is also home to the Ringling Museum Complex (the winter estate of circus tycoon John Ringling) and Ringling’s Center for Asian Art, so you may as well take in a touch of culture while appreciating the views.
Hiking through the Everglades, you’ll walk over black water marshes along the Anhinga trail where alligators like to swim, and through gumbo limbo forests not a quarter mile away. You can also hike to some of the most secluded beaches in Florida, if you’re up for the 15-mile round trip along the Coastal Prairie Trail. The park is also home to the southernmost point of the U.S. mainland at Flamingo, where a brand new shipping container lodge gives you the chance to spend the night in the park in air conditioned comfort. Take in the views from the edge of Florida Bay, then hop on a boat tour in the adjacent marina and float among manatees, alligators, and the occasional crocodile.
Florida is known for its postcard-worthy coastlines, but rarely do those shores include waves crashing into craggy rock formations with splashing, dramatic plumes of water. The largest such shoreline sits on the edge of Jupiter Island near Hobe Sound, where the Blowing Rocks Preserve boasts the largest outcropping of Anastasia limestone on the east coast. The rocks are thought to be more than 125,000 years old, creating a fascinating look into the state’s ancient natural history. To get the full effect head to Blowing Rocks on a day when the seas are rough; just make sure you wear something you don’t mind getting wet.
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Matt Meltzer is a contributing writer for Thrillist. Follow him on Instagram @meltrez1.
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