Florida is a popular vacation destination for Americans, but deciding where to visit can be difficult. The Sunshine State is known for its year-round warm weather and miles of beaches, but there’s plenty to see and do, from famous theme parks to culture-rich cities and destinations for nature lovers. As a fourth-generation Floridian, I’ll give you my take on the best places to visit. While well-known hot spots like the Florida Keys and Miami are certainly worth the hype, there are also great, slower-paced places beloved by locals, like Amelia Island and Crystal River.
Best Destinations: Florida Keys, Underrated Hidden Gems: Crystal River, Best for Families: Orlando and Central Florida, Best for Couples: Naples, Best for Solo Travelers: Miami and Fort Lauderdale
Read on for more of my top recommendations for your next trip to Florida.
Florida Keys
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Stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the southernmost point of the continental U.S., the Florida Keys are a veritable paradise. No matter which key you choose along the way, you can enjoy a tropical getaway without needing a passport. Fill your itinerary with activities like boating, diving, fishing, snorkeling the reefs and feeding 10-foot tarpon at Robbie’s, and enjoy one of the world’s best destinations for a relaxing vacation.
Key Largo is home to the adults-only Bungalows Key Largo, the Keys’ first all-inclusive hotel, while Playa Largo is a great choice for families and those looking for an action-packed getaway, with pools and water sports like sailing, parasailing and kayaking.
For the best seafood (and homemade key lime pie) in the Keys, reserve a table at The Fish House. This family-owned restaurant in Key Largo is one of the few that sources exclusively from local fishermen, meaning the fish is incredibly fresh.
Crystal River
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Crystal River is a quiet, hidden gem on Florida’s Gulf Coast that may not offer much in the way of food or nightlife, but it’s home to some of Florida’s most striking natural beauty, especially if you love water activities.
Get Up and Go Kayak’s clear kayak tours are the perfect way to explore Hunter Springs, Jurassic Springs and Three Sisters Springs. You might spot dolphins, turtles and pelicans. In winter, you’ll even have the chance to paddle with manatees as they make their annual migration to these enchanting springs. In nearby Crystal River, Plantation Resort offers simple, no-frills waterfront accommodations on 232 acres in Kings Bay.
For even more fun Florida vacation activities, be sure to check out the legendary live mermaid show at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, about a 40-minute drive south of Crystal River.
Orlando and Central Florida
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Orlando is the perfect destination for theme park lovers, being home to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, Discovery Cove, Legoland and more. These spots are always popular with families, so if you’re visiting Orlando, be sure to get out and explore more of the area.
For example, if you head due east from Orlando, you’ll reach NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, whose visitor complex features a variety of space travel exhibits and simulators. You can even watch a rocket launch. To the north, tranquil Winter Park is considered the Palm Beach of Central Florida. Enjoy lakeside sunsets and stroll beneath ancient oak trees. Have breakfast at Briarpatch and dinner at Hillstone Restaurant.
There are plenty of ways to get outside after leaving tourist hotspots in Orlando. About a 90-minute drive from the Orlando area, Central Florida is home to the Blue Grotto, a 100-foot-deep, clear-water cavern popular with divers, and nearby Rainbow Springs State Park, where you can take a leisurely inner-tube ride down the Rainbow River.
Naples
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Naples is another gem on Florida’s West Coast. There’s a reason this area is called the Paradise Coast: this romantic and luxurious city is known for its beautiful white-sand beaches, expansive golf courses, fine dining and upscale shopping.
If retail therapy is on your agenda (and in Naples it should be), head to 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South to save on your credit card limits. Or, if nature is more your style, visit the Naples Botanical Gardens, Crumpus Park or the Naples Zoo. Art lovers will find plenty to enjoy at Artis Naples, a multidisciplinary organization that’s home to the Baker Museum of Art and the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the many fantastic art galleries dotted throughout the city.
Miami and Fort Lauderdale
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No place in Florida is more vibrant than Miami, a global city with great food, world-class hotels and party venues. In South Beach’s Instagrammable Art Deco District, you’ll find the vibrant creativity and old-meets-new style that Miami is famous for. Across Biscayne Bay, Wynwood Walls is filled with street art and giant murals.
Brightline high-speed rail connects Miami with Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. In the seaside metropolis of Fort Lauderdale, walk the Ale Trail for craft beer and snacks, or hop on a water taxi and discover why the city is called the “Venice of America.” Hop off at Las Olas Boulevard for some of the city’s best shopping and dining.
August is by far the best time to indulge in a five-star experience: Miami Spa Month and Miami Spice Restaurant Month overlap, giving you the chance to book ultra-luxurious spa treatments and dine at some of the city’s best restaurants for a fraction of the usual price.
Palm Beach
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The Palm Beaches showcase the best of Florida. Collectively referring to the cities of Palm Beach County, this region includes West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach, Jupiter and Boca Raton.
The area’s greatest strength is its variety of activities: shop, surf, scuba dive, brunch with your dog, watch an international polo match or relax on 47 miles of coastline. Meet rehabilitating sea turtles at Loggerhead Marine Life Center or take a two-night cruise to the Bahamas. See a Broadway musical at the Kravis Center or get up close and personal with rhinos, giraffes and zebras at Lion Country Safari, a cage-free, drive-thru zoo spread across 300 acres.
If you’re looking for a luxury resort stay, Palm Beach and Boca Raton are the places to go. It’s hard to beat The Breakers, where you’ll be treated like royalty, but The Colony Hotel, Eau Palm Beach and The Boca Raton are also chic options.
Just across the bridge in West Palm Beach, you can enjoy a big city feel without the traffic jams: Ride the free trolley between Clematis Street, City Place and the Waterfront, or check out Grandview Public Market in the trendy Warehouse District.
Guests at the Hilton West Palm Beach can enjoy Galley restaurant, which serves delicious cocktails, fresh seafood and gourmet pizza, while guests at The Ben West Palm and Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach Downtown have access to a rooftop with spectacular views.
St. Augustine
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As the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States, St. Augustine has spent a long time getting things right. A European settlement was established in the mid-1500s after Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in 1513. Today, St. Augustine is a curious, walkable town where whispers of the past swirl around every cobblestone alley.
You can get a sense of St. Augustine’s colonial history at the waterfront Castillo de San Marcos, built in the late 1600s, or take a ghost tour after dark. Recommended places to eat and drink are Michael’s, Floridian and OC White’s. End the night with cocktails at the Ice Plant before heading to your hotel.
For the perfect blend of history and luxury, stay at the adults-only Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens, where you’ll tour the grounds with a property historian and sip expertly crafted cocktails at The Well Bar. For a taste of old-world elegance, try the 1791 St. Francis Inn, a homely B&B with a city feel, located on St. George Street, St. Augustine’s main drag.
One of the best times to visit is during the holiday season, when the city lights up with the annual “Nights of Lights” event.
Amelia Island
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Quiet, tiny Amelia Island is popular with visitors who appreciate a charming seaside destination without the crowds. Rolling sand dunes and marshes add interest to the coastal scenery. There are beaches, of course, but nature lovers should also check out the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve and Fort Clinch State Park, which is home to the 19th-century Fort Clinch as well as nature trails, campgrounds and wildlife.
Another Amelia Island attraction is Florida’s oldest lighthouse, standing 64 feet tall. Amelia Island offers visitors a variety of accommodations, including charming beachfront lodges and inns. Shop in historic downtown Fernandina Beach and dine at the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, held annually the first weekend in May.
Tampa Bay Area
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Tampa and the surrounding area is a three-city paradise on the Gulf Coast: Ride the rollercoasters at Busch Gardens or meet the slick stars of “Dolphin Tale” at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Nearby Clearwater Beach is a laid-back town with one of Florida’s best beaches. Visit during the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival to see giant sand sculptures. Stay at Opal Sands, a half-mile from the festival on the Beachwalk, with all 230 rooms on the waterfront. Along with St. Petersburg, the area is also an understated arts and culture mecca, filled with murals and museums, including the visually stunning Salvador Dali Museum.
Panhandle
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The Florida Panhandle is made up of Pensacola, Panama City Beach, Destin and Florida’s capital, Tallahassee. It’s a popular spring break spot known for its calm Gulf waters and white sand beaches, but there’s plenty more to enjoy during your day at the beach. Hike, bike or canoe in St. Andrews State Park or enjoy early happy hour at places like Pineapple Willie’s in Panama City Beach (don’t leave without ordering a po’boy to go with your frozen drink). In Destin, Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park offers fun for the whole family.
Cedar Key
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Cedar Key is a charming, quiet island town lined with pastel-colored houses. Visitors can explore secluded beaches and botanical gardens, or swim and splash around in the nearby natural hot springs. Cedar Key is a simple spot that’s not on the more well-known Florida tourist list, but it’s perfect for those looking for a slightly quieter getaway than some of the state’s busier hotspots.
Activities to enjoy in and around Cedar Key include biking, kayaking and hiking, as well as day trips to nearby Manatee Springs State Park, where you can get up close and personal with the animals, especially in the cooler months. If you’d like to learn more about the area, you’ll also find Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, Cedar Key Museum State Park and the Cedar Key Historical Society.
Everglades National Park
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While a trip to a national park might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Florida, the state is home to many unique spots, with Everglades National Park being its best attraction.
Comprising 1.5 million acres of protected wetlands on the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, the Everglades is actually a slow-moving “river of grass” made up of unique habitats such as coastal mangroves, sawgrass swamps, and pine plains. It’s a wildlife lover’s paradise, home to an abundance of alligators, snakes, fish, more than 360 bird species, and even endangered animals such as the Florida panther, American alligator, and West Indian manatee.
For those keen to explore, there are trails and guided tours available. The main entrances are at Shark Valley, Florida City near Homestead, and Everglades City on the Gulf Coast. Visit during the park’s dry season (November to April) when temperatures are cooler, wildlife is more active, and there are fewer mosquitoes.
